Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1893 — The Gifford and Wakarusa Ditches. [ARTICLE]

The Gifford and Wakarusa Ditches.

The hearing of the Gifford Drainage District case was begun before the county commissioners, last Wednesday afternoon. The newly elected commissioners of the district filed a paper dismissing the whole case. This was opposed by Mr. Thompson, original attorney for the ditch, on the grounds that the commissioners of the district had no right to do any act contrary to the interests of the district, and the Commissioners decided in his favor. The remonstrants against the ditch then filed a plea in abatement, asking for the dismissal of the case, on the grounds that the agreement was not signed by the owners of two thirds of the acres of land affected. This also was over-ruled.

A large number of remonstrances were then filed, the principal points of most of which were: That the agreement was not legally filed; that § of the land owners bad not signed it; that the land in the district does not require a combined system of drainage; that the costs will exceed the benefits; that the agreement contains many stipulationous contrary to law; that much of the work has already been done voluntarily; and that the cause has been dismissed by the commissioners of the district. The hearing of tho points [made by the remonstrants will be resumed as soon as the Wakarusa matter is out of the way. The hearing of the Wakarusa was resumed Monday afternoon, before the j6int boards of Jasper and White counties.

The points upon which the remonstrants are attacking the ditch are: That the outlet is not sufficient; that the route is not practicable; that the assessments are unequal; that one of the viewers, Mr. Van Meeter, was related to one of the affected landowners, within the degree prohibited by law. The case ii now on trial, and likely to last several days longer.