People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — THE PINKAMINK DRAINAGE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE PINKAMINK DRAINAGE.

One of the most important features of the industries of Jasper county is the work which lias been in progress for the last three and a half years, in the north eastern portion of the county, known as the "Pinkamink marsh" or the basin of the Pinkamink river. This tract of land embraces about GO.OOO acres and was probably one half subject to overflow, while much of the remainder was inaccessable by reason of the adjacent marshes.

in the summer of 1891 Benjamin J. Gilford of Kankakee, a man of some wealth, and energy and administrative ability, visited the city of Rensselaer, making inquiries touching the swamp landsof Jasper county. He was unknown in this city. He had been informed that there was a large body of land* in the north eastern portion of the county “'that had no value except to trade to some one who had never seen it” owned or controlled mainly by Thompson Brothers. He called on Simon P. Thompson, but found that gentleman engaged in giving directions to an Engineer "who was about to make a survey of the Wakarusha” and therefore "could not see him.” Mr. Gifford said he “was in no hurry and would wait." The next day Thompson Bros, offered to show him the Pinkamink marsh, but he said "ho,” he only wanted their "price and a plot of the lands", he did not "wish to put them to so much trouble." He drove around the marsh and through it (where lie could) and observing bunoak and shell hark hickory growing on the east, west and south and "nigger heads" or boulders scattered around promiscuously. He at once began to eon aider the question of drainage. He observed that the natural outlet was through the Pinkamink river over a very circuitous route and a lelge of rock for several miles: that the distance could be reduced one half and the rock avoided by making a new outlet, through the Helvis ditch with very little work. Keeping his own counsel he began the purchase of the Haddock marsh and the Hel vis marsh, in a way that led many people to believe that he was but an agent in disguise for the Standard Oil Company, which had for some time previously been prospecting.in these regions for oil. This he denied but such denials only continued the suspicions of some people. In May 1892 he started his lirst steam (boom) dredge at Boston's bridge. This was followed by another like dredge in October same year, in the "Buckhorn branch;" the firmer dredge sprung a leak and sunk in March 1894 and was p 'rmanently laid olf; the latter is still at work. Tli -sc dredges were operated night and day and each employed about twenty men. They have now -constructed about sixty (60; miles of dredge ditch and supplemtal to this work has been con stnicted many miles of small laterals, both open and tiled. On the land was found considerable timber, and saw mills were started in the fall of 1892 and from one to four have been running since and have madeover two million feet of lumber, which has been utilized in houses, barns, corn cribs, bridges, etc. The tops of trees have been utilized for fuel to run the dredge boats, which have consumed over 10,000 cords. The "nigger heads” have been utilized for foundations to buildings. The building of houses was commenced in 1893, and as high as twelve gangs of carpenters have been employed at one time. 110 houses have now been built or are under construction and a like number of barns.. We give a view of a standard house and barn elsewhere.

These houses are main part, 16x30; wing 16x16, both parts 16 feet high. Divided (below) into living room 16x15, kitchen 16x16, bed room 15x9, pantry 15x1, 1 2 ; stairway with closet underneath, off bed room. Second story two bed rooms 16x16 each, and one 9x12. Closets and hall, stairway and all lower rooms wainscotted three and a half feet high, balance lath and pi s er. These houses are covered with sheathing and lap siding and painted (two coats) white. The barns are 28x40, fourteen feet posts; capacity, 16 horses and feed bin for four hundred bushels and mow for 25 tons of hay. At each of these building sites will be found a rock well from which can be obtained a drink of white sulphur water, cold, cleafnand pure. And which is beli ived to be very healthy. As there has been practically no sickness among this entire population now numbering over 6)0 and are passing through the fourth year. These wells average about one hundred feet deep and from one to four’ gangs aji-e kept constantly at work in their construction.

This land bids fair to become one of the finest agricultural regions m the state. Results so far have been as follows: 1893, crop oats 500 bushels, corn 3000 bushels; 1894, crop oats «2,000 bushels, corn 20,000 Imshels; 1895 crop oats 10,000 bushels, corn 100,000 bushels. A few farms were started in 1893, which numbered 20 in 1894 and 60 in

1891, while 110 are ready for 1896. Nearly all of which are rented, on terms mainly for of grain but. where land is near railroad the rent is 2-5 of grain.

The tenants on this tract of land are mainly from Boon county, Ind., and are a class of people of which Jasper countymay well feel proud. As a rule these people are poor, but seam to he sober, honest and very industrious. One may visit this region of country any day and find little, or no loafing, but Jill at work doing something. Wagons may be heard on th * roa 1 as early as half past five o'clock in the morning, and as la.t j as nine o'clock at night, while the dre lge boat whistle marks the time the rema rider of the night. All seem to know thenwork, there is nocqnfusipn, no wrangling or contentions, ancl crime isso uncommon, and law so little use 1 that one justice of the peace (Esp lie Abbit j serves the t iree large towi ships of Gi 1 an, Walker and Bark'ey, and he has so little to do as to be hardly familiar with the ordinary forms of legal'proceedings, but devotes more of his time to the]study of and expounding of biblical questions than to the acts of the legislature. Recently a gentleman traveled twenty miles before he could find any one who could "direct him to a justice of the peace. H • wanted to acknowledge a deed.

These Boon county people all seem to be friends to Mr. Gifford and he seams to be to them (using their language) "the best frion ] on eirth". He says give him a small army like these and a few dredge boats to serve as "heavy artillery", and he can build up an empire greater than "Caesar’s". And it would seem poss !lie. Hi s holding now in real estate is over 30.01)9 acres, an 1 n - gotiations are pending touching large additions. His dredge bo it. is now in position where it can break “into the Kmakee marsh containing its million acres of swamp land almost any day wit out

going out of the water. And his recent purchases in that direction may have som% significance. He believes that you can help the poor man more by giving him a home and employment at. fair wages, and a little direction (where necessaryi than you can by founding any number of charitable institutions, churches or colleges which require the abandonment of manhood before aid is given. And his only regret is that he did not commence this good work sooner or had more years left in which to work for the prosperity of his much loved tenants, friends and their children, who show themselves to be worth}' of consideration.. And hopes that every industrious poor man now on; his farm, will some' day have a farm of his own, the rich fruit of his own industrious efforts. And would be glad to be permitted to see such day.

Hon. Robert Parker, Banker, Remington, Ind. See sketch.