The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-10

- ssAV oW A0AO0 W1IAlu lL6 UOrOSr6
held by the federal government, pro-
vtding that all moneys received from
the sale of these lands should be used
IN the reclamation Of the same by the
construction of bitches or dykes. The
state Of Minnesota has received by yir-
tue OF this act nearly 5000 900 acres
of land. about 100000 of which have
been transferred by sale to private
parties or by Legislative grant for the
purpose of aiding the construction of
railroads or in building and maintain
ing public institutions.
Practically every acre of these
swamp lands can be reclaimed at
cost not exceeding $500 per acre and
when reclaimed will become the most
productive lands in the state.
State Drainage. .te
The state of Minnesota has appro-
priated for drainage purposes up to
the present time 1917 500. The Great
Northern Railway company has added
$4,000 to the fund and has paid one
half the cost of Typographical survey
of the Red river valley, also furnished
free transportation to those engaged
In state drainage work. This appro-
priation has all been expended under
the direction of the drainage commits
mission of the state; 240 miles of state
bitches have been dug or are now UNI
der way. The construction Of these
bitches has resulted in the reclama-
ton Of nearly $4,000 acres of land
The average cost per mile of the
bitches constructed by the state is
$l,427 90; the average price per cubic
yard paid for excavation, II ITO cents.
Nearly 81 per cent OF the whole appro-
priation has been paid contractors,
the remaining 8 per cent being paid
for right of way for bitches, engineer
Ing expenses, expense of drainage
commission, printing, etc.
e There Is no doubt that state drain
age work in Minnesota will be, carried
on. In the future, on much more ex-
tensive scale than it~has been in the
past. A typographical survey of all
the state lands is now being made I'M
der the direction Of the state drainage
commission. sg
The moneys expended in drainage
work has been one of the very best
investments ever made by the state.
The increase in the value of state
lands alone has amounted to more
than double the money expended.
Placing the benefits that accrue to
til lands which are directly affected
by the bitches at S.. 90 per acre, which
Is very low estimate, the total bene-
fits will be $1.560,OO0. 90. Add to this
the indirect benefits which result by
reason of the outlet furnished by these
main bitches for hundreds of miles OF
lateral bitches. the benefits to public
roads, the benefits to public health
and as a public convenience, and the
general benefits derived from opening
up and developing locality, the set
ment and cultivation of which has
been retarded by such obstacles, and
1t will require no further argument
to convince the most skeptical that
1t pays Minnesota to drain her swamp
lands. In Kittson county the bene-
fits resulting to one section of land by
reason of the construction Of the Two
Rivers state ditch more than paid the
cost of the ditch. This ditch is six
miles long and drains about 5000
acres. This section was sold last fall
at $500 per acre by the state, which
was $40. 90 per acre more than it
could have been sold for before this
ditch was constructed.
The Gun Lake state ditch in Aitkin
county was constructed at cost of
100000; before thin ditch was COM
pleted the state realized from the sale
of 5000 acres Of state lands lying
along its course over $4,000. 90.
Prior to that time these lands could
not have been sold at any price. Many
other instances might be cited where
the state received equally as good and
better returns for the money invested
In the reclamation of state lands.
County Drainage.
Minnesota has on her statute books
one Of the very best county drainage
laws ever passed by any state legisla-
ture. Over 800 miles of county bitches
were constructed in the state the first
two years after its passage. At the
present time over $2,500,000. 90 has
been expended by the several counties
OF the state and over 1000 miles of
open bitches constructed. Polk coun-
~ alone has expended 100000. 90 and
has plans and estimates made for the
4 expenditure of 100000 this year.
Construction Work.
bitches can be 4 constructed as
cheaply in Minnesota as anywhere
else in the union, that is, the cost per
acre for land benefited will be as low
II not lower than in any other state.
The following statement Of cost of
different kinds of ditch work is the
average price In each instance for this
class of work, based on the contract
prices for work on which the writer
was engaged as engineer and covers
period extending elOm 1886 to 1906:
slip scraper work, not exceeding 6
feet In depth, 10 cents per cubic yard.
feet In depth, - cents per cubic yard. Z
4 sup scraper work, not exceeding IL
feet In depth, IA cents per cubic yard.
", =; New era grader work, 8 cents per
shovel work from 2 to 8 feet deep,
s isnss %or fuf eIeg asd feet deem
Hay knife lie w work. Is TO- feet deep ,sq IL
es Hama ef fa sse'f Ii tiered il
Good drsd es' s soHis a cents Der cubic
Dredge work with unfayorabie con-
ditions. 10 to a cents per CUBIC yard.
G csnss nsr d n,ttc work ~ TO so
The Hstratg htening and improvement
of natural water courses iss becoming
one OF the most important factors in
extensive drainage schemes, The
streams. coulees, and other natural
water courses In many OF the western
states can be largely increased in
carrying capacity by small expenli-
lures In cutting of bends and clean
ing out their channels. Many of these
streams are overtaxed naturally and
with the additional burdens OF carry
Ing OF the water from the numerous
bitches now being dug the question OF
the improyement Of these main OUT
lets becomes one Of utmost import
HUC0. 3tN