The record-union., 1894-12-29
PEARSON RECLAMATION DISTRICT.
The Controversy Between Land Own
ers of the District.
Mr.. Van Loben Sells Sets Forth his
Side of the Controversy From
the Beginning.

1t has been known for some time that
serious dissensions have arisen between
the parties interested in the reclamation
OF the Pearson District in this county.
situated above Walnut Grove, compris-
ing some 5000 acres, upon which the
towns of CORTLAND and Painterville are
situated.
That reclamation has been known to be
one OF the most successful, and it was the
first to prove by actual demonstration
the practicability of thorough drainage
by means of pumping, and it has been a
matter of comment that the recent organ
1zation under the swamp land law is now
subject of bitter litigation in our Supe-
rlor Court, and is being attacked by one
of the largest landowners in that organ
lZation, who formerly was foremost in his
efforts to bring about q thorough re-
clamation thereof
Last spring quo warranto proceedings
were Instituted in the name OF the people
OF this State to have the organization set
aside, and the suit brought by the 1rus-
tees OF the new organization to collect the
assessment OF some Sl57 600, brought in
December, 1898, has not yet been pressed
for trial, but is still pending. Taking ad-
vantage OF his presence in this city,
RECORD UNION reporter called upon MIR.
Van Loben Sells, the landowner in ques-
ton, and ventured TO request him to eX-
plain his reasons for his course. After
pleasant chat on various topics, the re-
porter started the conversation by saying:
MIR. Y an Loben Sells, are you willing
TO state for publication the reasons why
you refuse to pay your reclamation as
EeSSmenL?"
"Why, certainly: it is long story, but
II you think IL Will interest the readers of
the RECORD UNION you shall have It,"
was the reply.
Although L am aware that my course
has been criticised by many, / am con-
WINGED that everyone of the intelligent
readers of your paper will understand
and approve 1t, and would act likewise,
II placed IN the same circumstances.
a VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT.
First, then, in the year 1881, voIun-
tary agreement between the landowners
in the Pearson Reclamation District was
entered into for the contribution of funds
for the reconstruction and strengthening
of its dilapidated dikes, which did protect
II against overflow. This and several
subsequent similar agreements were car
rled out under my personal supervision.
with the Well-knOWn result that our lands
have been free from overflow ever since,
and are now among the best reclaimed in
the country.
LAS early as the spring of 1884, how
needed than to keep the outside waters
oH the land. The inside water-result of
slpage and rainwater accumulations-had
to be removed by means Of pumps. That
this was feasible was at that time not yet
recognized, and was, on the contrary,
generally ridiculed.
The above agreements did not author
lze the expenditure OF moneys for any
purpose except the building of dikes, and
an attempt made at meeting of land
owners to induce them to authorize the
trustees TO construct a pumping plant
failed, as 1t was not yet thought necessary
or practicable.
THE FIRST PUMP CONSTRUCTOR.
Convinced from my experience and
observations in Holland that without
drainage reclamation cannot be made
profitable, l decided TO show by actual
demonstration what could be done in this
respect, trusting that my neighbors
would gradually become likewise con-
WINGED OF the benefits Of pumping, and
would reimburse me after the matter had
been thoroughly tested, and my system
proved necessity and a success.
so 1t was that the owners Of 800 acres
saw magnificent pumping plant erected
by and at the exclusive expense of the
owner OF the remaining $500 acres a
plant, with the latest and most perfect
improvements, both as TO coal-saving
appliances and effectiveness, not yet eX-
celled in this State, capable of throwing
1000 gallons OF water per minute, and
which has ever since kept those 1900
acres thoroughly drained, and made il a
garden-spot.
HEAVY PUMPING EXPENSES.
During ten years this pumping plant
has been in operation and all the ex-
penseS OF digging very expensive sys-
tenn of canals and bitches, constructing
gates, bridges and yearly repairs, be-
sides all the yearly running expenses
amounting in 1880 to Sl8,000 = Sl00 900
being the yearly average were, with
few and insignificant exceptions, borne
exclusively 10y $500 acres to the advant-
age of the entire 5000 acres. For except
III few cases, and that recently, where I
could prevent the water on their lands
draining into mine. my neighbors did not
pay me a cent, although many had
agreed and promised to do so. They,
however, all got rich from the increased
products of their orchards. They built
tlne houses, and two of them retired and
now spend their leisure hours in local
bank here.
PROPOSITIONS FOR ORGANIZATION.
'As the benefits wnich they derived
were OF an uncertain Rature as at any
time | might stop pumping. viii ch would
cause their orchards to be flooded, they
realized that things should not continue
In that manner Indefinitely. Repeated
propositions from them had come to me
ever since 1890 to cooperate with them
Tor the organization of our lands under
the Swamp Land Act, as they saw that
they could not do so without my sig
nature, representing as L did more than
one-third OF the total acreage.
My uniform answer always was, that
/ was quite willing TO agree to any propo-
sition that was fair and square, subject to
the one condition that this question of
ownership and paying running expenses
of the pumping plant be also settled for
good, as L could not be expected TO con-
tinue pumping forimy neighbors indefi-
nitely, and 1t was high time that an or
ganiZation should own and run that
pumping plant for the benefit of all. At
the same time, l told them that they
could not expect that /, being in the mi
nority, should put myself in the hands
OF a majority unless | could receive as
surances of fair treatment. For instance,
! said that the pump p-house, ditch system,
etc, having been dug now, | don't pro-
pose TO contribute money for the con-
struction OF another plant and ditch sys-
tenn, Which would render mine useless.
A BONA FIDE AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO.
''To all this a number of the largest
and most influential landowners. repre-
senting with me about so per cent. of the
total acreage, after frequent consultations
among themselves, agreed.
THE PUMP EXAMINED BY EXPERTS.
sit was then understood that all were
TO vote for three trustees, to witt: L. d.
Greene Alexander Brown and O. r.
Runyou, who in turn agreed and prom
ised to carry out, if elected the under
standing between US, to wit: L was to
organize the district, employ attorneys.
surveyors, pay everything, and after or
II, TO-