Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-01-03
BURNQUlST'S
ADDRESS TO
LEGISLATURE

St. Paul, Jan. Ex-Governor ]. A. A.
Burnquist, in his inaugural address to
the Legislature Of 1917, urged the
members to devote this session to the
analysis of the present civil admin
istration and to the simplitication OF
existing laws. He directed their at
tention to those propositions which
are considered to be of the greatest
Importance at the present time rather
than to the enactment of multitude
nous new laws.
lows:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House of
Representatives:
Knowing most Of you as we'll as do,
by reason of our past association, 1t Is
with especial pleasure that l greet tho
members of the Fortieth Legislature.
When serving in this body, l learned
to appreciate the freedom with which
we. as legislators, consulted one anoth-
or upon matters of legislation and I
trust that, during the session which
Is now opening. we may at all times
feel at liberty to confer with each other
upon the business that we are here to
transact. Believing that such business
can be transacted most probably by
devoting this session to the analysis
OF our present civil administration. to
the simplification of CUR existing laws
and to the centralizing Of the efforts
OF the Legislature upon those measures
which you think most important, l de-
sire, through this inaugural message,
not to advocate the enactment of null
t1tudinOus new statutes. but to submit
for your consideration only such prop
ositions as are deemed to be of the
greatest Importance at the present
time.
Typographical Survey.
In 1909 tho Legislature enacted a law
through which 1t was intended to make
possible "a typographical survey of the
several watersheds of the state for the
purpose Of securing data from which
competent plans for uniform system
of drainage might DO prepared" but
succeeding Legislatures have not APP
propriated sufficient money to carry
out the provisions of this act. Only
about 8 per cent of the state has been
covered. Our neighboring states are
IL. this matter, far ahead of us. North
Dakota has covered II per cent Of her
territory; Iowa, 81 per cent; Wiscon-
sin, Il per cent and South Dakota "a
per cent. If this work Is to be done
appropriations of a sufficient amount to
do 1t will be necessary. If the state
docs its share it will be possible to Sc
cure the cooperation Of the federal
government through appropriations
that have been provided by IT for this
particular purpose.
State Drainage.
Such a vey is necessary because
Of our unsatisfactory drainage situa-
ton. We have appropriated enormous
amounts of money for the construction
of drainage bitches, many of which
have failed absolutely in the purpose
for which they were intended. Through
the methods we have heretofore pur-
hoon
but the lands below those drained have,
through such drainage, been flooded.
We have, today, on our hands an ac-
ton Instituted by the state of North
Dakota. and one by the state Of South
Dakota, in which each Of said states
claims alleged damages to its physical
properties, by reason of the acts of
Minnesota in the handling of drainage
projects, in sum exceeding 100000
and asks for the issuance of a perma-
nent Injunction against our state to
prevent further damages and to re-
store the water course involved to it's
natural condition In addition to the
other relief that Is prayed for in their
bills of complaint.
County and Judicial bitches.
Much harm has also been done in
the construction of county and judicial
bitches In that the outlets have often
proved Inadequate to take care of the
water drained into them. 1t is esti-
mated that to date there has been ex-
pended for county and judicial drains
In this state the sum Of $30,00O.0OO. In
thirteen southern counties there are
now under constr ~tion sixty bitches
at a cost of more than $2,500,000 With
In the next ten years 1t is believed that
at least $10,000,e00 more will be spent
in these same counties. Such expendi-
ture in the locality referred to is but
illustrative Of what is being expended
for like purpose in other portions OF
the state. In connection with the ex-
listing system under which said drain.
age work is being done there is con.
siderable cause for criticism and as a
result thereof we hear many com.
plants against our present methods Of
petitioning for the establishment Of