Upon hearing thereon the demurer was overruled and William Mitchell of Alliance was appointed as referee to take the evidence and report findings of fact and conclusions of law to the court. After taking the evidence at Hyannis and Oshkosh and cogitating thereon for six months, the referee found that the 25th degree of longitude was and is the boundary line between Grant and Garden counties ; that Garden county should be ousted from the territory east of the 25th degree, and recommended that the boundary line be placed about three quarters of a mile west of the 25th degree at the middle of range 41.

In spite of our strenuous objections, this report was confirmed by the supreme court, and Garden county ousted from the territory between the middle and the east line of range 41 in townships 21, 22 and 23 north. Fiftyfour sections were handed over to the good little county of Grant. Our only consolation being the eighty- four sections handed over to us by Arthur county.

Thus we remain, fifty-four miles long, north and south, twenty-eight miles wide in the southern part, thirty-three miles wide in the middle part, and thirty-one miles wide in the northern part, and having a total area of one million and fifty-six thousand acres.

And no more boundary fights for ours; no, not one.

AGRICULTURAL AND LIVE STOCK INDUSTRIES

The southern part of Garden county is a high plain about three hundred feet higher than the North Platte river bottom. This is the wheat country par excellence, and is not a bad country for diversified farming. Alfalfa seed potatoes, and sorghum cane are among the most profitable crops.