The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-18
DITCH LAWS DEFECTIVE
ENGINEERS AND SURVEYORS ,AGI-
/ TATE IMPORTANT CHANGES TO
CLEAR UP PRESENT PROVISION.

/ Reformation of the county ditch laws
is being earnestly agitated, and there
will be no lack Of bills presented to the
legislature with the intention of re-
moving some serious defects in the pres
ent laws.
y Some of the most serious flaws in the
law are called attention to by John
Abercrombie of Alexandria, county sur
Xeyor OF Douglas county in a letter to
L e Journal. His communication
is too long to be reproduced entire. Mr..
EAbercrombie pleads for new law based
any ordinary, community of tax payers
may be able to read and unquestionably
sput into effect,' so that "any portion
of any county in this state may grasp
1ts spade and go to work to reclaim it's
gotten bogs:, soggy, pastures and sour
fields as easily, freely and exempt from
obligation as it might be in transacting
f hfy q the ordinary elemental affairs Of
& For instance, Mr.. Abercrombie finds
fhat the law provides for draining lands
into lakes and streams, but does not
Provldee, for letting the water out, so
1ha t1 the re-, lakes are overfowiing good
nave drained their acres onto lower
ground, and the owners of the lower
land are compelled to pay for larger
bitches to GARY off this excess of water.
/ sMr. Abercrombie would have the law
clearly assess S. the upland owners for
(which would drain 10000 acres about
Usakis, is blocked by the inadequacy Of
{ the laws.
II This same subject has been worked
S oyer by the legislative; committee of the
s Mdlnesota Engineers, and Surveyors
Jan. 25. The committee consists Of
*Heorge 4. Ralph of Crookston, Profess
for w. R. Hoag Of the state university,
innd John D. Morgan of St. Cloud. It
mas worked out a number Of amend
meeting, and will he turned over to in.
Ferested. members of the legislature. for
1 submission. They have been framed
! after correspondence with all The county
surveyors, auditors, county attorneys
and chairmen of county commissioners
J in the state. 81.
ILL., One amendment drawn will permit the
fralnage: of meandered lakes, except to
1 the detriment Of lakes valuable for fish
sang, boating or water supply
] Another will permit township super
! Tlsors,, city, councils, the state board of
SSkontrol, or the agent Of any public insti-
4 Glitch petitions. Other amendments are
sframed to reduce the cost Of prelimi-
mary work, to permit bonGsmen to dis
miss ditch proceedings, to permit esti-
: mates on. grubbing, fence-making and
ssother work beside excavation, to permit
beyond limits named in petit
sIions and to, permit engineers to file a
sum Of $4,000, instead Of separate bonds ads
for each ditch. Another proposed
clause will permit the letting Of a CON
tract after failure at three successive
times to sell at the appraised price, at
( "a price 60 per cent in advance Of the
appraisal. A penalty is to be provided
afor county officers who fail to perform
their duties under the act, and new
Stsection says that where a ditch crosses
ga public road or railroad, the authorities
responsible for such road. or railroad
shall construct the bridge or culvert,
without expense to the county. An
sather section regulates the proceeding
.t!for bitches draining lands in more than
3one county.