The payroll for the current months has amounted monthly to $15,000. The round house, car department and coal heavers received $5,800, monthly, while the roadmaster's office and the five sections within the county total $2,0^7.07. There are thirteen passenger trains on this road each day and at this point two local freights carrying passengers. An attractive depot of stone, steam-heated and with every convenience for travelers, is so exquisitely kept that strangers are often heard to remark

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

upon its unusual neatness. The windows look out upon a pretty and well-kept park.

In truth, the whole of the railroad property is so orderly and neat that the house-keepers could learn lessons by inspection of the buildings and yards, where conditions are so adverse to neatness. It will be readily understood that the Union Pacific railroad is a large part of Sidney.

First Irrigation in Western Nebraska

The first irrigation in western Nebraska was in the Lodgepole valley, and was practiced by the soldiers under the command of General Dudley of Sidney in 1871. A dam was built across the creek and the waters thus impounded were used to irrigate the tracts of land alloted to the companies. Rivalry existed between the companies is growing the best gardens. Let it be known to the credit of this early tillage that the soldiers raised nice gardens, but the grasshoppers discouraged their efforts. The first produce was intended to supply two hundred and fifty enlisted men and their officers and finally ended in the addition of several hundred dollars worth of produce being sold in town.