The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-05-24
THROUGH THE STATE
NEWS GATHERED FROM VARIOUS
INDIANA POINTS.
DITCH TO COST MILLION
Government Engineers Make Report
on Draining OF kank akee Marsh
Reolon-Big Section TO Be
Benefited.

Washington, II. C.-While incl,
Sam is digging the big ditch" at Pan
anna he is also making plans for the
construction of another big ditch in
northern Indiana. In the former case
he foots the bill. and in the latter
instance he deyises the plan and puts
II up TO the persons who will reap the
benefits TO furnish the "sinews OF
war"
For several years the department
OF agriculture has been conducting an
Investigation with view to reclaim.
ing half million acres of swamp land
in the Kankakee region OF northern
Indiana. Its report has just been Civ
en- out for publication.
Ii outlines a feasible way OF TAX
ing the kinks out of the meandering
kankakee and Transforming about
500, 900 acres Of land that is now prac-
tically worthless into fertile tracts.
The cost is estimated at about $1,000.
600. c. G. Elliott, OF the Office of ex-
pertinent stations. department OF ag-
riculture, has gone to Indiana and
taken a copy of the report with him.
He will have a meeting at Wheatfield.
Ind. with prominent persons interest
ed in the drainage OF the Kankakee
swamps and will explain in detail the
conclusions reached by the depart
ment
The report is lengthy. and, by way OF
Introduction, recites that in 1904 Pro
fessor w. ID. Pence. OF Purdue univer-
sity, made a preliminary Investigation
OF the Kankakee region and dscov-
cred that the activity OF the land own
ers in constructing drains wherever
there was opportunity to reclaim or
better the condition OF marsh farms
was developing serious complications,
especially in the lower part of the val
ley. and that there was no unity OF
opinion regarding the plan that should
be adopted in the further reclamation
IF the lands In 1905 the office of ex-
pertinent stations detailed NJ. II.
Downey. now city engineer OF Ander-
son. to continue the investigations be
gun by Professor Pence for the pur-
pose Of examining the peculiarities of
this great river learning what had |
been accomplished by drainage and |
the bearing that the varied operations |
and experiences Of land owners had |
upon the solution of the drainage
question"
Mr.. Downey's report. accompanied |
by maps showing the character of |
the drainage work accomplished in |
the upper valley, with an account of
lis economic results, showed that at
he close of the year 1906 the main
channel of the river had been
by dredging from the
upper end as far down stream as the
vest lines of Laporte and Stark
counties. The improved channel at
his point had a bottom width Of 50
eet and discharged upon the flow line
If the river. From this point to the
Nomence Rock in Illinois, a distance
If ~ miles by river. and across the
width Of tive counties in Indiana
Porter and LIE on the south-no at.
empt had been made TO improve the
liver. The drainage operations in the
upper part Of the valley emphasized
he necessity of some action being
aiken for the betterment Of the condi-
ions in the lower section Confronted
With these facts the owners concern
d in these lands held a mass meet
ng at Baum's bridge, in Porter coun-
Y. on May II, 1906 at which time a
ropositlon submitted by the Office of
Experiment. stations to locate and sur.
ey a line for the correct channel of
he river from the east line OF Porter
ounty TO Momence, H.. was accepted
he division Of irrigation and drain ,
ge Investigations, office OF expert
tent stations. department of agricul- :
ire, agreed to survey a new channel
Or the river and prepare a report
lereon, provided the citizens would !,
lrnish the labor required to assist !,
ne engineering force. committee
nown as the "Kankakee Drainage
was chosen at this time. :
which T. J. Cook, OF Lacross, Ind. !.
as made secretary, and through his
the four counties concern.
! cooperated by providing the assist !
nee asked for. This survey was con
lcted by NJ. n. Downey assisted by
red Shafer. until the resignation OF
- former from the service on Octo- II
sr 1. 1906, at which time Omer Fair. S
T. assisted by w. 6. Miller, entered c,
% field and completed It. IN