Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-03-03
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hfxSlN knows. In both directions 1t is put
VYf8lSU ting its knowledge to excellent
On some Douglas county and Dodge
county farms great many hundreds of carloads
Of drainage tile have been delivered and laid under
the son to drain the boys and marshy places. In
the wider field, drainage districts have been pro-
NOTED by farseeing men that have involved vast
expenditures and with immense amounts yet to be
spent. III
The precedent set by other states, which
have created commissions to study and develop
drainage systems; and have finally made heavy
appropriations from the state treasury after In
dividua counties have bonded themselves in large
sums to protect land subject to overflow and to
reclaim extensive tracts that we're permanently
under water or too wet to be successfully farmed
Nebraska drainage advocates feel they are justified
in their efforts by the results not only in other
states, but here at home. Much heretofore waste
land has been reclaimed and made to produce in
most generous measure. Ultimately all the waste
land in Nebraska will be brought TO state Of use
fulness and value by the projects now under way,
according to the engineers who have been making
a systematic study of conditions This work OF
reclamation is yet in its infancy in the vest even
though much has been already accomplished.
Omaha Men Among Leaders in Work.
Men like Walter S. Jardine OF Omaha, and
Jesse Lowe, son OF the first mayor of Omaha who
have made something of a study of this work Of
reclamation, estimate that several. millions of dol
lars have been spent in Nebraska alone in the last
three or four years. r. b. Schneider and Con-
gresham Stephens OF Fremont among others, were
long ago convinced that much rich crop-growlng
land, lying waste because of a surplus of water
by the of dredges and drain pipe. They put
their belief to the test with results even beyond
their expectations Mr.. Jardine tried the dredging
plan for draining 1900 acres he owns in one piece
and, he is enthusiast the possibilities of re-
clamation work. Mr. Lowe is now president of the
Association of Levee and Drainage Districts of
Illinois.
Up to this time the bulk Of this work. in Ne
braska has conferred in the eastern counties, but
the reports of the great results achieved have spread
to other parts of the state. and extension of avail
able land area is now the fixed policy of many
land owners who have given the matter serious
consideration. Crop Yields from these reclaimed
lands will pay for the cost of draining in year,
very often" said an Omaha engineer This has
been proven by good many men in the last sea-
son The oyerflowed land is. Of course laden with
ton of years. and with roted vegetation that sup
plies Just the elements the soil needs to make it
rich enough for the production OF great crops Of
most everything that will grow in this latitude
Large Amounts Expended in Recent Years.
In many districts not a hundred miles from
Omaha large sums of money were spent in drainage
and reclamation work in 1910 and 1911 One
project in the territory Immediately surrounding
Omaha begins at Ralston and runs southeast to
Fort Crook second project begins at Lane and
follows the Little Pappio to the river This latter
project has practically been begun and finished in
the last six months. A district larger than the
ordinary, where the work is being done by the
proceeds Of bonds and which promises to redeem
an extensive acreage of heretofore dead land, is
that known as the Logan valley project This
ditch begins at point few miles north of Ere
mont. and the surplus water is to be drained off
SO that 1t will run to the Elkhorn river, forty miles
away. In connection with this project the engi-
neers are Strengthening the crooked course OF the
EIkhorn. When accomplished, this work will add
very sppreciable area Of rich acreage to tha