The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-09-01
SIDE LINE EXPRESSIONS
BY DITCH FARMERS

The following expressions were
noted in conversing with actual set
tiers, and are published to show why
some of the farmers are pleased ana
why some are dissatisfied with the
ditch work thus far constructed:
'The bitches are no good. All
they did in some places was to make
roads, and darn poor ones at that.
eve have paid for bitches we never
had and for roads a rabbit couldn't
run on. Something has got to be
done mighty quick"
'The bitches are a mighty good
thing, but we have got to have more
of them, if we expect to develop the
land"
"When it comes right down to it,
we are all in favor of the ditch
projects, but We ought to have real
bitches. The ones we have don't DO
the business"
IF they let the plan of bitches as
we had them planned, it would have
done some good, but as it is nobody
is satisfied. The only thing to do IS
to build them over again and in dlt-
ferent places"
s'No use trying, you can't make
water run up hill. Some OF the
bitches we're built to slope uphill
but the water doesn't carry a pump
along"
otis a cinch that this country is
no good at all without bitches, but
they must quit experimenting and
do some sensible constructing. The
outlets are too small and you can't
make them do the business unless
they are made bigger"
"In dry summers great crops can
be raised. We always could, but
what we want is something certain,
rain or shine"
"The whole system is punk. They
should have been built on the quarter
lines and then they would have been
of some use. AS it is they'll never
do"
"Why, I'd leave this country in a
minute, if the bitches were not con-
structed. We have a good start and
something to look forward to. We
need more of them and bigger ones. !"
81 am paying ditch taxes and not
getting one cents worth of benefit.
It's a joke. The ditch ends near my
place and is full of water. 1t won't
run off, because the hill is in the
way"
1.-The ditch taxes are getting pretty
strong for me and if they dig any
more of them might as well give up,
for all the good they do me-"
"Too many mistakes have been
made in building the bitches. That's
why we settlers are grumbling. They
have got to get busy and correct
them"
II would be willing to pay twice
the tax, yes, three times more, if
they would make adequate outlets and
dig more bitches. They are great
thing"
IF it would do any good I'd keep
on kicking, but nothing has been
gained this far. Suppose if we all
get together and kick we'd get some
where"
This year the crops are fine and if I
could count on not being flooded /
would put more under cultivation"
Good Roads Endorsed.
Representative F. J. McPartlin of
International Falls spoke on behalf of
Amendment No. l. After his talk he
took rising vote and it carried unan-
imously.
1.-The women are going to vote next
November" said Mr.. McPartlin, land
they are going to carry Amendment
No. l. The Babcock plan means for
Northern Minnesota that we will get
millions of dollars of hard surfaced
road for nothing. 1t means that the
main trunk lines in Beltrami county
will be taken over, built and forever
maintained by the state. Laterals
and feeders will get all the money
now being used on the main highways
from the county funds.
"The plan will actually reduce the
taxes. Beltrami county used about
$4,000 on roads. You can cut down
your taxes two or three mills and
still have five times as much to spend
on latera1s as you now spend, if you
will vote and adopt Amendment
No. l."
Wants a Railroad.
E. A. Evans made a hit with the
crowd with his straight from the
shoulder jabs when he said: "The
bitches we have were built like skin
ming an animal the wrong way. We