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. The officers elected were: division No. 1, N. Bergeson, five votes ; No. 2, I. M. Paisley, five votes ; No. 3, Clarence Hewett, five votes ; as directors ; A. F. Ramsey, five votes for treasurer, and A. F. Ramsey, five votes as assessor. Thus was the first irrigation district in Deuel county organized. It came into existence by this election and the declaration of the county board November 21, 1898. This first important movement for irrigation was in the northern part of the county which later became Garden county, fur when the new county was organized it took nearly all the irrigated land in Deuel county. The county still has a vital interest in the Western Irrigation District which waters an excellent body of land near Julesburg. This, however, is a newer enterprise but of much

commercial importance to Deuel county as it affords water for the southeastern part along the Platte river valley.

Blue Creek Irrigation District was organized April 3, 1905, and the first officers were : Division No. 1, Richard Clark, director by a vote of thirteen to four for A. S. Ross ; division No. 2, Henry Black, director by eleven votes with no opposition ; division No. 3, James Orr, director, by sixteen votes with no opposition; George McCormick was elected treasurer by sixteen votes without opposition, and George Gilliard, assessor, by sixteen votes with one cast for James Caslin.