Over the following months he visited the locations of the incident and worked on nearby farms , gaining firsthand knowledge of the wheat farmer 's life .
Norris decided upon the project in March 1899 , and by early April had left for California to research the project .
Over the following months Norris visited the locations of the incident and worked on nearby farms , gaining firsthand knowledge of the wheat farmer 's life .
Norris decided upon the project in March 1899 , and by early April had left for California to research the project .