The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-05-20

NIlNA ny ANN NNNfAiNNh tNNAlNE on
trade from beyond the limits Of the
valley.
In other words the Marlas dea
Cygncs river ms always been u dis.
nstroug barrier TO the trade OF Rich
AN. The solution OF this difficulty
seems az last 20 be near az hand.
Under the Missouri drainage law "A
canal j. being constructed through
the valley Into which the overflow
waters OF the river will be diverted.
In time the canal Is expected Ia
carry the full volume Of the river.
The work % constructing the canal
has been under wayfor the past two
years Rich Hlll and the bottom
lynds Of the valley have already felt
the stimulus 81 the work IN progress
Rich hiil property has advanced In
value and the citizens look forward
to a largely Increased trade Land
values, both In thr valley and IN the
adjacent country, have DARED mn
wards aud continue To ipcrease.
Probably twothirds OF the Marlas
des Cygues valley lands have ehang-
ed hands since the obstruction ~
the ditch became a certainty. The
buyers are principally from drainage
districts OF Illinois o. o. Indiana
where similar lands L..c boen ~.
claimed and become the T. ost vain.
able farm lands in tn stn,r.
Many Of these purchasers sin
their lands and otherwise , nr-
ing for their cultivation. 1hey ar,
evidently well satisfied with their
investments. Traction engines with
gang piows are used IN turning oyer
the tough sod Of The grass lands. n
Is claimed these lands win easil, ,y,.
uuee from IS TO 100 bushels Of ,..rn
per acre aud when fully brourht
under cultivation they viii be worth
from $3.50 to S2OQ per acre. Before
the coming Of the ditch these samc
lands could have been purchased
atirom - 20 S25 per acre. Rerent
sales have been made at so per ncre
mostly for lands subject only IN ~.
~traordiuary floods. There are stIp
many thousand aeres oi cheap lands
In the valley, hutit is only here and
there that purchases can be made at
the old-time prices.
This drainage system win ada "a
the c%ultlyatablc a rca Of Bates
County from 1900 TO 5000 IN thc
county.
The Marais Dies Cygnes river has
It's source FAR over Ia Kansas. II
drains an Immense water shed npd
seemingly, at times. very ordinary
rains harc hccn sumcieut 90 produce
great Hoods. This Is true OF amost
the entire length OF the river both In
Kansas and Missouri. The drainage
diuch is expected 90 correct this evil
within the county 90 Bates, aud 10
some extent ia Kansas. The ditch
begins ut e point near the state line
aud extends Ga "a straight conn.
with the general course ofthe river
to the southeastern portion OF the
county 'where q cmptles into the
Usage river. The survey of th,
ditch shows s{t2 miles while the
length OF the river in the same dis.
lance IL n i.2 miles. The rgbt.of-
way Tor the ditch Is 200 feet Ia width.
u drainage district, which includes
A'i The lands assessed to pay for the
work OF reclamation. be upon eacb
side u the river-about 5000 acres
INV estimated cost OF the ditch wa.
@ao> 900. Six per cent bonds. The
last TO Toe taken up twenty wear.
from DATE. to the amount OF SgG7 0o
We're sold To meet tho cxpeuse og
construction. These bonds brour,t
q premium oi $4,000 and sas.0oo
was credited hack 70 the land own
ers Tor the rightoEway. Pnvmept
OF the bonds will be- met by a grna
ua'cd tax upon the lands within tbe
district the county roads aud nh.
roads benefited. The tax T. l-,,yes,
curing the first years OF the ditch
steam dredgc boats are used in ~.
eavatlng the ditch which for a ais.
has n forty foot base and n
with at the top often 10 fect. ON.
lns 70 the contour OF the ground
nan or deeiinatlon from The point.
OF beginning 70 the point of eutrv
into the Usage river, Is over two
feet to the mile.
Six lateral bitches. VARYING
gns.h ron o%ne-iourth ON mile "a
elEht miles form "a part Of the avs.
tenn ia tue upper portion OF the dl..
t,le' sixteen iron bridges WIN sp.n
% main ditch aud i've the Iaterals.
a. thls time abou, one and a bnlf
miles OF the ianln ditch r,,,.