New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1920-02-11
FARMERS DISCUSS
OLD FLOOD PROBLEM
MINNESOTA VALLEY DISTRICT
TO BE ORGANIZED IN
NEAR FUTURE.
A. B. KAERCHER ARRESTED ON
CHARGE OF VIOLATING BAN
ON MEETINGS. >.

About forty farmers living in the
Minnesota valley flood area were present
at a meeting held Friday afternoon at
the local Commercial Club rooms. The
meeting was called by the Tri-State
Flood Control Association for the purpose
of discussing the important problem Of
food control in the Minnesota valley
and of organizing the entire Minnesota
valley in one flood control district, so
that the interest of all sections may be
taken care of in one big plan.
A. E. Meyer OF Shenehon & Meyer Of
Minneapolis, who has made thorough
study of the food control possibilities
of the Minnesota valley, was the main
speaker. He based his observations on
data which has been collected by the
state drainage engineer and his assis-
tants and on his own study of the prob
lem. His recommendations are that
three dams be constructed at points on
the Minnesota river to prevent the
overflow of some 10000 acres of valua-
BILE Minnesota land by spring floods.
Mr.. Meyer particularly emphasized the
necessity of controlling the waters OF
the Cottonwood and Blue Earth rivers.
Petition Is Circulated.
A petition embodying the sentiments
of those present regarding the proposed
organization is being circulated among the
farmers interested in the movement.
The petition sets forth the purposes Of
the district organization and it is assunl-
ed that it will find sufficient support
among those concerned.
nUnplesant Aftermath.
As the meeting had been held in
violation of the ban placed on all public
and private gatherings by DR.. Jos. H.
Vogel, the local health officer, A. B.
Kaercher of Ortonville, president Of
the Tri-State Flood Control Association,
was arrested on warrant issued by
Judge George Hogen the same evening.
He was brought before the Justice, but
the case was dismissed after Mr.. Kaer-
cher had been able to prove that he did
not call the meeting and that he was
under the impression that special per-
mission had been obtained for the
holding thereof.
DIR. Vogel's Statement.
Doctor Vogel, when interviewed con-
corning the matter, made the following
statement: -.
"The local Board of Health is de-
sirous of avoiding a spreading of the
influenza epidemic which now exists.
and with that in view issued an Order
prohibiting all public meetings and
gatherings within the City of New
Ulm. The order issued by our Board is,
in fact, only restatement Of regulation
Number 1902 Of the State Board of
Health, which reads: F
Sec. 1902: All public meetings and
gatherings in any community where an
Epidemic of influenza exists are pro-
hibited, except where such meeting OF
meetings shall be specifically authorized
by the State Board of Health, or the
executive officers thereof upon an appli-
cation properly made
can epidemic of influenza existing in
this City, that regulation has to be
enforced by our Board. 1t may be true
that local Health Boards in other Cities
fail to perform their duties in this re-
spect, and do permit public meetings
but their failure is not an excuse shoule
we fail to enforce the same here
'Mr. Kaercher and others interested
asked for special permission to hold {
meeting, but authority was refused
by us, just as we have refused specia
permission to many local applicants
Notwithstanding the fact that specia
permission was refused, meeting wa
held, and because of this we asked for {
warrant for the arrest of Mr.. ,Kaercher
believing that he, as President OF tn
Association, was responsible for the VIC
lation of the order and regulation. / an
still of the opinion that technically h
was subject to fine, but at the hearing
held before Justice Hogen that evening
Mr.. Kaercher explained, under oath
that he was called by friends to attene
the meeting, and believed that specia
permission had been obtained for thu
holding thereof, otherwise he woult
not have attended the meeting, nor per
mitted it to be held. There was n.
desire on our part, to make Mr.. Kaerche
the innocent victim for the acts Of other