Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1911 — MONON DITCH ORDERED [ARTICLE]

MONON DITCH ORDERED

Will Affect Considerable Land In East Jasper. The Monon ditch ‘has been established. Special Judge Henry A. Steis this afternoon made public his findings in the j case, the, report being favorable to the petitioners, and showing that the big drain , would be of benefit to all concerned. The findings show a liberal reduction of„assessments all along the line. •“Mt;. Steis, during the few months he has been trying the case has saved the people something in the neighborhood of $20,000 by his system of personal inspection of the affected lands, instead ,of compelling the land owners to bring all of their evidences into court, j- Mr. Steis estimates that the cost of the personal inspections, which he made, including clerk’s and sheriff’s expenses, will average about $650 or about one-half per cent per acre. He was able to inspect about 130,000 acres during his trip.] Had the owners been compelled to bring in all of their witnesses, etc., the expense per acre would have averaged 26 cents, or a total of $22,500. Thus bv comparing , this sum with the $650 which Mr. Steis actually

expended, it can be seen at once just what a saving he has made for the property owners. There have been nine judges presided over this old case, each of which except Mr. Steis, passed the matter up as a bad job. Mr. Steis is to be congratulated for having put an end 1 to this problem which has confronted the westsiders for so many years. — Winamac Journal.