The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-06-29
STATE DRAINAGE LEAGUE.
New Officers Chosen and Much
Business Transacted.

The first session of the Minnesota
State Drainage League was held at
Wadena Tuesday. Over 100 delegates
from all parts of the state were pres
ent. State Auditor Iverson and State
Engineer Ralph were also present.
Treasurer Eva of Duluth precipi-
tated discussion when called upon,
by saying that ouly 1892 of the i'm
mense sums that had been raised had
passed through his hands. Secretary
Hays and President Bernard tried to
explain the cause for this. The act
ions of the secretary and treasurer
were strongly criticized by the con-
vention. A heated argument was
narrowly averted. The election of
officers resulted in the selection of c.
FL. Warner as president; John Aber-
crombie and Leslie Welter, vice presi-
dents; Fl. V. Eva, treasurer and j. S.
Cole, secretary.
Engineer Ralph submitted a paper
and in the same among other things
he said.
s'The Typographical survey of state
swamp lands, provided for by the leg.
islature of 1905, is now nearly COM
pleted. The area covered by this sur
vey, which has now been carried on
as far as the limited funds available
will permit. embraces parts of Kilt
son. Roseau, Marshall, Beltrami,
Clearwater, Wadena, Hubbard, Cass.
Crow Wing, Aitkin, Carlton, Itasca
and st. Louis counties. The data
acquired on the survey and which will
be assembled in the report of the
| work consists of elevations of swamps
at various points on their surface,
elevations of lakes, ponds and water
channels, typographical notes showing
character of land, surface. soil notes,
vegetation notes, etc.
"The report will also contain tabu-
lated statements of the elevations of
bench marks which have been estab-
lished on all lines of survey through
out the whole scope of the work, and
maps. plans and estimates for the
drainage of the swamp lands embraced
| in the survey.
"This report will show, not only
that all the swamp lands of northern
Minnesota can be drained and entirely
reclaimed, but it will also show that
the work can be accomplished at the
minimum cost for drainage work Of
this character. The surface slopes
are invariably very good, in fact, l
know of no record in the whole
country, of drainage work of this
magnitude, where the conditions, rel
alive to cheap and effective drainage
are so favorable.
Nv "About so per cent Of the area
of swamp land in these counties con-
sists of open marshes and meadows,
the remainder being covered with
timber varying from scattering small
trees to heavy growth of tamarack,
spruce and cedar timber. The swamps
of Clearwater, Beltrami, Itasca and
st, Louis counties have much the
same general features, the soil being
a vegetable formation varying from
two to eight feet in depth and is gen.
orally underlaid with subsoil of clay.
1.-THE cost of draining these swamps
will be small compared with the great
benefits that will accrue and small
compared with the cost of great drain
age projects in other parts of the
world. The plans and estimates of
the work have not been sufficiently
worked out to ascertain the cost, but
it can be safely stated that complete
system of main bitches can be con-
structed at cost not exceeding $l.50
per acre for lands reclaimed.
"The proper drainage of tie waste
lands of Minnesota does not mean the
destruction of many of the beautiful
lakes of northern Minnesota, as some
would have US believe. The plans for
the drainage of the wet lands Of the
state, will, when carried out, result in
making many lakes which now have
impure water, fresh and pure; will
result in making lakes that are now
stagnant, fishless ponds, lakes of pure
fresh water into, and out of which,
streams of pure and fresh water will
flow continually"