The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-23
WILL BE ASKED TO HELP
RED RIVER VALLEY FARMERS
NEED SEED WHEAT
Grain Men and Commercial Bodies
of St. Paul and Minneapolis May
Advance the Necessary Seed Or
MOney-FIOOds off Last Season
Left the Farmers In Want--GOv.
CIOuEh VIII Lend Il Hand.

| 1t is quite probable that the grain
men Of the Twin Cities will be asked to
assist the Red river valley flood suffer-
ers. in obtaining seed wheat this spring.
| Roland Hartly, Gov. Clough's private
secretary, left last night for Moorhead,
where he will look into the condition
of the farmers living in the flooded dis
trict
The matter has been brought to the
attention of Gov. Clough, who decided
to investigate the matter. In the alb
sence of a seed grain appropriation this
year, it will be impossible for them
to secure aid from the state.
The governors contingentsfun is
only $4,000 and not sufficiently large to
assist the farmers who lost all their
crops last year.
Mr. Hartly stated yesterday that he
was confident that something would
have to be done to assist the farmers
of that district in getting started this
spring.
There was no state fund available
for this purpose, and in all probability
the grain men and the commercial
bodies of st. Paul and Minneapolis
would be asked to advance a SUM
which would enable them to purchase
seed wheat enough to put in crop
cured, and Mr.. Hartly thought that
little difficulty would be experienced in
raising the money.
The damage was occasioned by the
high waters OF the Red river last
spring. During the later part Of June
considerable relief was experienced by
a continued dry SPELL About July 1
there came a protracted season of rain
fall which drenched everything in the
valley. ~.--.@' e:s
Mr.. Hartley visited the section last
year late in August, and found the
grain standing green, bligflted, dead
loss to the farmers. = 80: ~.t+.-.-
was plainly evident that. the. farm
ers in affected portions would have to
build lateral drainage bitches from the
bitches constructed in order to protect
themselves against future floods.
e. G.. Valentine, Of Breckenridge. who
has carried On the construction of state
drainage bitches. states there was but
little money available for the work at
present. s- o.,
Mr. Hartly said yesterday that the
last time he was in Crookston a
prominent citizen told him that the
bitches constructed around Crookston
had been worth a quarter of million
dollars in crops to the farmers in the
vicinity.
The state had constructed bitches
through most Of the effected parts Of
the country, and In order to protect
themselves farmers were taking ad-
vantage Of the states precaution by
building lateral bitches.
The bitches had been a blessing to
the farmers Of the Red river valley.
The next legislature will be asked
for liberal appropriation by the state
drainage commission to enable them to
complete the work Of laying the neces
sary bitches, from which the bitches
built by the farmers at their own ex-
rense will radiate, thus giving them
adequate protection against the posi-
bilities of flood. caused by the natural
conditions of the Red river valley.
Mr. Hartly is expected home Friday
| when he will take the matter up with
the governor,