Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1908 — Slow Progress in Ditch Case. [ARTICLE]

Slow Progress in Ditch Case.

Very slow progress has been made in the Hobbs ditch injunction case. The plaintiffs thought they had closed their case when the adjournmnet was taken, but after the court convened Monday of this week they decided to introduce some more evidence and they consumed about two days in submitting the additional testimony. So the defense did not get started With the introduction of its evidence until Wednesday. ’“ • r The plaintiffs are basing their case on the allegation that the contractors did not follow the spcificaticns and did not remove the required amount of dirt from the channel, and consequently most of the testimony has been from engineers who have made measurements of the dirt taken out and from others who measured the channel deptjh. Almost every civil engineer in this part of the state has been employed, pro and con to measure the dirt and there is a great diversity of results. C. J. Hobbs, who was the construction commissioner, and who reported that the ditch was completed according to specifications, was the leading witness for the contractors. He reported having made various trips to the ditch ando f having made measuiements in it at all points and he states that the ditch conformed to the requirements and in many cases the contractors have even gone below the

required depth as much as two feet He is regarded as a very important witness. There seems no doubt that the cleaning of the ditch done no permanent good, for the high waters washed it full of dirt even before the dredge left it, and now it is said that in many places it is practically filled with sand. A great volume of evidence is being taken and it is said either side that loses the decision in this court will take an appeal.