While the matters are not given out concerning what the well has developed, it is believed that paying sands have been reached, although the promoters are going to the deeper and more productive sands.

A group of Columbus parties, including lieutenant governor Edgar Howard, are arranging to put up a drill on Cottonwood about ten or twelve miles northwest of Harrison, and geologist G. W. Harris has been upon the ground for some weeks past. The prophesy is rife that the first commercial oil

produced from a well in Nebraska will be in Si< iux count}-.

Fossil Beds

The White river rocks have proven a wonder field for geologists and paleontologists the world over. The White river beds as known geologically are not confined to the river as known geographically. In fact the most productive beds from a paleontological standpoint are not on White river at all, but near Ardmore. and Agate. The well known collection of specimens of Chas. II. Morrill in the museum at the Nebraska State L niversity, came largely from the Ardmore and Agate sections, while many of the best universities of the world have selected specimens from the Agate field. There is an inexhaustible mine of rich geological information on the ranch of Captain 1. II. Cook.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

ORGANIZATION OF SIOUX COUNTY -- COUNTY OFFICIALS

In September, eighteen eighty-six, upon the representation of E. D. Satterlee and others, Governor Dawes issued a proclamation for the organization of Sioux county with its present boundaries. As previously stated the unorganized county was much larger, but in ones and twos and numbers, counties had been taken from it circumscribing its boundaries to those that now prevail. As is stated in the history of Dawes county, many of the inhabitants there desired that the new county could keep the old name of Sioux, but as it was detached from Sioux county it could not take the parent county name.