The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-26
ghs @allg Asgas,
rock ISLAND. 4. .rEI1norg
Drainage.

1
II We give place to the following circa1o
that the people of this county may under
stand the question as presented BY it
friends. The subject is not of politica
character and is not brought before th.
public as such, Without adding a wore
for or against the proposed measure il i,
gwen to the people for their consideration
ana to vote upon as they may deem best.
Rock ISLAND, ILL.,, Oct. 4th, 1878.
We respectfully invite attention to the
proposed amendment to the 'constitution
on the subject of drainage. 1t is of the
greatest Importance TO the people Of the
state, and as reasons why it should be de-
veloped, we assign the following. to-wit;
FIRST, The amendment is nothing new,
but only proposes to make the constitution
OF 1870 what the trainers thereof supposed
it was, on the subject of drainage, before
the supreme court gave it an interpre-
tation.
SECOND. The act of the legislature,
passed in 1871, consisting of some fifty
odd sections, providing for the construc-
ton OF drains, bitches and levees. or all of
it that is of any value, has. by the su-
preme court, been declared unconstitu-
| tional
THIRD. Extensive works in various
parts OF the state have been commenced.
and in some cases completed, under said
act, which cannot be finished or kept in
repair without the adoption of this amend
ment, and the passage of legislation
under it. 6
FOURTH. The benefits of these works,
and the vast amount of money expended
in constructing them, will be lost unless
the amendment is adopted.
FIFTH. The lands to be reclaimed
amount in round number to one million
eight hundred thousand acres, worth but
little without drainage.
sixth. When reclaimed, it is estimated
they will be worth at least forty million of
dollars more than they are now, and will
add that much to the taxable wealth of the
state, over and above their present value.
SEVENTH This is not proposition to
tax the land of any man without his con-
sent. and not even by his consent. unless
his lands are benefited by the proposed
work, and then only to the extent of the
benefit
EIGHT. Ii the above reasons are suffi-
clent, we ask that every friend of the
measure give it his active support, at the
coming election, for if not adopted this
fall, it cannot be voted upon again until
1888, (See Article ID, Section 2, of the
Constitution OF 1900
NINTH. This 100000 acres of land
| consists mostly of swamps, boys, and lakes
worthless In Its present condition for agri-
cultural purposes, and rendering the sur
rounding country unhealthy by reason of
Its mlasmatic atmosphere. 1t is proposed
to reclaim this land by drains and levees.
The amendment does not authorize any
expenditure OF the public money, or any
tax to be levied or debt created, for the
purpose, but simply that the legislature
shall have the right to authorize the i'm
provement, and that the land benefited
shall pay the expense, Without such a
law drain could not be cut across the
land OF an obstinate owner, however much
1t might be needed to drain whole coun-
try, and although it might reclaim its own
land. Even the owner of the land cannot
be made personally responsible for his
share of the expense, but his tract of land
reclaim Ell would be liable for its benefits
and no more, which he could pay or not, as
he chose. 1t he did not see proper to pay
1t, the land, now wholly worthless, might
De sold. Thus the lands arc made to re-
claim themselves. 1t is not proposition
to tax the state, the county, or any mum
cipality, to construct or drain, ditch or
levee. The parties owning these lands are
not asking money or donations, or eontri-
buttons, but simply the right of retaining
the lands at their own expense, 1t is the
permission to help themselves that they
are asking, and not the assistance of 9th
ere. Southern and Central Illinois need
this amendment very much. Those lands,
when reclaimed, will be among the richest
In the state.
TENTH If you favor this amendment
see that the words For Proposed Amend
men to Section 81 of Article 4, of the Con-
stltution." be printed on all the. tickets of
all the parties, as every vote not for it is
against it.
Respectfully, G. L. Hlgbee, Pittsfeld,
ILL.,, a. 9. Matthews. Pittsield, H., j. S.
Irwin, Pittsfeld, H.. s. R. Powell, Scott
Co, H., r. NJ. Atkinson, Pittsfeld, Ill,
Richard j. Oglesby, Decatur, ILL.,, James
M. Beardsley, Rock Island. ILL.,, Charles
Atkinson, Moline. Ill.,, John Deere, Moline,
ILL.,, j. M. Gould, Moline, H., Henry
Dresser, Scott Co., Iii Sam Clark, Kind
erhOok, ILL.,, Charles Durham Henry 10