New Ulm review., 1920-08-18
new ULM CHOSEN
AS HEADQUARTERS
ESTABLISHING OF FLOOD
CONTROL. SYSTEM TO BE
STARTED HERE.
JUDGES OF FIVE DISTRICTS
WILL BE PET1TIONED
FOR HEARING.

New Ulm was chosen as head
quarters for the inauguration of a
united effort to establish an adequate
flood control system in the Minnesota
valley basin, at meeting of land
owners in the flood district of the
NJ inncsota valley, which was held in
the club rooms at Turner Hall, Mon
day afternoon. The meeting was at
tended by some rs interested parties
from the territory affected and much
interest was evinced in the proceed
ings. A. B. Kaercher of Ortonville,
president of the Tri-State Flood Con-
troll Association, presided at the
gathering and outlined the plan of
procedure, while Senator F. l.. Cliff
teresting view of the legal aspect of
the proposed flood control system, and
e. V. Willard of st. Paul, state COM
missioner of drainage and waters,
spoke briefly on the engineering side
of the vital question. Mayor L. A.
F'ritsche of New Ulm opened the meet
ing with resume of past attempts at
flood control.
Courts to be Petitioned.
A petition, addressed to the judges
of the five judicial districts contained
in the Minnesota river basin, was pre-
sented by Mr.. Kaercher at the meet
ing and 40>of the necessary SO signers
were secured from among those in at
tendance. Additional signatures are
now being solicited and the required
number will be reached within few
days. AS soon as this preliminary
work is complete, the petition will be
presented jointly to the judges of the
five judicial districts, with the re-
quest that a hearing be ordered forth
with, at which the matter of in
augurating the flood control program
can be submitted for consideration.
This hearing will no doubt be held in
New Ulm in the very near future.
Minnesota River Watershed Only.
The present plan of food control
includes only the watershed of the
Minnesota river and its tributaries.
Boundary rivers will not form a part
of this project. This was deemed
advisable for more expedient method
of attaining flood control legislation
and action by the courts, as practically
the same procedure will be obtained as
is employed in the establishing of judi
cial drainage bitches. The Minnesota
river watershed includes about 80
counties of the state, which fact in
dicates the magnitude of the flood con-
troll project as planned at the present
time.
Individual Work Nil.
Mr.. Kaercher reviewed the initial
work of those interested in flood con-
troll in the Minnesota valley and re-
called that at that time the state was
unable to help the landowners in the
flooded districts owing to lack o]
adequate laws. The continued efforts
Of those advocating system of flooo
control to secure recognition from
the state and federal governments
were finally instrumental in con.
vincing the legislatures of Minnesota
North and South Dakota, as we'll a:
Congress, that something must b.
done to prevent the annually recurring
floods with their attendant destruction
of property and crops. A commission
was jointly appointed by the three
state legislatures in 1916 and waitee
upon members of Congress at Wash
ington, with the result that an investi
cation was ordered, surveys wer
made and Congress offered to giv'
financial assistance. In order to Sc
cure this assistance, however, it be
came necessary to perfect an organiza
ton, as it was too large n undertaken
for any individual.
Review Drainage Legislation.
Senator Cliff, who is attorney fc
the Tri-State Flood Control Associa
ton and member of its legislative con
mittee, has made an exhaustive stud
of the federal, as well as of all stat
drainage laws, as a result OF Whic
he has become an authority on thi
subject. He spoke very interestingl
on the legal aspect of the flood contrt
project, touching briefly on the drair
age system as exemplifed by tn
county and judicial bitches, He az
lHnnt;nuad .. pa.a ~