The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-07
WHAT OTTER PEOPLE THINK
Country Roads and Drainage In Min
u n.so+a H. -. ..:-5,T
=. g.. ,


-" nesota. -
To the Editor of The Journal
N. Y. Taylor Of Litchfield, whose in
telligent views on the drainage question,
from the standpoint Of a trained engi-
neer, and long familiar with Minnesota
conditions, has recently made another
extended tour in northern Minnesota. lie
reports the crying need Of the home
steaders and others who are peopling
the region lying east of the, Red River
country and west of Lake Superior to
be, not so much the drainage Of the
swamps as the opening of roads. "Give
us roads," they declare. "and drainage
will take care Of ITSELF"
This declaration has double signifl-
canoe: First, as showing the line Of i'm
provement which the actual settlers and
homebuilders-as distinguished from the
representatives Of speculative interests
and drainage contractors-deem would
be most effective in the work Of devel
Oping our north country; second, as
pointing to the fact that a vast amount
of drainage would be the natural and
inevitable accompaniment and result of
roadbuilding. For the process Of con-
structing a road thru a wet country
consists mainly in the digging of ditch
on each side Of the strip to be occupied
and throwing upon the center the ma
terial excavated, to form the roadway.
AS these bitches must be Of some DEPTH
they naturally drain the land on both
sides. Build roads in suffciency. for the
accommodation of county. and very
nearly the whole drainage problem is
solved, OF the remainder the solution
will in many cases be found in the
+ simple removal of distractions, from
natural watercourses This Is particu-
larly the case with the country along
the Big Fork. Little Fork and other
streams flowing into Rainy lake and
Rainy river. In these, logs, MOSES, etc.,
have. accumulated to such an extent as
TO greatly hinder the work Of natural
drainage. Their removal would appar-
emily involve but little outlay as COM
pared with. the cost Of a great drainage
ditch constructed Independently of any
road building. ,.>,.-4 =, 9, .. { 49,,
At present the difficulties Of trans
portation and communication, In a large
portion Of the area described-ever
where the settlers homes are located
Lon high ground, as they generally are
make life, for a large portion of the
tyear, one Of extreme Isolation and hard.
ship. Clearly the method Of lettering
these conditions, pointed out by Mr.
Taylor, has the Endorsement Of simple
? commonsense. The sums proposed tt
be appropriated for the digging of grea
the water from big areas, if spent upol
) a combined system Of roads ant
ditches-built, not to render marketab BIZ
lands for which there is just now II,
pressing need, but to make accessible
the millions Of acres of good high Ian,
which it Is now difficult to reach-woul
seemingly, as suggested by Mr.. Taylor
bring far greater returns to the peopl
at large.
81 1t is to be noted that this system O
combined roads and bitches involves n
interference With natural water levels
: mo drainage of lakes, nor drying up q
streams. 1t is entirely compatible wit
!, the storage Of the water of drainage TO
g irrigation in seasons Of drouth, shout
l that further step in the utilization &
!, Minnesota's water assets some day b
:, determined upon. It simply assists ma
q ture and the settler at the same time
OF course. the Red River valley pre-
! sents an entirely different state of al
fairs. There the question Is one
e drainage. Drain those broad, rich level
= and the roads, If they do not 3''tak
care Of themselves" will be secondar
Q problem. ....'.... .<,.. s. -
S While the STEVENSON drainage bill T
a hung UP in congress, and while. stat
= drainage must lag for want of mean
= would It not be a good idea for tt
|. people, press and legislation to concer
J. trate upon roadbuilding as suggested a
. effort In behalf of that part OF northel
Minnesota covered by Mr.. Taylor's RET
0 mmendations? All could then be sur
r at least, Of giving to present settle
r just what they want, and of openir
: the way for other settlers in thousand
. BENZ. F. Beardsley
e st. Paul, July 7, 1906. NJ