Though Lee Bryant, during his colloquy with Menocal, had spoken confidently of his ability to obtain money wherewith to construct a canal system linking the Pinas River and the Perro Creek ranch, he had no definite promise of funds from any source.

Nor would the project be ripe for financing before he had completed his surveys and made his cost estimates.
He had become interested in the undertaking in this way.

Staying over night with the Stevensons by chance a month previous, a stranger, his speculation was aroused when through questions about the ranch he learned of the unused Pinas River water right, a right valid but apparently impracticable.

Was it indeed impracticable?
Would the cost of bringing water to the land be, after all, prohibitive?
In fact, had a competent engineer ever gone into the matter?
He doubted it.

The history of the property, so far as he could glean from Stevenson, disclosed on the part of no one any serious effort ever to develop the ranch.