This is but limited, except under the government irrigation canal, in the south part of the county, and here are the fertile fields of the Dutch flats, the Iowa flats, Sheep creek country and the Spottedtail region. Scattered spots have been irrigated on the Niobrara river. Snake creek, Hat creek and White river, and where irrigated are wonderful yields of alfalfa, potatoes, sugar beets and native hay. In the southwest corner are fine homes surrounded by groves, and orchards on nearly every eighty acres. In other parts of the county, the irrigated tract is usually an individual unit owned by one person for ranch or farm purposes. The co-

HISTORY OF WESTERN XEBKASK \

operative effort is found principally under the Interstate canal, although occasionally two or three may in places elsewhere unite in the building of a larger system than one would care to undertake.

There are no factories of any kind, except perhaps the manufacture of cement stone or brick and that is very limited. At one time brick was burned on Hat creek or Monroe creek for individual use, and at another time on Sowbelly creek for the use in the building of the court house, but that ceased after the special use was over. To be sure, automobile repairs and accessories are necessary in every community.

Oil. Gas and Minerals

The virgin character of Sioux county soils are being exploited at the present time and it may be that valuable minerals, such as vanadium, thorium, and mica may be found in quantity to mean mineral wealth to the count}-. But the mind of her people has lately been drifting towards the great probability that oil and gas underlie a considerable portion of the land. This is emphasized by the steadily approaching discoveries, now just over the line in Wyoming and South Dakota.