Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-07-23
MR.. CRAWFORD OBJECTS
Gives Omaha Papers His Rla.
sons fer Opposing Big
bitches

OIVGS ONIldlld kdpHS HIS tsIl..
sons fer Opposing Big
Logan Crawford, one of the
very few who oppose the con-
struction of the big drainage
bitches in this section of Harri-
son County, has succeeded in
getting himself interviewed by
the Council Bluffs representa-
tive of the Omaha World Her
aid and says the following re-
garding the bitches, plans etc:
Mr. Crawford states that, in
view of the brief time within
which any effective opposition
can be made to the execution of
the plans which have been
adopted, it is quite likely that
resort will be had to the courts
to prevent the construction of
the drainage bitches as now
contemplated. Speaking of the
matter yesterday, Mr.. Craw-
ford said:
mo evil intentions are inn
puted to those promoting this
work. The time of the board
of supervisors is limited by the
statutes, and the amount of
| their other business so large,
that for detailed statement of
facts in a case of this kind they
must depend mainly upon re-
ports of commissioners. But
the statute which says they
may, if thought proper, view
the premises personally, implies
that the conclusions of the
j commissioners shall not be con-
rs.lered binding on the board.
It is claimed;
"First That the commission
ers have failed to make a pro-
per examination Of facts.
Second They have failed to
exercise good judgment in
forming their conclusions from
the facts before them.
"Third Their reports have
failed, to include many import
ant items required by the
ftatutes, as for instance, levies
and bridges.
Fourth Their proposed
change of Willow creek channel
will cause damaging floods,
leading to expensive litigation.
"The magnitude of these er-
rors make it an act of proper
self-protection to apply to the
courts for an order setting
aside the present plans, and APP
pointing a commission Of COM
petent engineers to report such
a plan as will meet the require
ments of the statutes.
"Public economy is essential
for the public welfare. The
general convenience requires
good roads, and bitches suitable
for drains, to be made near
farm lands. By utilizing the
present channel of Fish lake,
and suitable road bitches, a
large per cent of the water can
be carried into the Missouri
river in Harrison county by a
route having better rate of fall
and a much shorter distance
and avoiding expensive and
damaging levees through low
lands. This route will cost
much less for construction and
maintenance. With a reason
able interest taken in its con-
struction successful drainage
can be secured much earlier
than it can possibly be done by
the plan reported by the COM
mission. It is believed that a
very large per cent of the
water not thus disposed of can
be much better carried into the
Missouri river by a system uti-
lizing road bitches as far as
practicable, and avoiding con-
tact with the floods of Boyer
river.
By making one good road
ditch in the limits Of the high
way, and on that side which
will most readily receive the
water from adjacent lands, the
same excavations will serve
both purposes.
"An equitable per cent of the
cost Of construction and of
maintenance paid by public
rood fund will 1oox,o ,,o,,oh Loco