The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-01
WHY NOT DRAIN
The RICH LANDS?
Practical Work Proposed by the
State Drainage Convention
at Crookston.
special to The Journal,

! Z.
Crookston, Mimi, Aug. ARRIVALS
yention have been numerous. Senator
Glapp IS here with Secretary RandalI of
the State Agricultural society. Dean
Liggett, Of the st. Anthony Park Aori-
cultural school is attending the meeting,
and will also be present at the session
Of regents, which is called to dispose of
the location Of the agricultural high
Rice, chairman of the agricultural COM
mittee of the board of regents, Senator
Nelson, from Alexandria, and Governor
johnson and his staff came in today. o..
All of the assembled delegates will be
Toasted, dined and wined at the Masonic
hall at a banquet given this evening by
the citizens of Crookston.
Editors from all portions of the
Northern section Of the state began
pouring in today to attend the drainage
convention and the first meeting of the
Red River Valley Editorial association,
a new organization of Minnesota news
paper owners and workers.
The drainage league meeting opened
this morning, according to program,
sponses. Some valuable papers regard
ing the state 8 wet lands were read to-
day.
State Drainage Engineer George A.
Ralph said In part:
mMinnesota has s an area Of about ten "a
natural condition is too wet to be used
for agricultural purposes. OF this area
about two million acres has been re-
claimed or is partly reclaimed by the
construction of drainage bitches. About
one million six hundred thousand
several counties of the state, and
The cost assessed to the land
benefited, under the county drainage
law; 100000 acres has been reclaimed
by the construction Of state bitches, the
cost Of which was paid from direct ap-
ture, and about one hundred thousand
acres has been drained by tile construc-
tion of bitches by private land owners.
The 5000, 900 acres of swamp or wet
lands of the state is divided as to own
ershlp as follows: Indian lands, con-
acres; state lands, 100000 acres; pri-
vate ownership, 100000 acres. ID
''The estimated cost of reclaiming
these lands based on the best informa-
tion obtainable and on the cost Of the
work already accomplished, will range
from 81 to; 81 per acre. Putting, the
cost at the highest estimate, the, cost Of
reclaiming all the wet lands Of the state
will be $16,0O0,0O0. If this cost were
borne as it should be, in proportion to
the interests of the owners, it would be
made up as follows: ---S 80.
Federal government (for Indians) :. So 600, 900
State Of Minnesota 5000. 900
Private individuals. J.. 100000
These figures may appear stu
pendOus, but when we stop to consider,
we find that in the short space of three
years, the time the act for the reclama-
ton of the arid lands of the west has
been in force, fund Of $5O,OO0,0O0 has
been Cor will be by the time the plans
for contemplated works are completely
accumulated. North Dakota's share Of
this fund will be $4,500,O0O.
AS direct result of drainage farm
values in Illinois have increased from
$50 to $l25 an acre.
The. state of Minnesota has ex-
pended in drainage work up to the pres
ent time about 100000. This work has
been supplemented by the several coun-
state has. reclaimed 100000 acres and
the counties nearly i 100000 acres. Polk
county leads with; an expenditure of
about 100000, making a total Of 375
miles of bitches and retaining nearly
half a million acres of land. Marshall,
Red Lake, Nicollet, LIE Sueur, Faribault,
Norman, .Kandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns
and Douglas follow in the order named.
It is generally believed that many
OF the large sWamps and marshes found
. In the northern part Of the state are
practically worthless, and that it would
cost more to reclaim them than the land
would ever be worth. This is a mis-
take. The soil found in these swamps
and marshes, almost without a single
exception, is rich in the elements neces-
sary for plant life. It will cost less per
acre than it will to reclaim the swamps
and marshes of other localities. In
many instances nature requires but lit
lie assistance.
The wealth of pine forests, which
aas done more than anything else to
build up northern Minnesota, is fast
disappearing. In few years the cities
and villages in this locality that have
been built up and sustained by the lum-
Der industry will have to look to other
sources for their maintenance, and I'M
less the drainage work in northern Min
nesota is carried on on a more extensive
scale and the agricultural and other re-
sources Of the north part Of the state
are developed, the business interests
of these cities and villages will be sure
to suffer a loss. -