The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1905-06-12
STATE DRAINAGE
LEAGUE FORMED
Representative Men of Northern Mime.
sofa Band Themselves Together
to Fight for Legislation.

llO liOoU ILL OoA OSoiio W NIe ~
the meeting in Bemidji of the
state drainage board Saturday
afternoon was the formation in
the evening of the Minnesota
Drainage League.
The new organization was
formed at a meeting of those
who were present at the session
of the board in the afternoon.
The meeting was held at the par
lors Of the Markham hotel and
about 100 were present. A. G.
Bernard of Cass Lake was elect
ed chairman of the meeting and
H. G.. Hays of Bemidji secretary.
After a general discussion of the
needs of northern Minnesota, in
which senators and representa-
tives from every district in
northern Minnesota participated,
it was decided to permanently
organize the league at meeting
to be held in Crookston on the
first Tuesday in August. A COM
mittee consisting of A. G.. Der
nard of Cass Lake, H. G.. Hays OF
Bemidji, Representative Cole
of Walker, Senator A. D. Step
ems of Crookston, Aad A. Tone of
Mort home, Representatives Ash
erville Murray of Wadena and
Representative O. B. Eckman of
Roseau was appointed to draft
constitution and by laws, which
will be either accepted or reject
ed at the Crookston meeting.
The nature of the work to be
attempted by the league will be
to bring about needed legislation
in regard to appropriations for
draining the state swamp lands,
and to protest against the main
tenance of government and
state dams on the upper Missis
sippi river, viii h, it is claimed
by people of Grand Rapids, over
flow large areas of lands located
up the river from the site of the
dams and do damage below be-
cause of the uncertain flow of
water that results from manipu
lating the gates, the flow at time s
being of such a volume as to in
undate farm lands and property
located near the river, while at
other seasons the water is shut
off and only a small stream is al
lowed to escape, thus hinderidg
logging and other operations that
are carried on to such an extent
that thousands of dollars are lost
every year. According to a reso
luton offered by Engineer Geo.
Ralph and adopted at the meet
ing, the league will be composed
of five members from each
county in the state, these dele.
gates to be appointed by the
chairmen of the several boards of
county commissioners. These
delegates will assemble at
Crookston on the date set for the
formal organization of the league
and specially prepared papers
and maps showing the conditions
that exist in regard to the drain
age proposition throughout
northern Minnesota will be on
hand. 1t is believed that by hold
ing a meeting of delegates from
all parts of the state and going
over the drainage question fully,
the people of the southern por.
tion Of the state will be shown
that they will be benefited as
much by adopting measures pro.
viding for the drainage of state
lands as those living in the north
ern portion.
Drainage" will be watch
word of the league every minute
from the time of it's organization,
and the enthusiasm shown at the
meeting Saturday night indicates
that the united efforts to be put
forth will result in much good.
The meeting in the afternoon
was concluded about 5 O'Clock
when Governor Johnson, who,
after a few closing remarks pro
nounced the meeting adjourned.
Several speakers were allowed
to express their views on the
drainage proposition, however,
before the session was ended.
Following the speech Of Repre-
nnfa4;un Gala Of Wallxnr u T