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The history of irrigation in Keith County, Nebraska, written
for the World-Herald by Matt Daugherty, shows a striking contrast to the
natural moisture condition of that part of the state and indicates the evidence
upon which is based the immense investment of capital and labor in converting
the flowing streams into fountain supplies for the growing of crops.
The thousands of tillable acres of rich valley land in Keith
County are by the means of the irrigation ditch brought to a producing value
that gives them a place among the best agricultural acres in the state, and
when a succession of crop seasons have recorded the yields from irrigated
Nebraska the real worth of the sure moisture lands will be asserted in a
measure of dollars and cents that cannot be misunderstood. Then the enterprise and business venture of Western
Nebraska citizens will be indorsed and they will have their double
reward.
The encouraging report of
the farming and stock growing industries of Keith County presented by Mr. Daugherty
and his neighbors indicates a much wider range of agricultural development than
the original projectors of irrigation dreamed of. The utilization of the hills and grazing
lands by herds and flocks that will be used to consume the crops of the
irrigated valleys is more extensive than has been estimated. Millions of dollars will be added to Nebraska’s cattle industry when the
irrigated lands of Keith and other western counties are put in crop
Omaha World Herald - February 24, 1896
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