Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-13
DITCH OWNERS OUT IN FORCE
Property Holders Along NishnabOtnn
Before Board.

Property Holders Along NishnabOtnn
Before Board.
Owners of town lots and farm lands along
the course of the proposed Nishnabotna
drainage ditch were present in force when
the supervisors of P-ottawattamie county
convened yesterday afternoon as a drain
age board to hear objections to the assess
ments for benefits from the construction
Of the Improvement. Delegations Of object
ing property owners from the towns of
Avoca, Hancock and Oakland and farmers
in the township through which the ditch
Is to be constructed were present in such
numbers that the board had to adjourn
the meeting to the south court room to
accommodate the crowd. Several attorneys
were present on behalf Of objecting prop
erty owners.
In addition to objectlng 70 the assess
ments, which in many cases, it is con-
tended, are excessive, attorneys are raising
numerous legal questions and when the
hearing is resumed this morning one OF
the attorneys will attack the constitution
ality Of the drainage law under which the
drainage district has been established by
the board. These questions arc being raised
at this time, as It is the stated intention
OF the directors to take the matter into
the courts.
The question of the constitutionality
OF the law is raised in regard to the sec
ton OF the statute providing for the hear
ing which the board is at present holding.
This section provides that the board shall
hear and determine all objections and may
increase, diminish, annul or affirm the
apportionment of benefits as It may APP
pear to the board to be Just and equitable,
but in nc case shall II be competent to
show that the lands assessed would not
be benefited by the Improvement, The de-
nial OF 'the right Of the property owner
interested TO show this. It is contended,
Is in direct violation OF the constitution.
It is expected that the hearing viii occupy
all Of today. Assessments for benefits ag-
gregatlng $50 S7.S9 are involved in the
present hearing. Some of the lands have
been assessed as high as S145O per acre.
What Chicago dramatic critics say;
Absorbing. Burns Mantle, Tribune.
"A great playa grand su~ccess|'-Con-
stance Skinner, American.
Gets hold Of the emotions of the audi
ence and holds them breathless. Forrest
Arden. Examiner.
"A play I would It holds at
%tention from first to last Ella Wheeler
Wilcox. Examiner.
Bends audience with rapt attention. -
James O'Donneil Bennett, Record Herald.
"a great playa splendid play."-Amy
Leslie. The News.
1T should be seen by all. See itr-o. L.
Hall. Journal.
one Of the strongest dramas OF Amerl-
can Life-the sensation OF the seasonal
play you cannot forget"-Charles w. Col
Inns, Inter Ocean,
"Great"-warren Mcintyre, American.
"Triumph."-Percy Hammond, Post.
Al the Star theater tonight.
Work for Fire Department.
Fire in the basement OF the Everett build.
ing at IA Pearl street shortly before
o'clock yesterday morning caused a lot OF
dense smoke and gave the fire department
considerable trouble before the seat OF the
blaze was discovered. It was extinguished
however. with but little damage to the
building, although the Postal Telegraph
company, which occupies part OF the first
floor office, had its wires and cables pat
out OF commission. The insulation was
burned off the wires and the equipment