Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-01-02
DISCUSS DRAINAGE QUESTION
FARMERS OF the County Hold Interesting Session at Court House and
Discuss Present and Prospective Ditch Laws


by received no benefit while others far
away did. There should be separate
law. The main ditch is an outlet for
branch bitches. The assessment now
is too heavy. He thought that the
state ought to take charge and pay for
the main bitches.
Mr.. Hovey suggested a law which
would say that lands should be as
sessed for actual benefits and the state
should make up the difference in the
cost OF ditch when the assessment was
made.
Co. Auditor Johnson made sugges-
tlons as to where certain expenses
could be cut down for the benefit of
the tax payers.
Mr.. Anderson said that the law
should be changed so as not to COM
pei the bondsmen only to pay the
costs when the court overrules.
Lars Moline was heartily in accord
with what had been said and especial
~ approved of what Mr.. Anderson
had suggested.
A. o. Grangaard made a motion
that discussion be made regarding
judicial and main bitches and that it
be limited only to these. This was
carried, as was also motion to ad-
lourn until o'clock p. m.
At the afternoon session manv more
good suggestions were brought out by
those present. There were number
at this session who were not able to
be there earlier in the day.
Among those who expressed their
opinions were G. A. Glader, Co. Sur
veyor Day, Attorney N. L. Ericsson,
K. T. Rykken, Martin Anderson, NJ.
C.. Tollefson and John Wicklund, the
latter gentleman introducing the good
roads matter, for which it was found
there was no time for discussion at
this meeting. 1t was decided that the
road discussion be taken up at meet
ing to be held later. Jan. was
selected as the date, when the ditch
question would also be continued.
The forenoon session would be devot-
ed to the road question and the AFTER
noon session to the ditch question.
County Auditor Johnson gave some
valuable pointers and poin' ed out de-
| fects in the old ditch law, and where
there could be Improvements. He
contended that the law for county
bitches should be separate from the
judicial ditch law. Meandered lands
should be assessed in different way
than now if possible. A law should be
made that division made by viewer of
meandered land shall be final. The
engineer should be authorized to
make such necessary alterations in
the ditch as seem necessary. Changes
not to exceed two per cent is too small
The law should provide how the extra
costs are to be assessed. In regard
to judicial bitches the law does not
provide how the auditors are to col
lect from others and on what basis to
assess each county.
A motion prevailed that the meeting
proceed to discuss the matter OF
branch bitches and several speakers
brought out some very good sugges.
tions. Mr.. Haley touched upon the
experience and knowledge of tile ditch
ing and said that he could not recon.
mend this system of drainage too
highly. The maintaining and repair.
ing of bitches were taken up for dis
cussion and Chairman Bitterness read
the law bearing upon this subject.
A motion was carried to the effect
that a committee of five be appointed
to draw up resolutions recommending
changes in the present ditch laws and
to report at the next meeting to be
held on Jan. 5. The following were
appointed as members of such com.
mittee: Geo. II. Bitterness, A. O.
Grangaard, P. J. Haley, Lewis John
son and John Wicklund.
Upon motion the meeting adjourned
to Saturday, Jan. 5, at 10 o'clock a.
M, when it was hoped that there would
be still larger attendance.
The meeting proved most beneficial
one for all concerned and showed
what could be accomplished when the
proper interest is taken in such mat
ters.