Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1909 — Howe Ditch Contract Annulled By Court [ARTICLE]

Howe Ditch Contract Annulled By Court

The contract held by Ephrlam Gilmore, of Lee, for the construction of the Howe ditch, was annulled by Judge Hanley, of the circuit court Thursday afternoon, on the grounds that the contractor had failed to complete the contract within'the limit required under the Mr. Gilmore is a farmer and extensive land owner in the neighborhood

of Lee, and his assessment for the Construction of the 'ditch amounted to about $5,000. He was on hand when the contract for the ditch was let in June, 1907* and no matter what figure the experienced dredge men made Gilmore went a shade lower. He bought a dredge and put it to work and except during periods of excessively high water and when he had break downs has been pursuing the construction work. The work was begun at Lee and the main ditch has been about half completed, and the lateral extending to the Monon railroad east of McCoysburg.

The contract required that the ditch be completed by June, 1908, and the court expressed the belief that the dredging had not been pursued with proper diligence, and said that in the future when a contract is let in Jasper county It must be completed within the set time or the contractor must have sufficient reasons for the delay. The ditch was ordered to be re-adver-tised and re-sold.