The Holt County Sentinel from Oregon, Missouri • Page 1

fjunte 4 Soli aum 42ND YEAR. OREGON, MISSOURI, FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1906. NUMBER 12 I I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 73 Hi I I 1 i-i -pfcdai TmLA 4 JlH -r SfefePP -l gg -s WBK? rlPF tMtte 1 Ay i JjLJ 1 3r sWiri" i ii 1 toflntH ao 1p il'Piif 5 I I I I I 1 i C-3 15 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 gi PLAT OF 5QUAW CRLK tied as to the amount of earth removed; upon this certificate the bo'ard issued its warrant upon the county treasurer, who is the custodian of the funds, for the amount earned by the contractor. The pay roll amounted to about 36,000 monthly. Four steel tubes, 30 feet and 3ff inches in diameter: 2 of the same length and 4S inches in diameter, are used for drain? through dykes at the junction of the ditches.

PLAT OF 5QUAW CRELLK HOLT COUMTY DRAIHA6E: DI5TFMCT NO. 1, MISSOURI. ROLLS ON TO THE SEA. Completion of the Digging of Squaw Creek Drainage Canal. Twenty Thousand Acres of Land Reclaimed Will Hereafter Blossom as the Rose.

and resumed. I June 1, 1905, the Kruzor dredge began to cut Davis Creek, which boat inter- THE DREDGER HOUSE BOAT. THE DREDGING MACHINE. slope south and southeast to the Mis souri river. The drainage plan was for one main ditch from the point where Squaw Creek enters the bottom above Mound City, south anil southeast to Wing Lake.

i passing under the railroad at that point, thence southeast and south to the Mis-; souri river. A second main ditch from Davis Creek, on range line at Mound City, south and southwest, intersecting Squaw Creek ditch northeast of Napier. There are several lateral ditches to csrry the water of Porter Creek, Swope Krancht Blair's Branch, Canon's Branch, Kimsey Creek and other streams on the east side of the main ditches. Our map herewith will give our readers an I idea of these ditches, etc. The Squaw Creek ditch is 40 feet wide on top and 20 feet wide on the bottom, from beginning point to Wing Lake, i and wider from that point to the river.

Tho Davis Creek Ditch is feet in After a struggle of seven years, the Drainage District some five or six years ereat undertaking: of digging the Squaw ago, but the work was held up for some Creek Drainage canal has been com- time by the remonstrance of or objec-j wide on top and 15 feet wide on bottom, pleteu and the contractors announce tions or some oi tue persons wuoso oeginning point ana increasing tney nave reacneu tue luissoun, into uau ueeu muiuueu iu nymuoi, which this canal will empty and thus their will. Litigation from the supreme drain 20,000 acreB of Holt county's rich court and back was had, but the case bottom lands which heretofore have finally went against the objetors, the been unproduciive by reason of overflows and continued wet condition. The projectors believed it could be properly drained and thus made as rich and pro ductive as any land within the border of the state, and would undoubtedly in- courts deciding that the proceeding had been regular and that the enterprise was legul. In 1399, meetings of land owners of the bottom land between Mound City and Forest City were held for the pur- crease the corn production of the county I pose of organizing a drainage district fully 500,000 bushels annually. For many years sportsmen from St.

Joseph, Kansas City and Omaha have been coming here to shoot during the duck season and to fish during the fishing seasons, some of them having laid out and rented preserver which were, it is said, protected by state charters. All this is now ended and the "sports" will have to seek other fields. With the digging of this drainage canal, it is confidently believed one of the most interesting drainage problems to Holt County has been solved, when it is known that fully 190 of the 462 square miles of the county's area is of bottom lands, the much greater portion of which lies along the Missouri river. It is said that the entire length of the Missouri river has nowhere as wide a section of bottom land as is found in this count-, from East Rulo to what is known as Blair's Lane, just south of Mound City. The bottom lands are here said to be about 11 miles wide.

It is for the drainage of this area for which this great canal has been dug. Land owners along the line of the pro corporation, and its name was fixed as the Squaw Creek Drainage District, No. 1. Its original boundaries included some 21,000 acres, but after a hearing in the circuit court the district was reduced to 19,550 acres. May 22, 1900, Judge Gallatin Craig granted a decree of incorporation.

June 18, 1900, the land owners held their first election, and selected the following as a board of supervisors: E. A. Brown, of Bigelow; John E. Slater, of Fortescue; John S. Smith, of Mound City; A.

W. VanCamp, of Napier, and F. L. Zeller, of Forest City. The first named was chosen as president and the latter secretary.

Mr. Zeller has been continuously the secretary from the organization to the present time. November 26, 1902. the supreme court affirmed the decision of the lower court as to incorporation, etc. On the action of the supreme court, the supervisors employed C.

G. Landon as engineer to make a complete survey of the district and report a complete plan for drainage system. November 23, 190,3, the engineer made posed ditch, by their attorneys, T. C. i his report and filed maps, plans, survey, Dungan and H.

T. Alkire, organized a etc. The map shows a gentle fall or width to point of intersection with main Napier. The main ditch from Wing Lake bears southeast about two miles to the west line of the Fitzmaurice land, and thence almost due south to the Missouri river. Outside of these two main ditches are a number of lateral ditches to drain the entire district from the overflow of Kimey Creek, the Canon Branch, Porter Creik.

Little Tarkio channel, Clear Lake, Swope lateral, etc. April 1904, an election was held to vote SSO.000 of bonds to complete the! work, and the bouds vere authorized by a vote of 15,308 for tho loan and SI votes against, each vote representing an acre within the district. July 1, 1904, the bonds were dated, and on the 14th they were signed and delivered to the U. S. Mortgage it Trust Company, of New Yoru, for registration.

July 27, 1904, the bonds were disposed of to Little Hays, of St. Louis, at 9S cents on the dollar. September 30. 11)04, the board entered into contract through their commissioner, W. F.

Vance, with .1. W. Kruzor sects the main Squaw Creek ditch at Napier, speeding across the bottom, leaving a diich behind it 27 feet wide and 8 feet deep. September 1905. the work on the Squaw Creek ditch was completed to where it reached the main line of the K.

St. Jocuph C. B. railroad, about four miles from the starling point, and two miles north of Napier, and ten moved southeast until it joined Davis Creek. January 14.

19u0, the dredge boat passed into Wing Lake where bridged July 1, 1906, tho board made its first liquidation of bonds, pa ing oil" S4.C0O of these The contractors. Messrs. Sogers Rogers, far as we are SOME DITCH HISTORY. In Holt numerous plans for ditches hare been proposed during the last 30 years. Some have proven effective, but in many cases they were designed for only temporary relief.

One of the first ditches dug was known as the Corning ditch. Then the Craig ditches, Nos. 1 and two were dug. About the same time ditches were dug below Napier into the lake above Forest City, known as the Sheridan ditches. Much of the latter were only dug two and three feet deep.

Another later ditch was near Forbes. All of these were dug under control of the county court or through commissioners, the land owners bearing part of the expense and the balance was paid by the county. Although these ditches were never large enough for the work required, yet as the seemed no one with authority to maintain them, they became mostly ineffective, and were not provided with proper outlet, A few years ago a private ditch was dug from the Little Tarkio, west of Forest city, through nearly three miles of t-lough, pond or any low land necessary to cross to reach an outlet in the Missouri river. This ditch in many places was dug not to exceed three feet wide and three feet deep, and after erosion of several years will now average 35 feet wide and six feet deep. The late Thomas Cottier and F.

L. Zeller obtained deed for right-of-way 100 feet wide for this ditch and dug it with the help of others who subscribed a few dollars or a few days' work. This ditch is a success. Another ditch was dug a little later near Mouuu City by the Mound City Land and company, but this ditch failed because no outlet was furnished. About 1S91 a survey was made for a ditch from where Squaw Creek enters the bottom above iNiound City, a distance of about 14 miles to the Missouri river below Forest City This ditch was petitioned for in the county court, but its location raised so much opposition that the petition was dit-inissed.

IN THE DRAINAGE CANAL. Squaw Creek ditch. The engineer in his estimates stated that Squaw Creek ditch would require the removal of 355,031 cubic yards of dirt; 192,715 cubic yards of dirt would have to be removed on the Davi3 Creek ditch. At Wing Lake, near Napier, these two ditches are brought together into one ditch, which continues south. A part of the waj this main ditch is 50 feet at the top and 40 feet at the bottom.

The ditch beginning where Squaw Creek enters the bottom from the bluffs and runs due south to Clear Lake, just above Napier; then following Clear Lake southeast, passing under Wing bridge Davis Creek will be turned near the electric light plant in Mound City, and run due south on the range line to Wing Lake, uniting with the Squaw Creek, near Wing bridge, south of for the digging of the Swope lateral. December 13, board approved the contract of Rogers Rogers, of Illinois, for the construction of the main Squaw Creek and Davis Creek ditches. The contractors at once began construct-their dredge boats. February 23, 1905, the first dipper of earth was thrown out of the Squaw Creek by the contractors. June 3, 1905, the main Squaw Creek ditch was completed from its starting point in 35, 62, 39, to the Nodaway Val-lej' railroad, between Mound City and Bigelow.

The occasion created considerable interest as the trackage had to be removed and a bridge put in by the railroad company. This work was witnessed by large crowds of people, both during Saturday night and Sunday, and Monday the Villisca train came as far as the opening and transferred its passengers, and on Monday evening traffic was REMOVING. THE NODAWAY VALLEY RAILROAD iMCACK Between Mound L'itv and Bmelow. enabled to learn, every part of their contract, and the board of supervisors are satisfied with the work done and the manner in which it has been done. Their dredge boat, "Monarch," is a ponderous piece of machinery.

It has its own electric light plant and is equip-j There had been ped with a double engine 12x14. It has I along the line. This ditch was by the engineer proposed to be dug six fct- tvide on he bottom and nowhere of much depth. In 1900 the Bit? Tarkio Drainage District was incorporated. a partial system of drainage bad been adopted.

some opposition all At he August. 1905, a length of 90 feet and is 30 fept in I width. The length of the boom is 60 feet and the dipper arm, 45 feet. The dipper's capacity is about two yards and its daily capacity is about 1,500 yards, Behind the dredge boat is the house boat, 18x18, and in this the hands were acres of land. housed 3nd boarded, with blacksmith After much opposition and a stub-shop, tool house, etc.

bornly fought case through some four The supervisors met monthly at which time Commissioner Vance certi-1 concluded on eighth page. term of our circuit court, the county collector had a suit for the collection of the drainage tax and judgment was given against the delinquent. An appeal was taken to the higher court. This ditch is supposed to drain some 7,500 THE DREDGER PASSING THROUGH THE RAILROAD..