During the middle of the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) the Great (1887 - 1897), the expansion of rice growing area by excavation of canals had reached a peak. The King, wishing to promote rice growing in the lower central plain of the Chao Phraya river had given concession to the Siam Land, Canals and Irrigation Company to excavate canals and to develop the vast waste land on the east bank of the Chao Phraya river called "Tung Luang" by approving a contract to the company in 1888 for a period of 25 years.... continued...under construction....