Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1921-06-15
COMPROMISE
End DITCH H.
O. .#r
Testimony Shows Practical II .ssibili-
ty of Beltrami County to Garry
Financial Burden.

"A compromise AdVOLAuS Tie putting
through of the Thief Lake basin part
of the proposed Consolidated Judicial
Ditch No. was expected in the ditch
hearing proceedings which have been
on before the court at the Marshall
county court house yesterday and to-
) day. Testimony of settlers living near
Thief Lake was in favor and tended to
show the necessity of the added drain
age in that part Of Beltrami county.
A standing vote of those present in the
court room from both Marshall and
Beltrami counties was almost unani-
mously against the complete carrying
out Of the plans of the proposed ditch.
OF the 81 from Beltrami county "a
were against and three for the ditch as
constructed according to plans drawn
up by J. H. Baugh, engineer. Marshall
county attendants at the hearing voted
200 to 8 against the ditch.
Petitioners for the ditch were repre-
scented by Julius J. Olson Of Warren
and w. E. Rowe of Crookston, while
William Mammalian, Minneapolis attor-
ney, represented those opposed to the
project.
The proceedings yesterday morning
were confined to the examining and
cross-examining of J. II. Baugh, engin-
Ger in charge Of the drawing up Of the
plans for the proposed ditch.
f. L. Torrance, county attorney Of
,Beltrami county, asked permission to
call two witnesses, with the opening of
the court in the afternoon. He was
granted permission and called NJ. e..
Paulson, chairman Of the county COM
missioners of Beltrami county, to the
stand The county commissioner chair
man testified to the effect that Beltrami
county had been unable to sell any
large amount of ditch bonds for the
past two years. bonds having been Of
fered but no bids received.
A. D. Johnson, Beltrami county audi
tor, was then called to the stand, testi-
flying the total valuation Of Beltrami
county for assessment purposes as SlO,-
774,811. He also stated that the bond
ed indebtedness Of Beltrami county at
present is So, 333344 $40. For bitches alone
the county is carrying S2,746,31O, ac-
cording to the auditor Under the pro
posed Judicial ditch plans II townships
in Beltranli county would be affected
and the total ditch assessment for
them, as levied on this sysfa-csss .,ss's:i, !:
s.11oesnl to syzl,Zoi. OS, while the sas-
sessed valuation of these townships for
taxation purposes only amounts to
$916991 These II townships contain
but 1927 people, with one of them with
a single settler, according to the coun-
ty auditor The auditor was asked the
question if Beltrami county was not
substantially bankrupt and answered
yes, and that it would be impossible to
meet the assessment on the ditch with
in the 20 year limit. 1t was further
shown that Beltrami county has the
largest ditch assessment of any county
in the state
With the large number Of DIRECTORS
to the ditch it is practically conceded
that the complete project will not be
carried. The sentiment, however, SEEM
ed in favor of the Thief Lake basin
part Of the proposed project so that the
possibility Of carrying this part of the
proposed ditch system is practically as
sured.