South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-09
d. Place Makes Replies to Recent
Article on bitches and Ditch Building

7 oughly reclaim the land lying in
the Kankakee basin. This could
not be done without going far
enough down the river TO secure the
necessary outlet and thus secure
sufficient fall in the channel 10 make
| the drainage system a success.
AS the law quoted above gives
7 complete authority for all the acts
that the commissioners have per
/ formed, i do not see why they are
! in any way subject to criticism. They
/ have done nothing without con-
sulting landowners and petitioners,
and the judge Of the circuit court
in LapOrte. There has been moth
ing done in an undetermined or dis
honorable way.
The talk of the writer Of the ar
ticle referred to regarding charges
for automobile hire. etc. is too
silly to be worthy OF an answer. ANY
sensible business man knows that
in order to more rapidly get over
the territory and view the land, that
is affected by said drainage. il was
absolute necessity to employ trans
portation. If the commissioners had
sought TO do this work on foot ii
would have taken many years TO
accomplish it.
The law justifes these men in
| assessing all the land in northwest
Indiana that is drained by the Kan
kakee river, for the purpose of
completing this outlet. When this
/ assessment is equitably laid, it will
not be excessive or burdensome, but
ali the land will contribute to this
general scheme of drainage. its just
proportion.
4 Considering the magnitude Of this
work. it is a surprise that any board
of viewers could accomplish what
has been accomplished in the time
that they have been at work. / be-
| lieve that these commissioners have
put forth their best effort in an en-
deavOr TO equitably assess all prop
| erty owners; they will no doubt,
| however, make mistakes as it is an
exceedingly hard and difficult task
to perform. When they make their
| final report to the court, the land
| owners will be notified of their as
sessments and the law gives each
/ landowner the privilege of appear
/ ing before the commission if they
think that they have been unjustly
I assessed-and if at that time it
appears that such is the case, the
/ board has the right to add to or
/ take from any assessment that they
/ have made.
/ During this final review of the as
/ sessment, there is no question but
what scheming attorneys will seek
l employment by the landowners for
/ the purpose of assisting the land
owners in getting a reduction of
their assessment. I would advise
! the landowners to not employ at
torneys for this purpose. for the
simple reason that a personal APP
peal upon their part will receive
just as much consideration at the
hands of the commissioner as they
would receive if they employed an
attorney at a large percent to look
after their business for them. Do
not understand that / have any
4 fears whatever from the investiga-
/ ton of this proposition by any at
torney whom the people may see
I fit to employ, because this petition
! has been critically examined and
/ thoroughly tested by the best of
/ legal talent
The object sought in this petition
was to accomplish the thorough and
complete reclamation of the land in
/ the Kankakee valley, and I have no
doubt but what the result will be
attained. IT will take time and will
cost a large sum Of money. but il
will be worth many times the cost
/ The Kankakee valley is one of the
richest in the country, capable of
/ producing crops of varied nature,
I and when once made available for
cultivation, will eventually be the
/ garden spot of Indiana, lying near
the great city OF Chicago. which is
the third city of the world. and will
| create an unlimited market for the
products of this valley, and / make
( the prediction that in so years or
/ less time, this valley will be used
largely for gardening purposes. Al
ready we have two very large tracts
of land. one known as Garden City
and the other as Valley Garden,
where hundreds of car loads of
produce is being raised and for
warded TO the market. This viii
spread eventually and include the
entire Kankakee valley. 1t is a
great reservoir of wealth. kept in
reserve by a Divine providence for
future generations. 1t has laid prac-
tically dormant since the discovery
of this country and only in recent
years has a very small percent of
the land been in cultivation. With
the completion OF this drainage
scheme this land will be all avail
able for gardening purposes.
/ am informed that the commits
sioners are about ready to make
their hnal report and probably with
i'm the next year the work of re-
dredging the valley Will be com
menced. The survey shows that the
present water level can be reduced
from four TO six feet throughout
the entire valley. and I, as one of
the petitioners fer this improve
ment. am proud of the fact that l
Will he able TO contribute in small
- 1000, rTfcN v,,op4 NJ this