The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-10

w. r. Hoag, secretary Of the Mime
sofa drainage commission. yesterday filed
report with the governor of the work
done by the commission during the year,
together with copies of reports made to
boards of county commissioners In each
county where bitches or lateral bitches
have been constructed. Owing to the
fact that only small balance left over
from the 1881 appropriation was avail
able the work OF the commission has,
with one exception, been confined to
making inspection of the bitches already
constructed. AS a result Of couple of
trips made during 1899, the secretary in
his report says:
The commission makes but few recon-
mendations. AS the last legislature failed
to appropriate any funds for the expense
OF the commission, the inspection has not
been as thorough as of former years. nor
what would be needed to justify us to
make definite recommenda tons for minor
repairs. The unusual frequency of rains
during the season has kept a. fair: stage
of water in most of the bitches, which
always tends to improve them in keeping
an open channel. Thus, as system, 1t
Is more efficient at the close of the I'M
usual season than at the time of our in
spection in 1898.
Scarcely ditch in the valley furnishes
any conspicuous exception to the rule.
We consider that the small opposition to
the bitches is completely disarmed, which
maintained that q few seasons use would
fill them up and make them practically
worthless, necessitating a complete re-
examination. With possibly two or three
exceptions. the bitches are enlarginG as
designed, and are improving with each
seasons use. A number of counties are
supplementing the work of the state by
the construction of other main bitches
q W q intArplnttnor 6ftChQS
We regret that We have no funds which
would enable us to at least make study
as to what bitches would do the most
to free the land of excessive storm water.
The maps of the original topographic
surveys have all the data needed to make
such study. This report would be serious
ly incomplete If it did not record the very
substantial aid without which no inspec-
ton would have been possible this sea-
son, which has been rendered this COM
mission by Mr.. James j. Hill, president
of the Great Northern road.
The report also makes special mention
of President e. G. Valentine. who was
enthusiastic in the work and under his
supervision, very largely, the work was
successfully executed.
The 1T niles of bitches in the Red river
valley benefit, to very large degree,
en area of $4,000 acres. Only at the last
hour of the legislature did the bill ap-
propriating an additional $4,000 fail Of
passage IN the mouse, ana until IuFtESr
provision nothing further can be done to
improve the drainage system of the val
ley. but as seen from the report but lit.
tie is needed In the way of repairs, and
the bitches promise to be lasting bene-
At to the community. The annual water
fall in the valley Is excessive and
through the agency of these bitches
thousands of acres are cultivated that
otherwise would never be titled.
In all $1S5,000 has been expended by
the commissioners representing three ap-
preparations made by the legislatures be-
tween 1892 and 1897, and donation Of
s25, 600 made by the Great Northern rail-
road.
The bitches are located in the follow
ing counties: Grant, Traverse, Wilkin,
Clay, Norman, Polk, Marshall. Unless
means are secured from sources other
than the state the commission will have
nothing to do until after the next ses,
sion of the legislature, as the appropria-
lions have all been absorbed with the
exception of a balance of 81 cents on the
books of the state auditor.