Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1922-12-13
HEARING Held
ON RED LAKE RIVER
IMPROVEMENT
Benefits Found to Amount to $780,
900 with an Estmated Cost
of $4,000

its source at the outlet of Red Lake
flows through low. fiat, swampy
country with great meadows Of grass
land stretching north and south on
either side. The river has practically
no banks resulting at food stages in
stream that is miles In width, over
flowing valuable farm lands west OF
the present Red Lake Indian Reserva-
ton, even in ordinary heavy rains
so that farmers have not been safe
in putting In crops. :
The established ditch laws Of the
state were not broad enough to cover
the situation. Federal action secured
by c hgressman Stevenson was need
ed to include Indian lands in the as
sessment for the costs of improve
ment. Following the great July food
of 1919 a meeting was called at the
suggestion Of farmers living in the
basins of the Red Lake river, more
than three hundred being in attend
ance, in the city Of Thief River Falls
to organize a drainage district.
At this meeting committees were
appointed for the several counties,
meetings held, petitions circulated
signed largely by interested farmers
and finally early in 1920, the Red
Lake Drainage and COnservancy Dis
trict was organized for the purpose Of
improving the Red Lake river and its
tributaries including Red Lake. To
carry out the spirit Of organization
the district court appointed as the
first board of directors four farmers
from as many counties and the SUI
~ hn tot 40
at Crookston. .
The Board entered actively upon
the work planned out by the farmers
who brought about the organization.
Petitions were circulated and present
ed to the board asking for the i'm
provement of the Red Lake river and
Red Lake by the dredging, straighten-
ing and deepening Of the river and
the holding back Of the water Of the
lake in flood time by control dam
at the outlet. ia
Engineers surveyed the river and
prepared plans The board later ap
pointed viewers to cover the immense
territory involved and determine what
benefits would be derived and against
what lands and property they should
be assessed. The engineering work
was paid for entirely by an appro-
priation secured for this purpose at
the boards request from the state
These reports were presented at the
hearing held at Thief River Falls
last week. ssss 81
It is generally conceded that the
improvement is, necessary and advis.
able on sSeountS Of the conditions ex-
listing in the Red Lake basin but some
opposition came mainly. on account OF
al misunderstanding as to the actual
amounts to be charged against the
property benefited. Many farmers be.
lieved the amount of benefits was the
the amount they would pay. Il was
proved that the actual cost was only
% per cent Of the benefits.
In the engineers plans as now re
vised $81, 10000 has been cut of by
reductions in the structure Of the dam
and controlling works and the total
estimated cost now stands at $514.
10000 which is % per cent Of the
benefits found by the viewers amount
to 1870, 10000. Some, also. who had
not studied the problem felt that the
water power companies would not be
compelled to pay their just share. q
was proven by the testimony OF the
engineers, especially by Adolf =. Mey
er. man Of internationa reputation
and one Of the greatest and most re
liable experts in the United States
that if instead Of assessing the watel
powers along the river for the intia
+ cost they are charged an annual rent
al based upon the benefits they re
ceiyed by the control Of water, snci
rental will be anywhere from SID.
& 10000 to $45,0 90 per year. In {
90 year period it Is easy to compute
the share OF the cost that would b
paid by the power comp
PIX It was further proven that 'befor'
any new power is developed upon TIT
river the Federal law provides tha
the parties proposing to develop sucl
power must apply to the Federal Wa
ter Power Commission and agree 4
advance to pay an annual rental T,
!: the Drainage District to assist IN pay
ing the costs Of the project, Interest
and depreciation. UnquestiOnably ant
without doubt, water power owner
would as years went on pay NOR
than they. could now be compelled j
assessments on their right sit s
The state drainage law now pro
vides that water powers can be charg
ed either an assessment tor benent
as other lands or an annual renta
but not both. So that the question
arises as to which plan y most 90
vantageous to the Drainage District
and the Drainage Beard and Its en-
sgineers and viewers after lully con