Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1877 — The Kankakee Marsh. [ARTICLE]

The Kankakee Marsh.

Mr. Thomas J. Wood, of Crown •Point, Indiana, in a letter to tlie Chicago Titties, renews the demand that tho worthless dam at Momence, 111., which causes tho overflow of tho liver, resulting in the ruination of thousands of acres of land, he fetriovetl. lie says; “Formany years have our people In Northern Indiana ptHiot tly borne the crying evil of a valueless obstruction across tho Kankakee river at tho town of Momence, in the State of Illinois. Tho injury •was borne many years, because our people felt no pressing demand for the immediate use and occupancy of the Kankakee swamp lands. To day these hitherto unprofiiabfc* and now almost worthless lands are demanded for actual occupancy and cultivation by the young tillers of the soil. The dry lands are taken a;id well improved, and naturally

'intention is turned to tho largo tract of wet land bordering the finest farms in Indiana. These valuable farms bound the Kankakee marsh, as it is familiarly called, all through the State of Indiana and a part of the' northeast portion of tho State of Illinois. They are beyond the limits of the man of moderate means. It is not strange, therefore, that persons owning cultivated laniis, as well as those too poor to purchase permanent homesteads for themselves, should earnestly discuss the importance of draining and reclaiming the useless but fertile lands of the Kankakee .valley. When these Kankakee lands ar.e reclaimed and occupied for farming purposes you will see as fine lands and productive farms as lie any where beneath the sky. The Kankakee valley in Indiana contains over a half a million of acres, and there a/e a number*pf thousands of acres in Illinois. Lake county, Indiana, contains about sixty thousand acres. This immense tract of country is partially inundated half of the year by reason of the worthless dam across the Kankakee river at Moiiicn.ee and by a slight, natural obstruction of rock in the bed of the river where the dam stands. Throughout this entire belt of mined territory, the soil ranges from two to six feet deep of the linest and most productive loam. It far excels in richness any of the best uplands bordering this wasted tract of country. And it is kept in this worthless condition by a worthless dam upon the territory of Illinois, Individual effort has partially reclaimed small spots of land here and there in this extensive valley. Lot individual efforts must fail.' The efforts of draining companies and corporations must also fail as long as this worthless dam remains. It stands a hold curse to a splendid country. All main and lateral ditches would prove futile against it. The State ol Illinois will he just toward Indiana wlien Rhe reuuvves this wholesale ruin to the land of her neighbors. That the dam is private property caunot mitigate the mischief it creates. It is subject to the powers of legislation, at least after a reasonable compensation should even be tendered. And, in this case, it raises a question whether compensation should even be tendered. The Kankakee river would he held a navigable stream. The Statecourts of Illinois can give no relief to citizens of Indiana. The federal court probably could giveTelief,-but some proper legislation in tho premises is probably necessary to enable pny court to grant full relief. From Chicago the Mayor can behold Indiana's great duck pond of over a half million of acres, and with no desire to reach it as Moses did the happy land of promise, and ho may Summon his nldermanic guard and point out to them the great “unsalled sea” of the Hoosier commonwealth, not bearing the commerce of nations upon its bosom, nor bringing wealth to tho denizens of a noble State, hut only a “curse” and a jolly home for the pious croakers of France; and then , he may turn hi s;vision tow aid tw o or three “dam” Suckers at Moinencu, 111., who persist in ruining thousands of acres in Indiana that are worth ten thousand of their little dams. To-day these Tahds are nCr wort h *on —an average 5i.25 per acre. They.sold lor that years ago. They can not and will not improve in. value as long as this obstruction of the,river remains. ThpnSaiidg of Sores are sold for taxes, because no hope was entertained that they would ever be reclaimed- When they are reclaimed by tho removal of t'nisdaiu, they will he worth §3O per acre, thereby adding to the taxable wealth of Indiana over tfcn inUlkms of dollars, and to Lake county, Indiana, —twelve miles from Chica-go,--t-over one milliitp of dollars, and quito as much to tho State of Illinois. These enormous values are kept down by a little dam In Illinois worth two or three thousand dollars.”—Valparaiso Messenger. ; f ; ... Oat sne*ju,.3n excellent /pmdity, Jat V, C-. Sipfa

The „1., 1). Sc C. Comes Out Ahead. ] A temporary UMti.uJniiig tittle r was .recently issued against tlie I.; D. & C. R. R. upon a complaint filed by Jas. Shields, of Mon.un township, j whose land will ho a flee teil by the construction of said road. The I cause came up for hearing before j his honor, Judge Gould, last Sat- | urday, and resulted in a refusal rif the court to grant a pcnnuiient injunction against the road. The cause was continued until tlie next I term of court for final hearing. We are informed that President Lee intends bringing suit against I Shields and his bondsmen for' damj ages caused by the temporary restraining order, which prevented prosecution of tlie work on the road lor seveial days. The work will now probably go on without further moles tit lion. —Monticello Herald.