Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1871 — J. J. Glidden's Defense. [ARTICLE]

J. J. Glidden's Defense.

Lai’outb, Jwn., Aug. 8,1871. Missaiw. Jamkh &. IIKAXKY: f Editors:—My attention lias been called to an article la your issue of 3rd lust ant which convoys a wrong impression in regard to the Kankakee Valley Draining Co., unintentionally, uo.douht, uiion,your part. Thu company is only anxious that property owners und purties interested should become acquainted' with tlie facts. And I feel a**imnl from the conversation J hud with you when in Rensselaer that you only desire to represent to tlie people the fuels as they come to your knowledge and would not intentionally mislead any. 1 therefore write you. The law provides that the appraisers “shall assess to eacli tract the full and entire amount Of such benefit which it will in the opinion of a majority of them receive, without any regard to the cost of the work,”'but by the same lnlTtho company Is not permitted to collect any more of the assessments than tlie work actually costs, hut this must be collected pro rata from eacli assessment. In this case the assessments amount to nearly three times the cost of the proposed work. The estimated cost was $2,000,000, based upon 25 cts. per cubic yard, but tlie work has been let to resjionsible contractors at the price of 17 cts. per yard for main channel and 15 cts. per yard for tributaries which will very materially lessen the cost of construction. In regard to the bond of the company, you do great injustice to Governor Baker, to whom the law confides the determining of penalty and sureties of the bond. The fact is tlie Governor lias in liis possession all tlie bonds of the company except 200 of tlie denomination of SI,OOO each. For the faithful application of this $200,000 the company has given bond in tho amount o£ $240,000, and whenever the amount of bonds or money in the hands of the company is increased tlie bond will be increased in proportion. Now I submit, gentlemen, does a bond with a penalty 20 per cent, greater than the amount of money or bonds in tlie hands of the Company “Look very like there is a big swindle contemplated by somebody?” The fact is the company is composed of land owners who came by their lands by jiureha.se from tlie State, who, believing .the work of draining that Valley practicable and thus transforming a vast morass, which at present is only productive of miasmatic diseases, into one of the most productive portions of our State have expended a very considerable amount of money in surveying and other necessiiry work to ascertain iu fact whether or no it is practicable and becoming satisfied of that and that it can be done at a cost (say $2.50 to $3.00 per acre), small compared witli the resultant benefits, are honestly striving to do tlie work in the most thorough and economical manner, and at tho same tithe so adjust tlie aesessary burden of paying tlnr cost that it may fall as lightly as possible upon ourselves and other laud owners. I am, gentlemen, most respectfully yours, &c., J. J. Gliddek/ Vice Pres. K. V. D. Co. P. B.—As you have given the statement referred to publicity I deem it but just that you give equal publicity to the facts herein stated. I send you by mail to-day a couple of pamphlets of Co. J. J. G.