Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, January 13, 1906, Page 3

RECLAIMING THE MINNESOTA SWAMPS Interesting Resume of Conditions in the North and How It Is Hoped to Win Wealth From Them. In his report to the governor, under date of Dec. 16, 1904, the engineer for the state drainage commission gives the following account of state drain- age: In the year 1893 the legislature passed a bill appropriating $100,000 for state drainage work in the Red River valley and creating a drainage commission known as the Red River valley drainage commission. Under the direction of this commission $182,- 500 was expended on draining and reclaiming the swamp lands of the Red River valley. In the year’ 1901 an act was passed by the state legis- lature appropriating $50,000 for the drainage and reclamation of state lands of the State of Minnesota and creating a drainage commission con- sisting of the governor, state auditor and the secretary of state and known as the drainage commission of the State of Minnesota. An additional ap- propriation of $50,000 was made in the year 1903 to be expended under the direction of this commission, mak- ing a total of $100,000 available for the work of the commission. All of this money, $257,000, and an additional $25,000 contributed by the Great Northern railway was judicious- ly expended and the engineer says: The benefits resulting from the con- struction of these ditches hav~: been er than the original est.mates show. In an address delivered at Grooks- ton, Aug. 1, the engineer says: The direct benefits that would accvue to and along the line of these sitches vould not be less than $5 pe’; acre, which by taking in a scope onv mile wide along either side would amount to $6,400 per mile. At $6,400 per mile the direct benefit that will have resulted, when the present appropria- tion is exhausted will be $1,280,000. Add this to the indirect benefits pwhich result by reason of the outlets which these ditches afford thousands of miles of lateral ditches, and the ben- efits to roads and general benefit in developing and building up portions of country that were like leprous spots om the face of nature, the eradication of which was impossible without the construction of these ditches. In the same address Mr. Ralph, the engineer, tells of the result of drain- ing in portions of Polk county, re- claiming worthless, boggy land on each side the ditch for a distance of three miles, which are to-day the best pasture, meadow and _ agricultural lands in Polk county, and sell readily at from $16 to $20 per acre. Other litches were pointed out where after improvement, the lands formerly con- sidered worthless were sold by the state at prices ranging from $8 to $16 per acre. In 1905 the state legislature was again asked for an appropriation for state drainage,and also a law authoriz- ing a topographic survey of the state fands, looking to systematic drainage. This measure was strenuously cham- pioned by Hon. A. L. Cole of Walker, and largely through his pluck, push and superior generalship the state was given its first real drainage legisla- ion. Real, because the legislature was brought face to face with condi- tions and first realized the importance of going at this great work in an un- jerstandable, systematic way. The Cole law awakened the people of the state to the importance of the work and the topographic survey, begun the past summer, has demonstrated the wisdom of the man from Walker and the good judgment of the legislature n accepting his suggestions. It is the most important legislation ever under- taken by the state, and will eventually result in making every acre of the state’s vast swamp land holdings ac- ressable, tenable and desirable. The immensity of the undertaking can scarcely be appreciated by reading the figures, as the human mind cannot conceive of an area of 4,500,000 lacres of land, or of the tens of millicns of jollars the land may be sold fur, or he hundreds of millions of dollars in- elligent cultivation of this wide area may be made to produce in a com- oaratively few years. All of this im- mense tract of land lies in Noi thern Minnesota and side by side vgth it are other millions of acres of samp, morass and bog held by the gevern- ment as trustee for the Indiays, in forestry reserves and reservoir \asins All told there is estimated t be 11,000,000 acres of these u*Foccu- vied, unsaleable, wet lands, lan¢s the ural fertility of which are Unsur- oassed anywhere in the North, lands shat may be by drainage converted nto hundreds of thousands of farms, siving homes for hundreds’ of thou- sands, yes, millions of people. Lands the development of which 11eans greater grandeur to the state an. add- ed glory to the nation. The fmpor- tance of improving these wide “areas ind of having the improvement sgnder- taken without delay created su h in- tense interest that at a meeti‘ag of the drainage commission, held ,t Be- nidji in June last, several huddred people from the north and centré_ part of the state gathered to discui% the juestion. Called in a perfunctor,’ sort of way, the meeting was a uine surprise to all in the enthusiasm man- ested. The governor preside’ and tor hours the large audience Atvened, to the story of conditions, and one member of the commission remarked, “It is too bad that this meeting could not be held before the assembled leg- islature of the state, that they might know the conditions, and, knowing them, apply the remedy in the way of ample enough appropriations to make the completion of the work not only possible, but in time for the present generation to enjoy it.” Later in the afternoon a resolution was presented asking the Minnesota delegation in congress to use their best endeavors to get the federal government to sur- vey and drain the lands held in the reservations. This resolution passed and at once the meeting learned that there was an immense work to do. Growing out of this it was de- cided to form an organization to assist in the work by spreading the gospel of drainage. To secure con- gressional action and to educate the people of the whole state as to condi- tions in the north and their great in- terest in them, for these submerged millions of state lands are a common heritage, they belong to the school fund of the state. The conversion of an unprofitable holding into an asset worth millions of dollars was deemed as interesting a fact for the man from Blue Earth county as it was the man from Beltrami—as interesting to the men from Pipestone or Rock as the Polk or St. Louis county citizen, for we all have a common interest in the schools, an equal interest in the real estate, The organization at Bemidji was accomplished with the aid, council and advice of such men as Hon. A. D. Stephens of Crookston, State Engineer Ralph, Hon. A. L. Cole of Walker, Hon. Asher Murray of Wadena, Hon, W. D. Washburn of Hennepin, Hon. A. L. Gole of Grand Rapids, Mr. G. E. Beck- er of Grand Rapids, Senator Cole of Fergus Falls, Mr. Lane of Koochich- ing, Mr. Black of Rosseau county and others to the number of forty or more. There was scarcely time to effect a permanent organization, and after electing A. G. Bernard of Cass Lake, president, H. G. Hays of Bemidji, sec- retary, and appointing Messrs. Ste- phens, Cole, Murray, Tone of North- -ome and Ekman of Badger an ex- ecutive committee arrangements were made for a convention at Crooks- ton on Aug.1, to adopt a constitution and by-laws and complete the organiz- ation of the association. Agreeably to this understanding and with the aid and endorsement of every newspaper almost in the state, the convention was held at Crookston, possibly the larg- est, most representative and most im- portant ever held in the North. Three hundred and fifty prominent Minneso- tans attended this gathering, very few of them from the north, by far the larger number coming from the ‘central and southern parts of the state, to hear about drainage. The governor, Senator Clapp, Congress- man Steenerson, Senator Stephens, Representative Cole, Engineer Aber- crombie and Engineer Ralph deliver- ed addresses and after listening to the call of counties and a statement of conditions a constitution was adopted and the Minnesota Drainage League born. The adoption of the constitution was followed by election of officers, as follows: President—A. G. Bernard of Cass Lake. Vice Presidents—C. H. Warner of Aitkin, W. A. Hinton of Martin coun- ty. Secretary—H. G. Hays of Bemidji. Treasurer—H. V. Eva of Duluth. Executive Committee— First District—W. A. Nolan. Second District—Ezra Gates. Third District—C. A. Johnson. Fourth District—Frank Haskell. Fifth District—J. F. Calhoun. Sixth District—Asher Murray. Seventh District—Thomas Olson. Eighth District—R. A. McGolrich. Ninth District—R. J. Wells. At the first meeting by the new ex- ecutive committee, held at the Min- neapolis club, Sept. 6, the secretary was authorized to begin a campaign for an extension of the interests of the league. At the next meeting of the commii- tee, held at the state capitol on Qct. 13, the following subcommittee was appointed on ways and means: R. A. MeGolrich, Duluth; J. F. Cal- houn, Minneapolis; Frank Haskell, St. Paul; C. A. Johnson, St. Peter; H. G. Hays, Bemidji; A. G. Bernard, Cass Lake. The general plan of procedure was discussed and the ways and means committee authorized to begin their work of securing funds for the carry- ing forward the greatest reclama- tion service ever undertaken by any state of the Union. And the work is progressing as rapidly as_ possible with the means at hand. As with other great movements the Minnesota idea does not appeal to év- erybody in the same way and the com- mittee on ways and means find sev- eral undesirable conditions confront- ing them. The first obstacle is the evident attempt of the national irriga- tion association to stop any attempt at improvement or reclamation in Minnésota. They sent their president to the state, and his advice was that | there was no hope for ‘congressional assistance, but very imminent danger to the Mississippi river by dumping all the water from all the swamps into that stream and by cutting off all of the timber on all of the water sifed. The first result being calcu- lated to endanger the property of the planter of Louisiana by creating flood conditions and the second so decreas- ing the rainfall as to make of the north only a howling wilderness in- habited by hyenas and jackals. The irrigation people told us to go home, build summer resoxts and automobile roads. Then came the forestry people in the person of the secretary of the state forestry society, who declared “that the State Drainage League is ‘only another name for the enemies of reforesiration and the forestry re- serve. The men back of that move- ment are the men who have been fighting forestry all the time.” The of- ficers of the Minnesota Drainage League, members of the Horticultral society, with whom the Forestry asso: ciation were holding a joint session, were forced to beg for the privileges of the floor to reply to these unjust and unfair attacks, and, after some wrangling were given ten minutes in which to explain away charges that iconsumed two hours and a half in presentation, and in that time must present the claims of Northern Minne- sota as an “gricultural region, to show that drainage might be accomplished scientifically, and be a conservator of the golden flood of the great river, and that the League had never for an instant presumed to discuss irrigation, forestration or forestry reserves. The charges of ‘the president of the irri- gation association were afterwards met through the daily press, and that gentleman left the state after volumi- nous explanation and a column of apology. The secretary of the For- estry society has not been heard from. Conception of the work undertaken py this league requires knowledge of conditions and knowledge f condi- tions brings the conviction that when accomplished, as it certainly will be some day, this work will add hundreds of dollars in money and hundreds of thousands in population to Minnesota. The area involved is as large as the entire state of Ohio; a region rich in natural timber products, with dozens of undeveloped water powers, central- ly located, with an excellent climate and nearer tide-water than Chicago. Its development means more to the state than its present growth for the area involved is larger than the area of that portion of the state already improved and developed. Is it unrea- sonable to believe that in a region three hundred and twenty miles long by two hundred and fifteen miles wide, composed of as fine land, as rich in material product of lumber and ore, with material water powers scattered over its surface, close to an all water route to the markets of the world, with agricultural resources equal to any similar area in the nation—is it unreasonable to predict the building of cities, the creation of an empire, of wealth of grandeur there? Is it un- reasonable to ask for reimburseable federal assistance to make saleable federal lands? Is it unreasonable to ask state aid for the reclamation of the commonwealth lands? If it is un- reasonable history must be forgotten and the experiences of nineteen hun- dred years of civilization and human progress set at naught. If it is reason- able the Minnesota Drainage League should have your earnest, hearty and immediate support and endorsement for it is committed to that end and that end alone. ARCHIE CAUGHT SIX-TOED CAT. Roosevelt Pet Had Run Away From the White House. When the Roosevelt Children re- turned to the White House after their summer in Oyster Bay, they brought a six-toed cat which rejoiced in the name of Slippers. The younger chil- dren—Ethel, Quentin and Archibald— were devoted to the pet, and great was their lamentation when she forsook her enviable position and disappeared. A reward was offered in vain. But a week ago a negro boy got into the grounds of the White House and con- veyed the/intelligence that a six-toed 4 cat was living in his alley, down near the river. Archibald, who shows much of his father’s independence, at once set out to catch the vagrant. Slippers, pet of the family of a na- tion’s ruler, was living tKe life of an ordinary tramp cat. Archibald cap- tured her and took her home, but she didn’t seem pleased. A collar with name and address was fastened to her neck. She now comes and goes as she wishes. One day she feeds from the dainties of the president’s table; the next she may be seen catching rats on the decaying wharfs in South Washington.—New York Press. Not Encouraging. “But,” said the persistent suitor, “if I were to prove to you that I would go to the ends of the earth for you—” “First,” replied the Boston girl, “you would have to prove to me that the earth really has ends, and that, you know, is quite impossible.”—Phil- adelphia Press. . A Matter of Figure. “Do you think it is right for you to spend so much money on corsets and pads and such things? “Certainly.” “Well, 1 don’t see how you can.” “Oh, it’s just the way I figure.”— Houston Post. Applied Art. FITZ AND WiFE RECONCILED. Pugilist Woos Back His Wife at Sioux Falls. Sioux Falls, S. D., Jan. 9. — The reconciliation of Robert Fitzsimmons and wife came as a great surprise to the people of Sioux Falls, as it doubt- less will to their friends throughout the ¢ountry- Various movements of the attorneys and those interested in the case indicated that something im- portant was about to transpire, but the utmost secrecy was maintained, and not until late in the afternoog on Saturday would those in a position to talk with authority admit that the long-talked-of reconciliation had at last been effected. Even then, efforts were made to suppress this knowl- edge. As yet little definite informa- tion can be obtained as to the exact causes which led to the reconciliation. Fitzsimmons and his wife will depart to-day for their home in New York sity. HOUSE IS BLOWN UP. Exploding Steam Plant Completely Demolishes Building. St. Paul, Jan. 9—A steam plant in the home of George H. Watson, 390 Ashland avenue, blew up at 8 o’clock Saturday morning. The house is a total wreck as a result. Mrs. Watson was sitting in the dining room on a chair, and when the explosion oc- curred she was hurled to the ceiling and landed in the cellar. She was seriously injured. Mr. Watson and a son and two daughters were in the kitchen. They were blown against the walls and badly hurt. Though seri- ously injured, all will probably recov- er. The house was literally blown to pieces and the windows of the neigh- boring houses were also demolished by the explosion. The loss is estima- ted at about $5,000. GAS NEARLY FATAL. J. H. Capwell, at lowa Falls, Rescued Just in Time. Iowa Falls, Iowa, Jan. 9. — J. H. Capwell, the night operator at the Rock Island depot in this city, nar- rowly escaped asphyxiation. Cap- well had gone into a bathroom, and while taking a bath he was overcome by escaping gas. He had evidently attempted to leave the bathroom, and just before reaching the door he had fallen. The attendants were attracted to the room by groans and found the man unconscious. A physician was summoned, but it was some time be- fore Capwell regained consciousness. PUSH WORK ON NEW GRADE. Nearly Mile of Rails Laid on Road to Pierre. Rapid City, S. D., Jan. 9. — The Chicago & Northwestern has a force of over 100 men at work laying steel on the new grade. The work of lay- ping the main track and a new siding to the Rapid River mills is completed. Four crossings will be necessary in order to cross the Milwaukee tracks. Nearly a mile of rails now has been laid on the new road to Pierre. FINDS HER CHILD. Mother’s Search of Two Years Is Re- . warded. ry Ashland, Wis., Jan. 9.—Mrs. Lorene Alwes of Kansas City, who for the last two years has been seeking a lost four-year-old daughter, yesterday learned here that the child is at Des Moines with a woman who was asked to care for the child while the mother was sick. She secured definite word of her whereabouts at the home of the woman’s sister here. WOMAN PIONEER DIES, Mrs. Helen M. Houck of Lac qui Parle Passes Away. Lac qui Parle, Minn., Jan. 9.—Mrs. Helen M. Houck, a pioneer settler of this county, died at her home here at the age of seventy-seven years. She was a native of New York. She moved to Dodge county, Minn., in 1864 and to this county in 1871. Two sons, two daughters, twenty-five grandchildren and six great grandchildren survive. HUMANE AGENT ARRESTED. Oshkosh Official Charged With Beat- ing His Wife. Oshkosh., Wis., Jan. 9. — Dr. F. J. Wilkie, humane agent for this city and the Fox river valley district, was arrested yesterday charged with beat- ing his wife. Dr. Wilkie has been city health officer and has held other positions under the municipal gov- ernment. WILL FIGHT TO HOLD HIS JOB. Wisconsin Oil inspector Resists Ouster From Office. Madison, Wis., Jan. 9. — George Fess, oil inspector at Madison, has brought proceedings contesting his removal from office by the secretary First Sweet Sixteen—Oh, my Fritz |of state and the Wisconsin civil ser- is very musical. He composes heav- enly waltzes. . vice commission. The civil service law was signed June 16 last, to go Second Ditto—So is my Hans. He |into effect, it is claimed, Dec. 16, but even kisses in waltz time.—Meggen- |Fess’ attorney holds that the law be- doerfer Blatter. came operative June 16. 7s FURNITURE FACTORY FIRE. One of St. Peter’s Industries Is Partly Destroyed. St. Peter, Minn., Jan. 10—Fire broke out in the drying room at the St. Pe- ter furniture factory at 9 o’clock last night and damaged ‘the plant to the extent of $15,000. For a time the flames threatened the main building, but the firemen, although hampered by dense smoke, succeeded in saving the structure. Practically the entire supply of dry lumber was consumed and the machinery in the engine room was somewhat damaged. The prop- erty is owned by the St. Peter: Furni- ture company, and is one of the lead- ing industries of the city, giving em- ployment to forty men. It had re- sumed operations only yesterday morning after a shut down of two weeks. The loss is partly covered by insurance. WILLIAMS MUST HANG. Pardon Board Refuses to Commute Sentence of Murcer. St. Paul, Jan. 10. — William Will- iams’ last chance for his life is gone, for the state pardon board yesterday refused to commute the sentence of death imposed upon him by the Ramsey county district court for the murder of John Keller. The board spent half an hour in executive ses- sion, going over the evidence in the case, and decided it could see nothing which would throw any doubt upon the verdict that he committed the crime or that it was premeditated. BODY FOUND IN BARN. Miner Believed to Have Committed Suicide at Hibbing. * Two Harbors, Minn., Jan. 10.—The body of a man has been found in one of the barns at the race track near the village of Hibbing, on the Mesaba range, hanging to one of the rafters by a piece of hay wire. Later, at the undertaking rooms, it was identified as that of John Newman. The body had been hanging in the barn for sev- eral days. When last seen Newman was under the influence of liquor. It is thought he committed suicide. DROPS MILLER SUIT. Result of Fitzsimmons’ Reconciliation With His Wife. . Sioux Falls, S. D., Jan. 10.—As a re- sult of the reconciliation between Robert Fitzsimmons and his wife the intended suit for damages in the sum of $100,000 against Maj. Miller for’the alleged alienation of the affections of Mrs. Fitzsimmons will be dropped. Bob Fitzsimmons was the attraction at the state poultry show last night, appearing as the referee at a cock fight. The couple will leave to-day for New York. CARNEGIE SENDS $50,000. Western College Gets Aid to Help It Secure Equal Sum Pledged. Toledo, Iowa, Jan. 10. — Dr. C. J. Kephart, president of Western col- lege, has received from Andrew Car- negie’s secretary a letter which reads as follows: “Dear Sir: Mr. Carne- gie notes that you have raised $50,- 000 and has instructed his cashier to send you $50,000 so as to secure the $50,000 promised by Mr. Clark. Re- spectfully yours, James Bertram.” PASTOR’S BODY NOT FOUND. Rev. T. M. Edmands’ Disappearance Still Is a Mystery. Wahpeton, N. D., Jan. 7. — The re- port from Breckenridge which stated that the body of Rev. T. M. Edmands, who is supposed to have been drowned in the river here, had been found, seems to have no foundation in fact. A crew of men has been ai work on the river cutting ice and dragging the bed of the river ever since the drowning two weeks ago, but the body has not been recovered. FIRE DESTROYS ELEVATOR. Blaze at Elk Point Burns 10,000 Bush- els of Grain. Elk Point, S. D., Jan. 7—The first elevator built in Dakota territory, erected in 1874, was destroyed by fire yesterday. The fire started in the engine room. The building was owned by J. W. Skughler of Water- loo, Iowa, and contained about 10,000 bushels of grain. There is no insur- ance on the building. A hard fight by the fire department saved the feed mill adjoining. Kaiser Keeps His Bed. Berlin, Jan. 19. — Emperor William is keeping his bed because of a slight cold. He is receiving the usual re- ports in his apartment. Burglar Caught in Act. Prairie du Chien, Wis., Jan. 10. — Martin Culberson, twenty years old, of Dubuque, was caught by Detective Merrill in the act of burglarizing a residence. He pleaded guilty and will be sent to Green Bay reformatory. Gets Life Sentence. Marshalitown, Iowa, Jan. 10. — Twenty-year-old Roy Hull of Tama, Iowa, yesterday was sentenced to life imprisonment for first degree murder. _ Hull; killed Toledo, Lowa. Daniel Leary at ' made public. MONTANA BONDS ARE VOID COURT DECLARES ACT OF LEGIS- LATURE ‘TO BE UNCON- STITUTIONAL. % “Ss % Helena, Mont., Jan. 10.—The stato &s educational institutions of Montana e are placed in a predicament by yes- terday’s decision of the supreme court in the famous bond case, which de- clares that the investment of money from the sale of school land or timber thereon in bonds of different state in- stitutions is in violation of section 12 of the constitution. The state has $450,000 of such money invested in bonds of different educational institutions, which action the court declares to be unconstitu- tional, because, while the state legisla- ture may say how these lands may be sold, it has not the power to say how the funds received therefrom shal! be disposed of. The court’s ruling created no little excitement at the state house. Gov. Toole was nonplussed and declined to make any statement. for publication. It is reported that the case will be ap- pealed to the supreme court of the Uni- ted States, the claim being made that there is a federal question involved. SENSATION IN CHURCH. Choir Singer From St. Paul Is Shown Up by Young Woman and Child. River Falls, Wis., Jan. 10.—The ser- vices at the Congregational church in this tity were brought to a startling and highly sensational close Sunday morning. Just as the pastor had fin- ished his sermon and the closing ser- vices were about to commence, Miss Clara Markley rose from her seat in the audience chamber and passed up the aisle to the front, where she re- quested that she be allowed to say a few words. She then told how her life had been ruined and pointed out as the father of her child C. H. Kaiser, agent for the Howard-Farwell com- pany, piano dealers of St. Paul, and dared him to deny the charge. No de- nial was made and, although publicly disgraced, Mr. Kaiser remained until the conclusion of the services. He then hired a livery rig and drove to Hudson, where he took a train for parts unknown. LIFE CRUSHED OUT BY SAFE. Man Killed Instantly at Minnesota Transfer Yards. St. Paul, Jan. 10. — Carl J. Bye, a checker in the Minnesota Transfer yards, was crushed to death at 11 o'clock yesterday morning by a safe falling on him. Mr. Bye was directing the transfer of a safe across a plank from one car to another. He was standing on the end of the plank, which was resting on the car into which the safe was being moved. As the safe was being pushed onto the plank the end where Bye was standing slipped to the ground. Mr. Bye fell. The safe, weighing 1,600 pounds, fell on top of him. FITZ SUED FOR FLOOR. Owner of Damaged Blacksmith Shop Starts Damage Suit. Sioux Falls, S. D., Jan. 10.—Robert Fitzsimmons will have reason to re- member his visit to Sioux Fails. He has been made defendant in a damage suit growing out of the collapse of the floor in the blacksmith shop. The ac- tion, which is for $500, was com- menced by Mrs. C. C. Carpenter, own- er of the building in which the floor collapsed. Owing to the commence- ment of the damage suit Fitzsimmons and his wife will stay in Sioux Falls the remainder of the week. MEN HURT; AUTO IS SAFE. Big Car Overturns and Injures Occu- pants Near Marshall. Marshall, Minn., Jan. 10.——A heavy automobile in which four men were speeding along the Yeomans road, near the fair grounds, suddenly swerved into the ditch and was over- turned. Walter Goodrich, owner of the machine, who was driving it, was pinioned beneath the auto, and sus- tained seriou: buc not fatal injuries. The three other men were traveling men. One had a rib broken and all were more or less bruised. The ma- chine was uninjured. WANTS TO KEEP BOTH JOBS. Wisconsin Justice Will Appeal From Decision Ruling Him Out. Oconto, Wis., Jan. 10.—Judge Hast- ings has handed down a decision that a county judge cannot hold office as justice of the peace at the same time. Suit was brought against H. F. Jones of this city sometime ago to force him to give umone office or the other. In the opinion of the court the two of- fices conflict in certain instances. It is likely that an appeal will be taken in order to have the question settled finally. Sheep Men Plead Not Guilty. Helena, Mont., Jan. 10.—N. B. Smith, W. W. Slatt and W. J. Walsh, the former two being members of the Smith Sheep company, one of the largest concerns in the state, were in United States court yesterday to piead to indictments returned by the recent grand jury, charging them with un- lawfully fencing the public domain. All pleaded not guilty. This leaves ten more secret indictments yet to be sates SAA aa ae % Ses SI Le ee eed bi