The pioneer express., 1912-11-22

-.::-:-----:i..-:
himself alone, then so. day would be
about the average daily cost of his snr.
vey.
In the case of the drain board of three
members and clerk, the latter doing q
large part of the work in his offico, then
$40. day ought to be a fair daily
average when working all together.
At these rates, then the engineer mhst
have spent about week in surveying
each mile of drain No. "a, at survey
cost of $50. per mile or $40. day. n
Also, that at $40. day for the whels
board of four members, the whole board
must have put in a total of about thirty
eight days for the whole ditch, or nearly
four days at cost of about 375. for each
one mile of said drain.
THE PUBLIC SHOULD PAY FOR BRIDGES.
The item of s1,97s. TO- for bridges, to
us, seems utterly wrong Why local tax
payers who pay for the drain, should
also be compelled to pay for the bridges
is mystery. Even on the question Of
benefits. there is no good foundation tor
such assessment. 1t is true, perhaps,
that if the drain was not constructed
that no bridges would be needed. but it
IS also true that at nearly every point
where such bridges are made that the
township would necessarily have to have
culverts if no drain was there. Also, and
in particular cases, the drain is largely
township benefit. This drain as we
said is really but opening up of a natural
water course, the Iceland coulee. For
distance of from three to six miles on
either side it forms an outlet for the
surplus water that collects, or will collect
when highways are made, in the high.
way drains running east and west in
Pembina, toilette and Carlisle townships,
1t now forms the only outlet for such,
surplus waters for probably sixty or
seventy square miles of territory-while
the assessment is made to pay for this
outlet on about twenty two square miles.
The Macarthur branch of this drain of
about three miles IS on the highway,
When the drain is extended south as it
eventually will be, it will drain very
large amount more of country through
the intersecting highway bitches.
DRAINS ARE PUBLIC BENEFITS.
That even local drains are a public
benefit need not be argued; That lead
ing deep drain to catch the flow from
highway bitches does more to make
good roads than any other one thing is
also apparent. Throughout the whole
county in cases other than drain bridges
the county builds all bridges of more
than two hundred dollars cost.
1t occurs to this writer if the local fax
payers build the drain that the benefits
to the township and to the public gener-
ally are sufficient that the cost Of the
bridges should be paid by the public,
One would think that if the local tax
payers do build the bridges and the
drain that they would have some owner
ship in them. but 1T seems that both are
handed over to the county. In other
words three men are empowered to ar
hitrarily construct drains and bridges,
assess such benefits as they please to
local property, audit their own accounts,
and hand the work over to the county
when done Tor not done as proven in one
case) without any taxpayer being allow
ed to appeal to any court for relief.
What do you think about it Mr.. Tax
payer?
NOT FIXING BLAME.
In the discussion we are not attempt.
ing to place blame on anybody in par
ticular, we are only stating facts as they
appear to be. But that the whole thing
is wrong, is evident. We believe the law
ls wrong, we believe the supreme court
is wrong, and anybody knows that it is
wrong to charge as much and more for
the survey and drain board and other
expenses as for the actual work.
KILLS ALL DRAIN PROJECTS.
And the worst feature is that 1t hind
ers, deters and dlscourages the drainags
that is the only salvation for parts Of
this county, and is of so great 8 bentit to
every quarter section in the county.
Who wants to have drain dug near
his farm when it appears by the original
estimate of the drain board that it will
cost sl5. 900. to dig e5, 900. ditch?
Automobile for Sale. 81.
Owing to the necessity Of having next
years model a. sample car my four pas
senger, thirty six horse Mitchell 10 for
sale. It's in as good condition and
looks g we'll as the day it was received
1n,,k o,,v;u =, k,,k am; = ,nS3 ,,,;kl =, $50,