Meade County news., 1915-08-12
FARMERS TIRED OF FLOODS
Miami County Citizens Take Steps to
Clear Out the Channel of the
Marais Des Cygnes.

Marals Des Cygnes.
The flooded land owners of the Osa-
watomie district at a recent meeting
Joined the movement started at Fon-
tana to pull the teeth of the Marais
des Cygnes river in Miami county by
cleaning the channel to prevent over
flow. A committee was appointed to
cooperate with the Fontana commit
tee in circulating a petition for a
drainage district.
About forty land owners attended
the meeting and participated in an en-
thusiastic discussion of flood protec-
tion needs. A delegation from Fon-
tana was with them, and o. c. Hagans,
country agent, and H. B. Walker, state
drainage and irrigation engineer, took
part.
Mr.. Walker told of the results Of a
government survey of the Marais des
Cygnes with viey of food reclama-
tion, and informed them that the clear
ing of the channel of brush and logs
and drift, and the widening of some
railroad and wagon bridges would in
crease the carrying capacity of the
channel 30 per cent. and this would
avoid all ordinary floods.
The cost of clearing the channel
would be very light, the government
report shows. 1t could be done for
5000 a mile, and the $4,000 acres of
valley land that would be protected
would not have to pay to exceed $1.6O
per acre. The drainage organization
would also furnish the farmers with
powerful vehicle for compelling the
county and railroad officials to pro-
vide bridges that do not become dams
in flood times.
The spirit of the meeting was for
speed in this matter. The holders of
this rich land, uneXcelled in fertility,
have had heavy losses year after year
from high floods. For that reason
they are especially anxious to have
the district formed and the improve
ments started as soon as possible.
X X X
Another Woman for Senate.-Mrs.
+. X. Burnes, superintendent of the
state orphans home at Atchison, an
nounced recently she would become
a candidate for United States senator
in 1918.
Township Thrift May Cost $4,000.
because the officers Of Fawn Creek
Township, Montgomery County, fail
ed to put rail guards on a bridge
near Dearing, they have a $4,000
suit for damages on their hands. 1t
was filed by j. NJ. Cheek, who says he
stepped off the bridge in the dark
ness.
Wichita Woman Dies.-Mrs. c. Q.
Chandler, wife of the president of the
Kansas National Bank in Wichita,
died in Chicago hospital recently.
She was born in 1872 in Burbon Coun-'
ty, Kansas, She is survived by lIr
Chandler and four children
X X X
Blind Legislator to Run Again.
Leroy Highlands, the blind repre-
sentative from Harper County, will
make the race again next fall. Hugh
banks was the youngest member in
the Kansas house last winter.
+ + r
Live Stock Show Arranged The
Arkansas City Commercial Club has
perfected plans for a three-day live
stock show and agricultural exposi-
tion there early in October.
X X X
Swiss Killed by Train.-IIarry Hell
ler, 35 years old, was hit by a Rock
Island freight train at Caldwell. He
lived more than an hour, telling the
authorities that he was a native of
Switzerland and that he had no rela-
tives in this country.
Mining Company Retlres.-The re-
tirement of the Cherokee G. Pittsburg
Coal and Mining Company from the
Kansas coal fields was announced at
Pittsburg recently. The comAlny is
one of the largest operating in the
Southwest