Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1907 — Levees In Illinois. [ARTICLE]

Levees In Illinois.

I spent the last week in the vicinity of Havana, Illinois, doing some level work for our old frieudand dredge man John Hack. He has the contract for dyking and cross-draining a tract ot 3,000 acres of bottom land in the delta between Spoon river and the Illinois. The main levee is 12 feet high 8 feet top and from 40 to 50 feet bottom and will contain 160,000 square yards.

The interior ditches were cut with a small dredge and contains 60,000 square yards. They expect to complete the work about the first of July. The small dredge has completed the in terior work and is being dismantl ed and loaded upon a steam boat to be taken up the Illinois river abou t 30. miles to where Mr. Hack has another contract.

The seapage and rainfall are kept out of the district by means of a pumping station, where two rotary pumps capable of throwing two 24 inch stream are kept running day and night when necessary. The enterprise will be a success and the land is first class wheat and corn land. Another system; just below this one grows some of the finest wheat and corn in the state.

Iu the vicinity of Havana pears, plums, cherries, peaches and apples trees were in full bloom on April 20th, although considerably damaged by the freeze. I think the only successful plan for redeeming the Kankak( e swamps will be by means of lev eer. John E. Alter.