The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-05-23
BURNQUIST'S
ADDRESS TO
LEGISLATURE

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
lstration and to the simplification 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.
Governor BurnQuists message fol.
lows:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of
Representatives.: -
Knowing most Of you as we'll as I do,
by reason of our past association, It Is
with especial pleasure that greet the
members of the Fortieth Legislature.
When serving in this body, I 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 profltably by
devot1ng this session to the analysis
of our present civil administration, to
the simplifcation 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
titudinous new statutes, but to submit
for your consideration only such prop
ositlons as are deemed to be of the
greatest Importance at the present
time.
Typographical Survey.
In 1909 the Legislature enacted law
through which it was intended to make
possible "a topogra phical survey of the
several water sheds of the state for the
purpose Of securing data from which
competent plans for a uniform system
of drainage might be prepared" but
succeeding Legislatures have not ap
propriated sufficient money to carry
out the provisions of this act Only
about per cent of the state has been
covered. Our neighboring states are,
In this matter, far ahead of us. North
territory; Iowa, 81 per cent; Wiscon-
sin, Fl 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
does It's share it will be possible to Sc
government through appropriations
that have been provided by it for this
particular purpose.
State Drainage.
Such SUI 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 abs olutely in the purpose
for which they were intended. Through
the methods we have heretofore pur-
sued, some lands have been benefited,
bit 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 a sum exceeding $4,000
and asks for the issuance of perma-
nent injunction against our state to
prevent further damages and to re-
store the water course involved to its
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
Vhe construction Of county and judicial
bitches in that the outlets have often
proved Inadequate to take care Of the
water drained into them. It is esti-
pended for county and judicial drains
IN this state the sum of $30,0O0,0OO. In
thirteen southern counties there are
now under constr ton sixty bitches
at a cost OF more than $2.500,O00. With
in the next ten years 1t is believed that
at least $1O.0O0,O00 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
bitches, of appraising the benefits and
costs, and of releasing the bondsmen
before the expiration of sufficient time
for the proper testing of the drains.
Need of Central Authority.
Our state DRAMAS Sc commission, as
now constituted, does not have suf1-
Client authority and is composed of state
officials, who are so busy with matters
pertaining to their own offices, that it
is impossible for them to give to these
matters, which require expert knowl-
edge, the time that they demand. When
the vast expenditure Of money needed
for drainage purposes and the made
Quacy of our present system are taken
into consideration, it would appear ad-
visable to abolish the said commission
and substitute therefor some qualified
state au'fority to pass upon the con-
etruction of all drainage bitches and
whose duty it would be to make sys-
tematfc and statewide study of the
situation and thereby lay the founda-
ton for the proper cooperation Of the
different portions of the state. This
central authority should devote all of
its time to the duties of the office, gath
ering sufficient data and informa ton
to enable it to pass intelligently upon
the advisability of instituting drainage
proceedings and to have submitted to
1t for it's approval the plans for either
local or state projects before the con-
struction thereof is commenced.
Soil Survey.
Only six counties and part Of another
have been given soil survey in this
state. The federal government has
been doing all Of the work of this ma
ture that has been done in Minnesota
up to this date. If the two govern
ments co-operated in making the sur.
vey much more cOud be accomplished
We need to determine for what crops
Minnesota's soil can best be used. Be.
fore we go to the expense Of draining
hundreds of thousands of acres of state
property we should know whether thu