Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1900 — Also Wanted the People to Drain His Lands. [ARTICLE]

Also Wanted the People to Drain His Lands.

On the 4th of March, 1893, the Indiana Legislature enacted a law providing for the formation of drainage districts, Ist by petition and 2d by agreement. Benjamin J. Gifford, by Simon P. Thompson his attorney, applied for a district by agreement. John E. Alter was surveyor, and Gifford had smooth sailing before the board of commissioners, for everything thftt he asked seemed to be granted by the County Surveyor and the Board of Commissioners. The case was, however, appealed to the Circuit Court and Judge Wiley held that part of the law under which the proceedings were commenced, unconstitutional, and on appeal the Supreme Court sustained him. The other portion of the law is doubtless invalid. That was one of the most iniquituos laws that ever disgraced the statute books of any state or nation and had the same been upheld Gifford could have drained all of his land within the proposed district at the expense of the other land owners in said district or compelled them to sell to him at his own prices. That ended the drainage district. As Gifford cannot drain his lands at the expense of others he is now trying to induce the people to build a railroad for him. An Anti.