The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-05-27

trade from beyond the limits Of the
valley:
ln Other words the Marias des
Cygnes river has always been q die.
0stFous barrier 20 the trade OF Rich
Hm The solution OF tiis difficulty
seems nt lnst to be near az hand.
Under the Missouri drainage law a
canal q being constructed through
the valley into which the overflow
waters OF the river viii be diverted,
In time the canal Is expected "a
carry the iull volume OF the river.
The work OF constructing the canal
has been under way for the past two
years. BlcA HM and the bottom
iynds OF The valley have already felt
the stimulus al the work IN progress
Rich Hil property has advanced IN
value aud the citizens look forward
to a largely increased trade Land
values, both In the valley and IN the
adiaceut country, have SCARED up
wards aud continue TO increase
Probably ~twOthirds Of the Mariaa
des Cygnes valley lands have chang
ed hands since the construction OF
the ditch became a certainty. The
buyers are principally from drainage
districts OF Illinois l. Indiana
where similar lands have bccn rr.
claimed and become the most valu.
able farm lands ia Those s...tcs.
Many OF these purchasers arr ,ning
their lands aud otherwise repair
Ing for their cultivation. They arr
evidently well satisfied with their
Investments. Traction engines with
gang piows are used In turning over
the tough sod OF The grass lands, II
Is claimed these lands will easily pro
duce from IS 10 100 bushels OF corn
per acre, and when fully brought
under cultivation they VIII be worth
from $50 70 $500 per acre. Before
the coming OF the ditch these same
lands could have been purchased
atirom S. 10 So per acre. Recsat
sales have been made at $40 per acre.
mostly for lands subject only ~ e1.
~traordinary hoods. There are still
many thousand acres Of cheap lands
tn the valley. but il Is only here ana
there that purchases can be made al
the old-time prices.
This drainage system WIN add to
the cultivutable a OF Bates
County from 10000 60 $1,000 In the
county.
The Marais DIES Cygnes river has
its source far over In Kansas. Il
drains ga Immense water shed and
seemingly, at times, very ordinary
rains have been SUFFICIENT to produce
great Hoods. This Is r Of amost
The entire length oi the river both IN
Kansas aud Missouri. The drainage
ditch s expected 10 correct this evil
within the county OF Bates. aud 20
some extent lu Kansas. The ditch
begins ut a point near the state liue
aud extends la a straight coursa
with the general coursc ofthe river
90 the southeastern portion Of the
county where a. empties into the
Osagc river. The survey % the
ditch shows 2jl-2 miles while the
length OF the river IN the same dis-
lance is 80 IL miles. The hght-of-
way Tor the ditch is 30 feet Ia width.
The drainage district, which includes
al the lands assessed 20 pay for the
work % reclamation, lie upon each
side Ui the riycr-abOut $4,000 acrea.
fhv estimated cost 81 the ditch wa.
$40, 900. Six per cent bonds, the
last TO be tnken up twenty years
from date, to the amount OF SS07, 600
were sold 90 meet the expense Of
construction. These bonds bruuEet
"a premium of $4,000 and SSs,OOo
WINS credited back to the land own
ers FOR the rlght-ot-way. Payment
Of the bonds VIII hc met 10y a grad.
mated tax upon the lands within the
district the county roads aud Ril-
roads benefited. The tax Is lowest
during che FIRST years OF the ditch.
Steam dredRc boats aie used In Il.
cavnung the ditch which Tor a dis.
tauce has "a forty foot base aud a
width az The top often 10 feet, ow.
Ing TO the contour OF the ground.
The tnll or declInntlon from the point
Of beginning 10 the point of entry
Into The Usage river, Il over two
feet Go toe mile
Six lateral bitches. varying 10
length irom ono-touFth ofn mile 60
eight miles, form o part OF the sys.
tenn la the upper portion OF the dls.
trici. sixteen iron bridges win span
the main ditch aud i've the laterals.
At this time about one aud a hnlf
miles OF the main ditch remains 20