By the early 1880s, the hot topic that would remain for several decades was reclamation, that was eventually replaced by the lumber industry. When the NCO Railroad inched its way into the Honey Lake Valley only added momentum for the formation of a myriad of schemes. We will explore a number of these, some were successful and some were not.
On a smaller scale, improvements with well-drilling was starting revolutionize irrigation in the Honey Lake Valley. In 1888, Lassen County allocated a $1,000 for the promotion and advertisement of the benefits of well drilling to entice people to settle there. Thus, the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce was formed.