The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-26
AROUSED TO The
NEED OR DRAINAGE
CONVENTION AT MooRHEAD
PLANS AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN.
Committee Appointed for Conference
with Engineers Concerning Com
prehensive Drainage System in the
Western Part of Clay Comty-Many
Practical Addresses Made. ,
Special to The Journal.

Moorhead, Mimi, Aug. 26.-The
drainage convention held here yester-
day afternoon was highly successful,
both in point of attendance and in re-
called by the Moorhead Commercial
drainage situation, especially in the
three western tiers of towns Of Clay
county.
The attendance was large and the
discussion spirited, showing that those
in attendance were fully determined to
do something. and the definite result
was the appointment Of a committee
of five men, vitality interested, to con-
fer with competent engineer, prefer
ably State Drainage Engineer George
A. Ralph, and obtain from him an esti-
mate Of the cost of plans for COM
prehensive drainage system, in the west,
ern part of the county. 1t is believed
that the United States Typographical
survey, made some fifteen or more years
ago, can be largely used in establishing
the elevations.
Town officers present were unanimous
in promising to use their influence in
cetting their towns to provide not to
exceed $25 each to meet the expenses
of this work, and the city Of Moorhead
was pledged by aldermen present to
give at least 800.
Mayor Nye, as chairman, appointed
the following on the committee: Cap
tain Richards, Johnston Wagner, w. ).
Botkin, L. A. Huntoon and +. II: Lamb
They were instructed to have the en-.
gineering work for the system done, IT
the money to pay for it could be Sc
cured, and to report at meeting to be
called by them.
George r. Perley made the principal
Clay county and explaining the work
ing of the new state drainage law: The
other speakers were Senator T. Il. Re
terson, L. A. Huntoon, W. j. Botkln
and johnson Wagner.
Mr. Wagner explained how the town
of Oakport had established. system
Of east and west drainage bitches cost
ing about $500 a mile on the average,
and paid for out of the regular taxes.
He said that to these bitches he at
tributed the fact that he and his neigh
bors had their grain in the shock while
other farmers were unable to get into
their fields to cut the grain:
difficulty in drainage here is the OBJ
tanning of suitable outlets for bitches.
An experiment is being tried by the
water and electric light commission, of
sinking an artesian we'll near the cleo
trio light plant, with view to obtain
successful other wells will be sunk to
give the necessary supply. o>
= Farmers say that hay will be $40
ton this winter, the rains having pre-
vented the cutting Of the heavy
growth of grass. Straw will probably
be very scarce on account Of the large
amount of grain that will be uncut.
/ CROOKSTON, MINN.-The RED
River Of the North is pronounced by
United States engineers as OF too small
volume and too slow a current tc
carry off the water which will be
rushed to the stream Immediately. after
heavy rainfalls turnout the valley II
the present ditching system is extend
ed, as proposed by the State Drainage
league organized in this city this
month.
John Stewart of North Dakota, who
Is in charge of the United States topo
graphical survey in this section, ha'
carefully studied the matter and has
come to the conclusion that the only
remedy from future overhows of the
valley after every heavy rain will bt
the deepening Of the channel of the
Red and the increase in the volume
e. of water carried away by, the stream.
Congressman STEVENSON and other
next session of congress will undoubt
rises at every heavy rain, and if tn,
present ditching system is extended
che trouble will be so serious as to dam
age a large area of valuable farm lane
on both sides of the river.
It is proposed that the straighten
ing and deepening of the river be mad
q national affair. A we'll defined pla1
of action will be laid out by those VIII
have the matter in hand.