Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1894 — The Big Ditch is Dismissed. [ARTICLE]

The Big Ditch is Dismissed.

BUT THE END IS NOT FET IN SIGHT The County Commissioners resumed their hearing of the Iroquois Ditch matter, last Wednesday. Taking up the matter where they had left it off, a large number of wilnesses were examined upon the ■ '.IF ' # ' • points of the cost and estimated benefits of the ditcb. Large numbers of lapd owners, representing all localities affected by the ditch, were examined. Owners, of large tracls and of small; of wet lands and of drv. They all told the same tale. Their land would not be bene fitted as much as it was assessed. In view of all this evidence the commissioners reached :he conclusion that the only logical as well as the only fair and just way to settle the matter was lo dismiss the whole proceeding. They accordingly had entered of record an order reciting that having found, on full investigation, that the estimated cost of the work would exceed the benefits, they dismissed the ditch, anti ordered the costs, of ail kinds taxed up to the petitioners. There is little liklihood that the matter will end here, however, and it may be that years of costly and expensive litigation will result before the matter is fully decided. An appeal to the circuit court from the order dismissing the ditch has been taken by Messrs. S. P. Thompson, Granville Moody, Wallace, Warren and Ad Robinson.

As a necessary result of this appeal, several other appeals to the same Court, have been taken. Previous to the decision to dismiss the whole ditch, a large number of persons had asked to have laterals lopped off. Other parties had asked to to have extensive changes made in the main ditch. Still others, being petitioners, had asked to have their names taken from the petition and to be relieved of further liability for costs. All these smaller requests were overruled, and as there is a chance that -the circuit court will reverse the order dismissing the ditch, these minor appeals are taken, to save the rights of the appellants; in order that if the higher courts finally decide to establish the ditch these requests for changes and the dropping of laterals, may again be brought up.' That the Commissioners acted for the best interest of the vast majority of affected parties in dismissing the ditch is the almost universal opinion.