Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1900 — The McKilhp Dredge Ditch. [ARTICLE]

The McKilhp Dredge Ditch.

John Hack, the contractor on the big McKillip ditob, was down from Lowell Tuesday. He says if the weather continues open and no long delays are encountered the work will be completed by Dec. 20. The dredge has just plowed through a twelve foot cut that consumed five weeks’ time in going a distance of 1,600 feet. Quicksand save them much trouble which kept caving in until the excavation at that point is over fifty feet wide, whereas the specifications only call for twenty feet in width for the entire length of the drain. This drain is to be a little over eight miles long. It starts in the renowned Blue Sea region and running east empties into the Little Monon river. Mr. Hack expresses the belief that frog culture and duck shooting at the Blue Sea will soon be a lost art, as he expects to see that famous resort entiiely drained by this substantial water course. The drain averages from eight to ten. feet deep and has ample fall to insure excellent drainage.—Monen News