The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-08-05
URGE DRAINAGE LAW

A comprehensive drainage law that
would place all matters relating to
drainage in the state in the hands of
a state drainage board, so as TO con-
serve the states water supply and
drain the inundated valleys and low
lands in order to prevent a recurrence
of the damage done by the heavy rains
this spring, has been proposed by
Charles p Bates of Sioux Falls. which
is of especial interest to the citizens
of Brookings county.
The matter of drainage in the re.
clamation of valuable agricultural
lands and preventing inundation of
crops, as well as conserving our water
supply in the numerous lakes and
streams in South Dakota is a problem
that must be taken into account with
out delay" remarked Charles P. Bates.
who has taken a great deal of interest
in drainage problems. The drainage
laws, as they now exist, are made
Quate to solve the problems with
w
have wet seasons during which we
must conserve our water supply for
use in dry seasons which are sure to
follow. We have hundreds of beau
tiful lakes that should be improved
for the benefit Of the people in con
serving the supply of food, in the
shape of fish and game. There are
many fertile valleys along the larger
streams and their tributaries that pc
riodically overflow, inundating crops
and doing damage running up into
hundreds Of millions of dollars. We
have what is known as our lake-bed
section, which extends from the
northern boundary to the Missouri
river on the south, almost without
interruption and in which are some
of the richest agricultural lands that
can be found anywhere in the world.
We should find a way to consolidate
the waters in the sloughs into lakes
and reservoirs, so that this land can
be made to produce In many sec
uOns are sOcalled fiat lands, on
which water stands during wet sea
sons, preventing cropping.
These are problems that must be
given attention in the future. They
are too great an undertaking for in
diVidual, or township, or county en-
torprise, because they interlock with
adjoining counties, and to attempt to
properly drain one section often re-
suits in serious damage to another.
causing no end of litigation"
Mr.. Bates was the author of a SINH
lar bill that was introduced in the
house when he was a member but
which was killed by arbitrary action
In explaining his ideas he cited the
Jim" river valley extending from the
northern to the southern boundary Of
the state, the watershed of which
could constitute one state drainage
district; the valley Of the Big Sioux
river, which has its source in the Da-
kota hills north of Watertown from
which it winds its way through Cod
ington, Hamlin Brookings, Moody,
Minnehaha, Lincoln and Union cOun-
ties to a confluence with the Missouri
river near Sioux City; the Missouri
river valley extending the entire dis
tance through the east central pOr-
ton of South Dakota; the valleys of
the Cheyenne, Bad River, White river,
Belle Forche, Rapid river and other
streams in the western part of the
of the Missouri river.
I'm the enactment of such a law"
said Mr.. Bates, 1--WE must make it
comprehensive, so that it can be easily
understood. The localization of drain
age projects, such as we have under
our present laws, fails to meet our
requirements, and we must have
something more practical Since those
problems interlock adjoining counties
between which disagreements often
arise, the matter of drainage and con-
servation of the water supply as we'll
as the control and improvement of
the banks along streams and the
Strengthening their course is entirely
hands of the state, with a competent
board of engineers in charge
'In financing drainage improve
ments, a system of state aid should be
provided to be joined with the coun-
ty, and individual assistance in accord
ance with the benefits to be derived
by the owner, or owners, of the lands