Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1898 — New Kankakee Drainage Scheme. [ARTICLE]

New Kankakee Drainage Scheme.

(Special ta th# Tinies Herald.) Kankakee, 111., Dec. 11—The greatest drainage district ever formed in Indiana will reclaim 120,000 acres of Kankakee marsh land. B. J. Gifford of Kankakee has charge of the formation of the district, and began preliminary work today. Mr. Gifford, together with Nelson Morris of Chicago, General Shelby of Kentucky and the Band brothers of Crown Point, Ind., own most of the tract to be reclaimed. In order to secure proper outlet the Kankakee River will have to dredged and straightened fox a distance of more than forty miles. The estimated expense of dredging the river exceeds $300,000. The land to be reclaimed lies in Newton, Jasper and Lake counties, Indiana, and at least half of it is submerged at present. When reclaimed it will be the best beet sugar ground in the country, it is said. The land comprises about onehalf of the celebrated Kankakee marshes. Several large dredges will be constructed this winter. Cable Edge trimmed sailors 56 62, and 87 cts at Mrs. Lecklider’s