Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-04-03

Strengthening the channel would be even greater
than here stated.
The Kankakee Draining company propose, by
Strengthening the bends, deepening the shallow
places, and clearing out the distinctions in the
river to reclaim and render arabic the adjacent
marshes, promote the health of the surrounding
country and the interest of the public generally.
The work they propose will deepen the bed of the
river throughout its length. and bring down the
surface of the water in the channel below the
swamp muck, so as to carry off the water through
the sandy subsoi and render the bitches made
by the State available.
Il is estimated that three hundred thousand
acres of land are injured-much of it rendered
valueless-by the waters of this river These
lands, at present rates, would not sell for more
than an average of three dollars per acre, the ag-
gregate Of which would be nine hundred thOus-
and dollars. Dry lands, less fertile, equally re-
mote from market, in the counties of st. Joseph
and Laporte SELL at present rates, at rom thirty
to fifty dollars per acre 1t is safe estimate
TO say that the work contemplated would render
the swamp an wet lands ON the Kankee worth
an average of twenty dollars per acre, the aggre-
gate of which would be sic millions dollars: 1t
is estimated that the proposed drains will cost
foe hundred thousand dollars. If these esti-
mates are correct, and they are believed to be
within bounds the net profit to the owners of the
lands will be at least four million sir hundred
thousand dollars.
BY reference to general law authorizing the
construction of levees and drains, approved June
l12, 1859, and to an act amendatory of and sup
Elementary to the same, approved March A, 1859,
under which this company is organized, it will be
found that the County Boards are required, upon
application made by the corporation, to,Sppont
persons not Interested in the proposed work. TO
make the assessment of benefits and damages to
all lands in any way affected. The Assessors are
required to swear to the truth and correctness of
their assessment and the assessment of each tract,
when fled in the Recorders Office of the proper
county, becomes lien in favor of the company
for the amount assessed II also provides for no
tice 20 the owners of the lands of the time of ma
king assessments 1t provides, further, that the
assessments shall be payable on demand by the
company, and prescribes the manner in which
such demand shall be made If the assessment
be not paid on demand, the lien may be enforced
at law. The assessment of damages against the
company, and the collection of the same, are
fully provided for.
The law under which the company is organized
has, in the case OF Anderson Us. The Kerns Drain
ing Company, IA Ind, been decided to be consti-
tutional and valid. The case arose under the
law referred to.
We regard this enterprise as one of the most
important to the people interested and to the
State that has been set on foot for many years.
Its consummation would bring into cultivation, in
few years, district of country larger and richer
in soil than Marion county No stream in the
United States, of similar length, has as mnch in
exhaustibly rich bottom land. This soil is now
practically worthless. 1t may be made the most
productive in the State. What is now a wilder
ness of water, mud. moss and grass, partitioned
out among trappers and fishermen, may be made
the garden-spot of northern Indiana. The object
to be attained is so vast and incalculabe in its
results that the amount to be levied to accom-
plish it becomes Insignificant. If land which
could not now be sold for three dollars per acre
can be made worth twenty, the owner should be
glad to pay his proportion of the necessary assess
ment.
The money necessary to construct the work
will be expended in the midst of the community
who pay it, We understand the company will
offer resident land owners an opportunity to work
out their assessment, or to pay it in articles they
will need in the course of the work. They also