Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1903-10-29
DRAINAGE in UNION COUNTY.

Reference TO the commissioners
proceedings found on the next page
shows that all action by the county in
the matter OF the several proposed and
much needed bitches has been sus-
pended for the present at least and
probably until some change can be
made in the state constitution. This
action 10 unfortunate, because drain
age would lead 20 wonderful and
valuable development OF Union county.
Twenty years ag0 the writer saw
farmers in central Illinois, in loca-
tions similar TO ours here, begin to
tile their lands as private enterprise;
today those same worthless lands are
among the most valuable in the state
and are selling for $3.50 per acre. With
systematic county drainage and q
natural situation equal TO the best
why should not much more be ac-
complished? The excessive rainfall
of the present year has shown that
some OF the most valuable land In the
state is absolutely worthless without
drainage in wet year, while bitches to
take water off quickly any year would
more than pay their cost ia the time
they would save the farmer in getting
on to fiat bottom land in the spring to
work it.
The commissioners call attention to
the dilemma they are In The state
law provides that the cost OF these
bitches shall be assessed on the ad.
joining lands In the proportion OF
the benefit to each; the state consti-
tion requires that all taxation shall be
equal. The two conflict, and adjoin-
ing farmers, some OF whom see little
benefit to them, are quick to see this
discrepancy and protest against all the
expense being assessed to them. The
question of constitutionaiity surely
ought to be settled and If possible
remedied. Meanwhile farmers whose
lands are mile or Two or ten miles
away, should remember that while a
county ditch might not directly drain
their land, still an improvement on
land one, two or ten miles away that
raises their value So, $40 or S25 per
acre would give them also an improved
value much above any cost they
would pay in taxes. The proper adj
justment, as 1t seems to the COURIER,
would be a combination of the two
assessing the main expense to those
adjoining and directly benefited, while
also calling on the whole county and
In a degree, the state, to share in the
expense, since they also share in the
benefit.
The LaBreche Lake and Big Sioux
petitions, notice of the pendancy Of
which appear for the first time today
Ia our columns, will likely meet the
same fate at the hands of the com
missioners that the other petitions did
last week. We believe the commis-
sioners are right 10 holding this to be
the only safe and feasible course for
the county to take under these cir
cumstances. But 1t is none too early
to De thinking what can be done to
remedy this unfortunate condition
We believe the Union county dele
cation TO the next legislature should
60 up with a constitutional amend
ment authorizing taxation under the
state drainage law in the proportion
of benefits received and prepared to
push the proposed amendment to an
early and unanimous passage. This
would bring the statute into line with
the constitution and give the county
board firm ground to stand upon. TO
drain or not to drain, that Is the Ques-
tion. We say drain, but fret let as
amend 90 that everything shall be
legal and solid.