The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-27
DRAIN THE VALLEY
IMPORTANT RESULTS BEING AC-
COMPLISHED BY THE STATE
bitches.
WORK OF CONSTRUCTION
PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY IN
CLAY COUNTY-WORK PLANNED
FOR THE FUTURE.
MME. BLAUyELT SEEKS DIVORCE.
Suit Comes Up for Hearing in North
Dakota COurts-NOrthNvest
News.
Special TO the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
MOORHEAD, Mimi, Nov. go. H.
Hoffman, of Minneapolis, state ditch
engineer, was at the Columbia hotel on
Monday evening on his way to Brock
enridge to confer with Chairman VAL
entine, of the state drainage commits
sion. Mr.. Hoffman had just come in
from the Nordeck ditch. which he had
gone over for the purpose of making
the final estimates on the work done
before the ground froze. He said all
the work was closed down for the
winter, and he was we'll pleased with
what has been accomplished during the
summer.
This year" said Mr.. Hoffman, I'VE
have built the Atherton ditch in Will
kin county and it practically extends
to the head waters of the south branch
of the Buffalo river, 16 miles, for it
makes a living stream the entire dis
lance The work was very light and
the total amount of earth eXcavated
was only $1,000 yards for the entire
sixteen miles.
The Mansion ditch, also in Wilkin
county, was completed in October. 1t
extends from the Mansion slough two
miles north to coulie that leads
northwest to the south branch of the
Buffalo The amount of earth eXca-
yated was approximately 10000 yards.
I'VE were delayed in getting started
on the Nordeck canal but by rushing
the work only about half of mile re-
mains to be dug. The ditch will do al
most as much good as it would II COM
pleted. for we worked from the outlet,
and the first six and half miles are
finished, and 80 600 yards of earth have
been excavated, leaving about 5000
yards to complete the work
THE twO-mile extension of the Eel
ton ditch in this county, completed
this year. is of great benefit to the
northern townships, for it taps two
coulies leading from the hills and
makes o live stream the entire length
of the ditch the year around. Al
though only 1900 yards of earth We're
moved this work was of great I'M
portance.
THE Middle river, or Argyle ditch,
in Marshall county, was not hnlshed,
but enough work has been done to
make it an outlet for the greater part
of the overflow in that part of the val
lev. The ditch is five miles in length
and is not quite down to grade, but
the cut has extended throughout the
entire distance. and about 1900 yards
of a total of $4,000 must be excavated
next season unless the current cuts the
bed down to grade.
1.-THE same conditions exist in the
BeItrami ditch, which has been finished
five miles back from the outlet. Whlle
about 5000 yards of earth must be
moved next year the $1,000 yards al
ready taken out leave the ditch in such
condition that it will be of great bene-
fit to the country.
"T cannot say what work will be
done next year, and nothing will be
determined until the meeting or the
commission early in December AL
that time the estimates for the work
done this year will be allowed. 1t Will
not be possible even then TO decide
upon further work, for we cannot tell
how much money it will require to fin
ish the work already under way. In
regard to the proposed Moland ditch in
this county it would have been built
this year if the right of way had been
secured. Mr. Barnes refused to deed
the necessary strip of land and we
could do nothing but abandon the
work until such time as he changes
his mind That time may be too late,
however, for there may not be money
enough left to build the ditch. 1t is
badly needed and would reclaim many
thousands of acres of land. | hope we
NAV be able to do this work next year,
and that. with the ditching the coun-
ty and towns are doing. would put Clay
county in excellent shape to take care
of the wafer"