Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-05-17

VOL. 30
To the Honorable Board Of
Supervisors Of Harrison
County. State Of Iowa.
The undersigned being interest
cd in the draining and reclaiming
OF certain lands described in q
petition fled May z, 1889, respect
fully say We have learned the gem
eral plan outlined by the commis-
sioner appointed to examine and
report thereon; and We believe
said plan is not the best for the
public health, convenience or
welfare.
We believe the situation Of the
land permits the adoption of a
plan that will enable the work to
be; done at an earlier date, aud
therefore better for the public
health; . plan that will allow the
water to flow away in less time,
and therefore be much better for
the public convenience; and at the
same time cost less for the land
owners to pay for construction,
while affording better facilities
for their local drainage, and there
fore be much better for the public
welfare.
The petition on file, having
brought the whole subject under
your jurisdiction, and the law
having provided that you shall
view the premises If necessity
implies, that the responsibility Of
deciding all these questions rests
with you.
We believe the magnitude of
the questions involved, include
not only the present welfare, but
the welfare of the whole county in
future years, when, by an error
now in deciding these questions,
may arise litigation. involving the
county in heavy expenses to be
paid only by increased taxation.
In asking your particular at
t.ntion to the plan Of the com
missioners, we would have you
c,nsider the directions for locat-
ing drains, found in "The Farm
err. Bulletin No 40" for the United
States Department of Agriculture,
ON page 10, it says: ITO begin
with, there must be an outlet
available for the system of drains,
which it is proposed to construct.
This. as will be readily under
stMh, is Indispensable" After
more than q year, we learn that
this 'sindispeneable" condition. an
'av silable outlet" which the Bull
letin says must be in your plan
s'to hegin WITH" has not been
found yet. And we have no as
surance that il ever will be found
under his plan.
In time of foods in the Boyer
valley the water in his bitches
will be held back till those floods
subside. By inspecting the map
It will be seen that water which
does the greatest damage comes
from the hills between the chan
mel Of Willow Greek and Soldier
valley, and comes by many diff
erent channels. It has been OBJ
served that this water gradually
concentrates near the junction Of
Fish lake with Willow Greek, and
in the earlier stages of a flood
from the hills, it. settles back in
Fish lake to point less than four
miles of Missouri river. This is
the natural route where this water
turns in the early stages of foods.
It has been ascertained by actual
measurement that there is au
abundance of fall to convey this
water to the only available outlet
which it is possible to get, that ie
t., the Missouri river. A good
channel this four miles only, would
efteotuslly prevent q recurrence oi
the largest proportion of the dam.
ayes which have occurred hereto,
fore.
The largest part of this water
can be conducted into Fish lax.
by bitches made in conjunction
with making good roads; and th'
distances for it to run in gettinl
tn Fish lake, made much shorter
The rate of fall per mile by thi
shorter route will he better tina,
it is possible to get in going to tn
Missouri river by his longe
4 route.
Itis believed that the cost Pc
mile for this four miles, will b.
less than it would cost by hi
route from Fish lake to the coun
ty line over four and half miles
provided sufficient dikes are mad,
70 prevent the spreading of th'
,rakar