Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-27
How Farmers Organize to Get
Rid of Meredosia
Water.
BY MEANS OF DAMS AND PUMPS
Half of the Land is Located
in Rock Island
County.

III is known the land has not been
valuable for the production of grain
for the land could produce nothing
on account of the earth being so wet
says the Record. When the Missis-
sippi river rises, water is backed up
in this swamp Is feet in depth during
high water, and when the river is low.
the water runs back into it, That
and the natural tendency of the land
to be wet, has made the land quite
worthless.
1t was found that the swamp ran
from the Mississippi river to Rock
river, about II miles in length. When
the water in Rock river is high or is
damned by gorges near Hillsdale, the
water runs through the swamp to
the Mississippi south of Alabany a
mile. During June freshets the Mis-
sissippi pours Il part of her water
back into the river Rock. Thus it is
that the river returns the compliment
and the swamp is kept under water a
great many months of the year.
Highest Point of Land.
About eight miles from the Father
of Waters, it was found the divide
was located. That is, there was The
highst point of land between the two
rivers.
1t had long been in the minds of
some of the progressive farmers, who
had land in TINS swamp, that the land
could be redeemed, and the water
put out and kept out.
The thought grew from a tiny thing
TO one IF massive proportions. The
land owners in both counties talked
over the matter. Of course there
were several who thought the pro-
iect not feasible, and was the idea of
over-heated brains. The subject was
no. let alone to die "a bornin,' but
these men who saw n great future for
this land kept right ut it and finally
they were rewarded by a meeting
called in which all or as many as
could of the owners of this land met
and the subject. thoroughly discussed.
This meeting took place July 27, 1895.
Drainage, drainage drainage" was
the slogan and upon this day the
child was born. 1t was called Drain
age" 1t seemed Il weakling at its
birth but it has developed and grown
into a mighty big child, one of which
its creators can feel justly proud.
Fall of Twelve Feet.
Upon this day a committee was APP
pointed to have a preliminary survey
made and the feasibility of building
levees to shut out the waters from
the two rivers. The committees re-
ported that there was fall of near
~ 12R feet in the nine miles. 1t was
then decided to go ahead with the
\ petition was circu-
lated among the lana owners and
some 65 signatures were obtained.
This was reported to the county
Judge, who, as the law of Illinois pro-
rides, appointed three commissioners
20 undertake the work.
These gentlemen employed a sur
7eyor and engineer, who laid out the
district and made an estimate of the
cost, which was some $31 900. Then
he court appointed a jury to go over
he ground carefully and prepare an
roll, covering the estimate
IF $4,000.
The jury went over every 40 acres
n the entire district, which com
Drises parts of Albany and Newton
townships in Whiteside county, and
Coe, Canoe Creek and Cordova town
ships in Rock Island county. They di-
,ided the land into three classes, each
% pay an assessment proportionate
10 the amount of benefit derived from
he drainage-class 1 at $4.35 per
acre; class at $3.65, and class 3 at
$500. They made written report to
his effect Aug. "a, 1896, which the
accepted.
Monster Levees.
The Ievees are monster ones. The
one on he divide, nine miles from
the Mississippi is $500 feet long, eight
feet high at its highest point and
contains $1,000 yards of dirt The
1ne at the mouth or near the Mis-
,issippi is 7.4OO feet long. 23 feet high
1t its highest point. is los feet wide
1t its base, and contains $4,000 yards
Of dirt.
Here at the lowest point is located
he pumping plant. for not only must
he waters from both of the great
rivers be kept from the land, but the
natural accumulation of waters from
rain falls and the natural lowness of
he land. The amount of land affect
ID, or reclaimed within the levees is
nearly 1000 acres.
When the Mississippi is at low
stage, no pumping is necessary, for
-wo 4-foot pipes which were put IN
IT the low place at the mouth of the
swamp, under the levee, permits the
water to flow out fast enough. When
he case is reversed, the gates are
lowered and the water is kept out
from the river, and the engines are
set TO work and the IMMENSE pumps
continue to take from efle low lands
his wateE,, The piinpszare what are
shown as centrifugal pHtgps and have
! contract capacity of $4,000 gallons