Morris tribune., 1915-08-27
MORE DRAINAGE
DITCHES NEEDED
Surplus Water One of the Seri.
Gus Problems Confronting
West Central Mimi.


immediate action upon a problem
that comes to all agricultural sections
and has been successfully disposed of
in the settled states.
Rain falls upon the just and unjust
alike and likewise it makes no distinc-
tion between the good and the poor
farmer. The farmer who thoroughly
prepares his fields and selects his seed
with care harvests no greater crop
than his less progressive neighbor
where the rainfall is greater than the
soil will absorb and there is no drain
age to take the water off from his
fields.
West central Minnesota has suff-
cred greatly during the past season
and drainage has become one of the
big farm problems. Realizing
this, supt. E. c. Higbie. of the Nor
ris State Agricultural School called
meeting of citizens from the counties
within the West Central district to
discuss tbs question and decide upon
some plan of action that will help to
| awaken greater general interest and
lead to improvements that will pre-
vent repetition of the serious crop
losses that have been sustained this
year. Delegations from a number of
counties assembled at the Agricultural
School, on Friday evening last and the
general situation was discussed. Supt.
Higbie was chosen chairman and E.
F. Joubert secretary and the chairman
then called for reports from the sew
eral counties. Mr.. Dorweier of Big
Stone stated that adequate drainage
would have saved many thousands of
dollars worth of grain in his county
and Mr. Smith of Swift reported a
Hike condition in his county. G. O..
Saterbak reported serious loss in eight
townships in Traverse county and En-
giheer Cole. of Stevens, stated that
this county had suffered severely and
that there would have been but small
percentage of loss if the wet terri
tory had been ditched.
Mr.. Gardner, a resident of Iowa,
made comparison of conditions here
with Iowa and Illinois and expressed
the belief that tile drainage is not a
difficult problem in this territory. that
it presents no more serious difficulties
than were encountered in those states,
and he estimated the average cost of
tiling low spots at not greater than
$40. 90 per acre.
F. w. Murphy discussed the prob
lem from a general standpoint and ex-
planned the systematic work that is
already under way In Traverse coun-
ty. From the reports submitted it
was evident thar Traverse is far in the
lead in drainage matters and issetting
an example that other counties should
follow.
F. E. Knock, agricultural in
structor of the Wheaton schools.
gave interesting facts concerning
methods of tile drainage. He has
had much experience in this work
and feels certain that it can be
made to do satisfactory service
here.
/ Supt. Higbie stated that his object
in calling the meeting was to set in
motion a movement that will awaken
general interest and he believed it
would be good plan to place the
problem in forcable way before the
Ipeople at the Corn and Alfalfa Elk.
position to be held at Ortonville in
October. The suggestions met with
general approval and upon motion the
chairman named E. F. Joubert, of
Wheaton, M. S. Stevens, of Grace
| Vile, A.. w. Wells, of Herman, r.
D. Smith, of Benson, q. B. Kaercher,
of Ortonville, as a. committee. to ar
range drainage program for the Or
tonviIle meeting. At that time it il
probable that some general plan Of
procedure will be agreed upon.
Among those present there was nc
) division of views concerning the neces.
sity of taking hold of the problem
with determination. Not only are the
interests of the individual farmer in
poorly drained localities at stake, but
the general prosperity of the West
Central territory is seriously handi'
capped, and this handicap should moi
be permitted to exist SO long as there
is an easy remedy available. Indi'
vidual thought and action mightsworl
, out solution in time but q 5unitat
movement will bring results mgcl
sooner and save the losses that mus
: followsif conditions are allowed q
fdrift along.
! During the past few years ,Wes