But naturally the land must be in large holdings and some of the largest are those of Lars Olson of Harrisburg, and A. H. Olson of Ashford. John Kelly, Hope Brown estate, Joe Duckworth, and W. W. Henderson, Rolla Warner, the Harveys, the Noyes family, A. B. Beard and Millard Cluck are some of the big present acreage in individual ownership. Thos. W. G. Cox, Cyrus Van Pelt, E. J. McKinnon and many others are surrounded by great stretching acres accumulated in the years of intelligent dry farming and stock raising.

The Largest Ranch

The largest ranch in Banner county is called the Airdale. It has taken long years to build it to its present proportions and perfection. Harry Eggleston and Philo Mann were the first in management and the ownership was largely on T. C. Eggleston. After Harry went back east and Mann died, Trowbridge C. Eggleston himself came and developed the ranch with marked energy and ability. It is now owned by the Airdale Ranch Company and is one of the best appointed and well balanced ranches in the west. Ed. Ried, W. H. Ferguson, C. N. Wright and Del Skinner are the heavy stockholders and the extensive hay meadows are now being taken care of by Fred U. Anderson and Geo. Streeks.

Subterranean Waters

Many efforts have been made to raise the subterranean waters to do surface service. The cowboys used to pile rocks in the creek to raise the water table so that the moisture would percolate back into the adjoining land and feed the grass roots. In the dry years of the nineties many dreamed of methods of raising water that was known to exist but a few feet below the earth's surface in extensive sheets. It remained fc" A. E. Scott to sink a concrete wall to the bed rock across Pumpkin creek, intercepting the underflow and bringing it to the surface and applying it to beneficial use.