They took a team, and without leveling apparatus, plowed furrows from the running water into the field. The water followed behind the plow, and soon there was a demonstration of what resulted from the artificial application of water to growing crops.

The following year, there was considerable activity in the subject of irrigation, and but little building of ditches. Nebraska had no irrigation law. The corporation statute gave "Irrigation companies" "the right of eminent domain." That was all. In the legislature of the winter of 1889, Henrv St. Raynor, of Sid-

Wright's Vision of the Enterprise

Clarke and Wright were engaged in the realty business at Weeping Water, and became interested in this country. They came up and looked it over, with the result that Wright moved here permanently, and there came with him, or soon after, quite a number from the Weeping Water settlements. They are among the most substantial and good citizenship that are to be found in this county of good citizens.

An investigation of the lands, and the nature of the water rights, appealed to them. They made some reports on the acreage and the probable cost of building the canal unit by unit, and the prospect of settlers taking the water, and paying for it. Back in Rutland, Vermon, was F. C. Colburn, an old family friend, and a substantial financial character. He agreed to raise the money to build the ditch, up to four hundred thousand dollars ultimately, which was the estimate made by the engineers headed bv Wes. Kittell. Colburn succeeded in rais-