Toward nightfall of election day it appeared to be a contest of endurance of the presses and supply of paper for ballots. The news came up the valley that the Big Springs vote had reached three thousand. Chappell beat it by a few and quit. Big Springs had a few thousand extra ballots printed at Ogallala, "enough to fill the ballot box," as told by one of the partisans, with a final total of five thousand six hundred and twenty-six votes. Chappell was overvoted but not beaten. The courts

were appealed to, and for years the charge of illegal voting kept the temporary county seat there. Finally the slow process of law resulted in an order for a new election for June 23, 1894. No place received a majority and on July 21 following, another election was held, which gave Chappell a clear majority, and by action of the county board August 11, 1894, Chappell became the permanent seat of justice of Deuel countv.

IRRIGATION IN DEUEL COUNTY

In 1895, the Nebraska legislature passed the Irrigation District Law. In 1896, the first Deuel county petition under that law for a district was presented by Mr. Van Newkirk and other men. but was rejected because "doubtful if desired by the majority of the voters," and "doubtful if it could be watered by one system." In July, 1898, George F. Clark, and a number of other men petitioned to organize an irrigation district on Blue creek and an election was called for July 30, which resulted in five votes for and six against the petition, so it was lost. October 20, 1898. Ira Paisley and others petitioned for an irrigation district taking in a smaller tract on Blue creek. The election to decide upon it was called for November 12, with the result that there were five votes for the project and none against and the irrigation of this tract became assured.