Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-10-06
LARGE DRAINAGE
DISTRICT FORMED
Entire Minnesota River Watershed
Organized Into One Hugh
District

the entire Minnesota River Water
shed, were organized into a single
drainage and conservancy district at
rousing meeting of farmers and
toWnspeople held at New Ulm Mon
day. by the signing of petition and
bond The meeting was held by the
Trl-state Flood Control Association.
The petition will be presented to
the Judges of the district courts of
the territory embraced in the district
at once, and it is confidently expected
that there will be no opposition to the
formation of such a district, as this
does not entail much expense and
such an organization is the only
means of cooperation by the people
or the valley to prevent the disastrous
MOODS or almost annual occurance.
Chapter 13, Laws of Minnesota Spe-
clal Session, 1919, is the law under
which the association is working and
it will be we'll for anyone Interested
IN this most important DEVELOPMENT
to read this chapter. At this time
It is proposed to go no farther than
to organize the district and to have
the governing board consisting of five
members appointed by the district
courts.
After the district is organized moth.
ing can be done except upon applica-
tion to the district court of the dis.
trlct IN which the proposedr improve
nent IS TO be made, and where it af-
tects navigable waters such as the
minnesota River and Big Stone Lake.
plans and specifications of same must
hrst be approved by the Federal gov
ernment, before work can be done.
and all other projects the same
must be approved by the state engin-
eer.
For over thirty years relief from
periodical floods, running into millions
OF dollars damage, has been sought
in vain. Under the state constitution
state money cannot be expended for
internal improvement and the federal
government has made it rule to as
slst in such projects where those ben
ehted contribute their just proportion
or the expense. In 1911 the general
BOARD OF engineers at washington an.
proved of the Lac Qui Parle reservoir
upon condition that water power com.
panles or others cooperate and con.
tribute one-half Of the cost, and the
Minnesota River Improvement and
POWER Company was organized fo1
the purpose OF raising such amount
but stock could not be sold to meet
the requirements of the government
and therefore it's offer could not be &C
cepted. The association struggled or
and in Nov. 1916, organized the Tri
State Flood Control Association ant
this association secured the passage
OF the necessary legislation of thu
states of North Dakota and South Da
kota and Minnesota to enable these
states to cooperate as we'll as an &C
of congress for like purpose and tht
legislative committee in search
ing through the laws of tn,
various states discovered that tn,
plan on which the Chicago Drainag,
and Ship Canal, at a cost of som,
$62,000,000.00 and controlling rese1
voirs and dams on the Ohio and Mi
; ami River project, costing over $25
000,000.00 and irrigation projects il
, the Western states, Of gigantic pre-
portions were constructed, was don
by organizing the district affected in
to a corporation with practically al
the powers of municipal corpo1
alton, under the direct contrc
of the district courts, and the affair
of which are managed by board q
directors, selected by the courts, an
under the supervision of the stat
drainage engineer and also that c
the federal government.
Thereby means OF cooperation
provided not only for complete reg,
/ lation but, also for raising the nece,
sary funds in such a manner as to il
sure absolute safety of constructio
and operation, but also econom,
equality, and absolute Justice In col
tributions, by the state, nation and Il
DI Continued on Page 81 4