Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-03-09
Minnesota SWamps Are Turned
Into Productive Farms.
one-FIfth Of Total Area Of state OF
Minnesota 10 to Be Reclaimed, 40
eordIng to Report Of Drainage
Commission.

st. Paul, Minn.-Reports Of the state
drainage commission on work done IN
Minnesota from August /, 1898, to Aug
ust /, 1910. have been placed In the
hands of the legislature.
The commission estimates that Min
nesota had originally 100000 acres
Of swamp lands, too wet in their nat
ural condition for agricultural pur'
poses. This vast area, comprising
about one-fifth Of the land Of the state
Is fast being transformed from swamp
lands to productive farms. Conserva-
tive estimates place the total area re-
claimed during 1909 and 1910 at 1,6oO.-
900 acres.
bitches are constructed by the state
and by the various counties. These
are made by the drainage commission
only where such bitches will beneft
state lands. Incidentally private lands
are also benefited, and In such cases
the cost Is betrayed In part by assess-
ing private lands according to the
benefits. Lands owned by railroad
companies are assessed like private
lands.
During 1909 and 1910 the commits
sion has constructed or has had under
construction Is state bitches. having
an aggregate length of 46O miles, re-
Quiring an excavation Of 6,S28, 1913 cubic
yards. costing s606, S7S.SO. or an aver
age Of 8.S cents per cubic yard. These
bitches will drain and reclaim 141 ,144.-
GO acres Of state land and 403,640.s1
acres Of private lands at an average
cost Of $1.26 per acre.
The policy Of the commission has
been to drain only such lands as Inn
medIately will become available for az
ricultural uses and lands requiring lit
tie clearing or other expense to bring
Under cultivation. The work to a large
extent has been confined to localities
in the proximity of railroads and trade
centers and open meadows and marsh
lands, the commission avoiding % far
as practicable the drainage Of lands
where life Of valuable growing timber
would be endangered.
In the construction Of bitches, public
highways were constructed along the
side Of the ditch from the earth exca-
waited from the ditch, wherever such
construction was practicable. Whan
drainage work contracted for IN the
years 1903 and 1910 IL completed. there
win be 400 miles Of graded roads along
the several bitches. constructed at .
small additional cost, the average cost
being not more than one-half . cent
per cubic yard, or SIS per mile Of road.
The commission, with the co-0psra-
ton Of the United etatss geological
survey, has made q typographical sur
vey Of q large area In ottsrtail. Doug.
Las, Grant, Traverse, Stevens, Pope,
Swift and Big stone counties. The
same two departments have made sur
veys OF the following waters IN the
state, for the purpose Of dsVising plans
Sor their improvements and preparing
estimates Of the cost Of the work. %
the end that drainage work may be
facilitated and disastrous oysraows
prevented; Parts ot the Minnesota,
Mustlnka, WatoWah, Embarrass, Red
wood, Cedar. Chippewa. Long Prairie
and VIVID Rics rivera; Stony brook,
Benton county: OiInbona creek lack
son county; aohnnuoI through plolea.
f.Irrirr nrirlI ana 'TI1r|In a.. nr1
1IiII3 ftrr ll ~ s,ss cad