The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-04-21


Pine Greek Ditch, in North and
Polk townships, were received in
the office OF the county surveyor
Thursday afternoon. AT 3:15
after the bids had been compared
and the lowest bidders deter1nin-
ed, it was found that one OF the
bids which was adjudged lowest,
was a disqualified bid, and Coun-
ty Surveyor Percy J. Troyer an
nounced that the bids would
have to be recompared and that
the result would be announced
Friday morning. The bonds of all
the bidders, excepting those OF
Contractors Morris, Flosinzier,
Snyder. Hartsock, Killian, Dill
ingllaan and Ipe were returned, it
being evident that the success
full bids lie within the bids OF
these contractors.
The Peter Sarber Ditch. bet
ter known as the Pine Creek
dredge which was sold to the
lowest bidder Thursday af-
ternoom when finished will consti-
tute the greatest drainage ever es-
tabIished in Marshall county. The
Pine Creek ditch, with its thirty
nine contributaries, if placed in
length, would constitute one
ditch over sixty-miles in length.
The dredge viii constitute the
removal of over 275,000 cubic
Yards OF earth, and it is estimated
will consume two years in its
construction. Three thousand
persons are assessed for the con-
struction of this great ditch,
which includes every resident Of
Polk township, excepting twelve
sections and also twenty sections
of land in North township. The
ditch vyhera completed will be the
greatest IN retaining land, OF
any similar dredge in the county.
1t is estimated that at least five
thousand ac.cs OF land will be
reclaimed from swamp and low
lands to the farmers of Polk and
North townships. The estimated
cost of the dredge as reported by
the construction commissioner
Percy ]. Troyer was $4,000 and
exceeds by $4,000 the estimated
cost OF the great Yellow River
Ditch. which will constitute the
dredging. and Strengthening on
Yellow river for about ten miles
Of its length and which latter
ditch was sold TO contractors a
few months ago.
Was Bitterly Contested.
The Pine Creek ditch, was al
so the most bitterly contested
ditch Improvement in the history
of Marshall county. Over a year
ago. Peter Sarber, and forty-mnc
others, petitioned for the estab-
lishment of the dredge. In the
February term OF the Marshall
Circuit Court, the remonstranSe
against the ditch was tried and
the ditch was docketed, and p. ].
Troyer appointed commissioner.
The work OF surveying the pro-
posed dredge, preparing plans
and specifications, and 1evying
the great list OF assessments, re-
auired many months OF hard
work. in the office OF the county
surveyor. The work was finally
completed, and the report was
filed in the Marshall Circuit
Court in the December term OF
the circuit court, last year. The
remonstrances against assess
ments etc., was then tried in the
January term OF this year, the
assessments were equalized by
Judge Bernetha in the local cir
cult court and the assessments
were finally confirmed. The pro-
gress OF the ditch was bitterly
fought by farmers heavily assess
ed by the ditch. An example OF
the heavy assessments agaIns'
some OF the farmers benefited Is
that of the township trustee OF
Polk township, Frank Nash. The
Nash farm has an acreage OF 22O
The ditch will pass through about
200 acres of this land, for which
the property is assessed the
large sum OF S1700. The assess
ments vary from this. which is
the largest OH the list. down tc
fortv cents. which is the mini
mum assessment. depending upon
the benefits which will be deriv-
ed the nearness to the ditch, etc
Large Undertaking
As stated above, the Pine
Creek, with its many tributaries
if stretched in straight line
would extend over 60 miles in
length. The dredging of the creek
will begin from the center lot
section 6 in North township, oi
about the middle of the west lin,
of the township. From this point
the dredge will proceed in
southwesterly direction for abou
two miles, will make curve, anC