The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-06-24
DITCH PETITION
ALREADY SIGNED
Lake Porter County Line May Be
Route of Canal and Porter County
May Have to Pay Lions Share of
the Expense in the Big Scheme if
Plans Are Cared Out.


People in the Calumet region who
have watched the ups and downs of the
Jarnecke ditch proposition from its in
ception to the finish In the United
States Circuit court in Chicago when
know that the proposition, although
not backed by the Jarneckes, has
sprung up In another part of the region,
this time along the Lake-Porter coun-
ties line.
The new proposition like the original
one has for its object the idea of drain
ing the marsh lands along the Little
Calumet river, but unlike the Jarnecke
ditch which would have drained the
overflow from the Little Calumet into
the Grand Calumet but to drain the
overflow directly into Lake Michigan.
The latest proposition is said to have
been set in motion by Mr. Burns. Chi
cago man. who owns considerable land
in northern Lake county and who is
also interested in the Clough estate
near the Lake-Porter county line.
The working principle OF the newer
ditch is to build 1t so far east as to
miss the mouth of the Grand Calumet
river and thus circumvent the objec-
tions made against the Jarnecke ditch
to wit: draining the Little Calumet
overflow in the Grand Calumet river.
Gun Club Opposed Ditch.
The Toleston Gun club owning 2,4OO
acres in Calumet township was at all
times the strongest opponent to the
Jarnecke ditch fearing that it's excel
lent hunting grounds consisting mainly
of march would be laid dry It's oppo-
sition, however. is said to be withdrawn
in favor of the newer ditch, since this
would not lay the hunting marsh dry
and only take away an unnecessary
surplus of water. BY the same token
the farmers in the Little Calumet val
ley in North and Calumet townships
are looking askance at the new ditch,
saying that IL It only takes surplus
from the hunting marsh leaving the
amount of water, the fields in
the spring time would remain inundated
one time as we'll another In other
words, the farmers in North and many |
IF them in Calumet townships feel that |
the ditch would not work all the bene- |
ats that are expected of 1t and that it |
wou come to their rescue only in the |
,everest floods. What they want is a |
hitch that takes care of the little |
surplus as well as of the large one.
The friends of the new ditch argue |
however. They say there I
q considerable fall from the river to /
he lake and that since the Little Cal
imet backs up very easily the outlet |
lear the source would solve the prob
en- to perfection.
Such an engineering feat would Of
ourse, produce rather a camel than a
Itch. The distance from the Little
calumet to the lake is about five miles
nd cut of less than 40 feet at the
east could hardly be considered
A petition for this ditch has already
een signed and Attorney T. S. Fancher
4 Crown Point has been retained by
he petitioners to present the matter
o the county commissioners.
The exact line for the canal has not
ct been out although engineers have
cen working in the neighborhod of
he Lake-Porter county line. The pres
MT indications are that the cut will be
lade near the county line and possibly
4 Porter county in which event Porter
ounty would have to stand the biggest
art of the expense.
A canvass in the Lake county sit
alton in the matter has thus far pro-
uced no formidable oposition although
here are mutterings and rumblfngs
nderneath that portend trouble, If the |
ut is made in Porter county and the ,
AXE county townships are assessessed
he full value Of a probable benefit.
The flood of last spring is still fresh
! the minds of the people living along ,
he Little Calumet river and the foun-
alton had considerable to do with ,
ring about the petition for the new
Itch.