The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-02-09
DRAINAGE is DRYING

rdSC
sire Of a few to drain Swan Lake
in Nicollet county, while hundreds
of people who love the great out OF
doors protested against it. In clos
ing Mr.. Tompkins urged everyone
to take up the matter of conserVa-
ton of natures heritages in the
form of lakes and streams.
Expression BY Nyqulst.
John Nyquist, thought that the
drainage laws should be changed. AS
they now stand, it takes but twen-
ty-five per cent of the persons in
the watershed of lake to be drain
ed to progress the work, while
perhaps seventy-five per cent are
against the proposition: Mr.. Nyquist
called attention to the fact that
Swan Lake has 1852 miles of shore
line. Recently on a half mile of
that coast he counted at least fifty
musk rat houses. 1t was safe to
alone would amount to $4,000 a
year of fur enough to make 1000
ladies coats each year. For this
reason alone, the ladies should work
for the conservation Of Minnesota
lakes.
Postmaster C. E. Wise said that
he wished to agree with the two
former speakers on conservation OF
water resources. He predicted that
il the present intensive system of
drainage is kept up that 1t will not
beA but few years until the farm
ers of southern Minnesota will have
to resort to irrigation or dry farm
ing. Wells in the vicinity of Man.
kato last summer in many instances
had failed in their supply of water,
and compelled the farmers to haul
water long distances for their live
stock, and for domestic purposes.
F. J. Sperry also championed the
cause of conservation of natural
water resources. He called atten-
ton to the fact that the water table
level in many places in Minnesota
| las summer was from eight to ten
| feet below the surface OF the ground.
This is a serious situation for grow;
ing crops. He thought that the pres4
ept system of intensive drainage was
due to the influences OF contractors
and a number of civil engineers, who
were anxious to get work.
George Atchison said that he did
not believe in tampering with the
drainage laws, especially when ap-
piled to swamp lands. Other speak
ers, agreed with Mr.. Atchison in this
and said that it was the drainage OF
large bodies of water, which they
objected to. q,
Address BY Rathbun
R. B. Rathbun, state superinten-
dent of banks, spoke on the business
outlook of Minnesota. He said that
the time has come when the problem
of the farm and the farmer should be
discussed openly. In the past two or
three years it had been demon
tk,t, a1 fhof np az.
depends largely upon the prosperity
Of the people living in the rural dis
tricts. The prosperity of the business
man is measured to large degree
by the prosperity of the farmer The
past two or three years. the farmer
had been hoeing rough row of
stumps, but there is way out. Pros
perity will come through co-opera-
ton, and the raising of better live
stock and diversified farming. The
future success of the farmer of the
future will depend largely upon bet
ter management. 49,
The price the farmer gets for his
products, depends largely upon the
European markets. At the present
time things across the water are in
such a state of chaos that little hope
of good market in Europe can be
relied upon. 49,
The speaker said that all finan-
ciers are of the opinion that France
is justified in making> Germany pay
her reparations. Until this question
has been settled little can be expect
ed of Germany or the other central
powers in the way of market for
the product of the American farmer.
What the, American farmer needs
most at the present time is not
further extension of credits, but bet
ter returns, on his farm products.
In closing, Mr.. Rathbun said that
taxes must be reduced in this state
even at the sacrafice of certain
phases of education. There. is no
exact solution of the present situa
ton, but the hope looks bright owing
to the fact that this part of the state
is blessed with good soil, good bank
ing systems and business men of
sound Judgment.
Following the close of the meeting
a number of those present INDUCED
in dancing.