Lee County, Illinois - Chapter 15: Historical Sketch Op the Swamp, 1914

Chapter 15: Historical Sketch Op the Swamp

The drainage of Inlet Swamp, comprising about 30,000 acres of land in tlie townships of Alto, Willow Creek, Reynolds, Viola, Bradford and Lee Center, in Lee coimty, Illinois, is one of the most stupendous undertakings in the history of northern Illinois - not alone from the magnitude of the work itself, but from the great difficulties that had to be overcome. The dam of solid rock half a mile thick, at Inlet, presented a barrier that had been looked upon as insurmountable.

Action for reclaiming these lands had been taken as far back as the early '70s. The writer has been on at least three drainage assessment juries since 1870; but all attempts proved futile and brought no good results from the fact that there was no sufficient outlet. The ditches cut at A^arious times at several thousand dollars' expense, through land that is practically a dead level, served as channels in which the water could accumulate during the summer and fall, when the land was not overflowed ; but they provided no cTirrent, and aided but little in remo^ang the water. The ledge of rock at Inlet had to be cut through and a deep channel made as the first move in any successful system of drainage. It took time and costly experiment to convince the majority of swamp-land owners of this.

To Iva Brewe]', one of the earliest settlers of Bradford township, belongs the credit and the honor of being the pioneer in reclaiming the swamp lands of Inlet. He first recognized the prospective value of the lands and was always active in protecting public interest in them. The old Dewey dam, eight feet high, set the water back about twelve miles and overflowed about fifteen tliousand acres of laud. All these lauds were giveu to the county by the state, wliich received them from the (rovermneut. A move was made iu the early days to have the 15,UUU acres of overflowed lauds giveu to the uull owners for a perpetual millpond. The action was well nieaut, and at that time appeared to be a wise aud judicious action; and but for the personal efforts of Ira Brewer it would have been consummated. He stood at first almost alone in his opposition to it on the county board, and was the only member that was determined iu his opposition to it. The scheme was liually defeated by a majority of one.

Following this action came the removal of the Dewey dam at Inlet aud the loweiing of the water level all over the tract of 30,000 acres. In place of the waste of water in which grew gigantic rushes, Indian rice and other worthless vegetation, the home of millions of geese, ducks, sw^au, brant, pheasant, grouse, wild tui'key and other wild game, there came in gradually a growth of coarse slough grasses, some sliort aud mingled with weeds in gieat variety, other kinds rank and tall, growing to a height of ten or twelve feet. The land was overflowed during the spring and early summer, but later unless the season was wet, the water drained off: and the sod, which was of the very toughest nature, would bear up a team and loaded wagon. During the fall of the .year, after the grass had been killed by frosts, maguifieent prairie fires pi'evailed until snow came ; the flames at night, when there were high Aviuds, lighting u]) the sky with sui'passing grandeur, enabling a person to read V)y the light miles away, and being \isible for a distance of nearly one hundred miles. These magnificent scenes of thirty years aud more ago remain indelibly imiDressed upon the memories of those who witnessed them. During the winter months there were uidiniited skating facilities. It continued to be the home and nesting place of wild fowl, and of deer, wolf, and othei' game, and was a paradise for huutei's. During the grazing season the eastern part of Viola township was headquarters for an immense herding ground extending througliuut the entire eastern part of tlu^ swaui]t. whore thousands of cattle and horses were herded by a troo]) of herders - cattle for one dollar a head and horses for two dollars a head during the season. Robert M. Peile of Rewiolds township handled the herding many years, and a man ]\v the name of Collins also had a large herd there. Enclosed pastures were almost unknown in those years, and almost oxery fai'mer in the eastern part of the county, and many from a greater distance, had cattle in the herd during the sum- mer season; aucl uotwitlistauding the swarms of "greeii-licads" and other annoying insects, stock eanie out in good condition the first of October.

The swamp, especially abont the edges, began to be dryer; the quality of the grasses became better and better. Attempts were made to laise crops on lands that a few 5^ears before were under water; the wild grass improved in quality, and dry seasons after harvest hundreds of farmers from miles around could be found on the "swamps" cutting "sprangle-top" hay. At tirst it cost nothing but the labor of cutting, cnring. and hauling; but iu a few }'ears its value became known to the land-owners and it sold for from fifty cents to one dollar and fifty cents an acre standing. During the extremely dry summer of 1887 the marsh was nearly all cut for hay, farmers and liverymen coming from Polo, Oregon, and even farther, buying the standing hay for from one dollar to one dollar and fifty cents an acre. "Pond hay" sold the following winter as high as eight dollars to ten dollars a ton.

About this stage in the ti'ansformation of the marsh lands, the project of foiining a hunting park was agitated by Mr. Valentine Hicks of Bradford, who owned what was formerly the Stephen Clink farm, now owned by W. S. Frost, Jr. He is a native of Tiong Island, a practical Inmter with nmch experience in such matters, having organized the first Inuiters' club of New York city and was the founder of a limiting park at Currituck Sound, North Carolina. After several years of agitation the "Rising Sun Park Association" was organized and incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, compiising 500 shares of $100 each, with the piincipal office at Asliton, Lee county, Illiuois, the duration of the corporation to be ninety-nine years. The ol)ject A\as to pi'eserve the lands - inclosing a tract about seven miles square - for game and fish, for hunting and pleasure for niem- ])ers of the association. The Rising Sun Park Association was incorporated Dec. 24. 18S7, and papers issued, Henry D. Dement being Secretary of State. The incorporators were Samuel Dysart, John Nelles, Samuel P. Mills, IT. Crant Dysart, Yalentine Hicks, William A. Hunt, Dr. Nicholas Rowc. A constitution and bylaws were ad(^pted and liooks for subscription to the capital stock were opened.

Bay Ridge, L. I. ; Mr. M. C. Clark, Washington, 1). C. The officers were: President, Samuel Dysart; vice-president, \'alentine Hicks; ti'easurer, N. A. Petrie, Ashton; secretary, IT. Grant Dysart, Franklin Grove. A part of the stock was subscribed and a lively interest was taken in the enterprise by gentlemen in Chicago, New York and other places. There arose a contest for su]3remacy between those favoring a park and those favoring reclaiming the land fi»r agricultural jnirposes. It is still thought by some that a game preserve would have been a good thing, and fully as profitable in the long nni as to dry up the great soni'ce of water supplv in that section. The advantages of a game park and preserve as contemplated by Mr. Hicks and others were never understood by the landowners and the public. We ai'e too pi'actical and would turn everything to profit, regai'dless of ]>leasure and other considerations. A game preserve, as contem})lated. com^Drising about fifty square miles, would have been a source of profit to farmers in that section, in the greatl,v enhanced value of land which Wf)ul(l follow the attractions of a pai'k owned and beautified by wealthy men of the cities. Hard roads, telegraph and telephone lines, fine club-houses, distinguished visitors with money to sjjcnd with a postoffice and other features most desirable and advantageous wonld have followed in time.

In this c(mnection it is proper to call attention to the game park now in process of establishment in Buieau county, comprising about twenty thonsand acres of what is known as St. Peter's maish - a tract of land very similar to the Inlet marsh lands. It would not be difficult to drain these lands; but a pai'k associatii>n has been organized, wealthy men have been interested in the project, and $200,000 will be used in the purchase of the tract and as nnich more f(U" attractive club houses and for lieautifying and making necessary improvements. The association will be organized and take possession this season, 1901.

A\'hile these marsh lands were well adapted to the purposes of a game ]>ark, the idea of reclaiming them for agricultural pnrl)oses liad gained such a hold u])ou the minds of the landowners, that it ])revailed, and the game park ])roject failed. It had the (d'fcct, however, of forcing the friends of drainage to act more ])idm])tly and decidedly. The game park movement is an incident in flic history of the swam]i lands that is woithy of this notice. Had the movement been launched ten or twenty years earlier, the pi'os])ect of success would have been good. Only those who lived in the vicinity of the swamps in the early days, before and just after the Dewey clam was removed, would believe the marvelous facts that could be narrated of the millious of geese, duck, brant, swan, and other water fowl that during the spring and fall covered the swamps, rising in immense flocks that literally spotted the sky like flying eloTids and filled the air with a noisy quack and cackle, flying low in the air within easy I'ange of a shot-gun - with prairie chicken, quail, pheasant, sand-hill crane, and other game, all in such vast number as to become a niusance in grain fields. Wild game was nioi'e common on the table than domestic fowl during the spring and fall ; and a wild goose, a pair of ducks or a brace of chickens could often be had for the asking.

The wisdom and foresiglit (if Ira Brewer had become manifest, and the swamp lands came during all these yeai's to have a value. The idea of draining the lands began to take shape, although but few believed they would ever become equal in value to the adjacent highlands. Schemes of private drainage and drainage under special acts of the Ijcgislature were worke;! with little success and not much profit. The landowners wei'e not satisfied until they had practically demonstrated that the lands could not be drained with a wdde stone dam at the natural outlet only a few inches lower than the level of the swamp. The stone dam must be cut through and a system of ditches dug. at an expense estimated by Mr. Rutledge, tlie first engineer employed to make a full and careful estimate, of $185,000. This dismayed the landowners, being far more than tlie entire swamp was worth. The svstem was modified to reduce the expense to $67,000. That was the first outlay. The completed system has cost neai'ly the $] 85,000; and the price of the swamp lands now fidly equals, and even exceeds the price of the adjacent uplands.

Sometime during 1885 or 1886 three men owning large tracts of land in the swamps - Ira Brewei' of Bradford, John Nelles of Viola, and A. B. McFarland of Mendota - joined in an effoit to organize a drainage district on a scale never before contemplated. Tt was to take in all the lands that woidd he benefited by drainage and open an outlet of sufficient depth and ca]iacity through the rock at Inlet. This was the first movement that culminated in the organization of Inlet SwanTji Bi'ainage District. They met with opposition and faced difficulties that would have daunted men of less foresight, courage and perseverance. To them, especially to Mr. John Nelles, of Viola, Itelongs the credit of having not only originated the work, but of having cleared the way of pix'limiiiary diificiilties, secured the good will of the majority of landowners toward the euteiprise and put it ou a sound basis. Those who now enjoy the benefits and advantages of the drainage system have little idea of the time and money expended by Mr. Nelles in preparing the way, meeting the objections, and allaying the fears of landowners. Opposition to a scheme involving so enormous an outlay was natural, and it required the highest degi ee of patience, tact and perseverance to In'iug a majority of the landowners into acceptance of his -s'iews and secure their sup- I^ort for the enterprise.

This pieliminary work, so efficiently performed and so essential to futuie success, was most ably seconded by the masterful executive ability and untiling energy of Mr. Wesley Steward, one of the first conunissiouers after the organization of the district. It is just and proper to make special mention of the invaluable services rendered by Commissioner Steward, the man of acti<in and eneigy who bore the brunt of the work during the early years and devoted the most of his time to it. Those associated with him in the work bear witness to his superior activity and helpfulness, and join in giving to him the i^lace of honor as the executive head of the commission.

The successful completion of the work is not the only remarkable feature of the enterprise. Seldom, if ever, has an undertaking of such magnitude, so far-reaching in its results, involving so many interests, and affecting the rights and property of so large a number of individuals, been carried out with so little litigation and so few mistakes. Every move has been well ])lanned, carefully considered with reference to all interests involved, and skillfully and thoroughly executed. There has been no indecision nor delay, and few if any errors in judgment. The rights of individuals have been carefully considered with reference to the ))est interests of the district as a whole; and so uuich f-arc and good judgment has been exercised in e\ery detail of the work that the district has been involved in no litigation; sometliiiig most reniarlvable. and wliidi icflects the highest credit upon the wisdom, sagacity and sense of justice of the attorney for the district, the judge and the commissioners. No other drainage district, small or large, can show such a record, although the Tnlet Swam]) Drainage l>isti'ict I'ncoiiiitered all the troubles and difficulties that lunc beset any other drainage district, and met and ]»eacefnlly settled simie difficulties of a serious nature, encoiuitei'ed by no othei- district vet organized.

Many precedents have been established for other districts to follow; and the proceedings as a whole will be found of great historic value as well as of historic interest. The woi k will remain a monument to the foresight, perseverance and good judgment of the men who organized it. and the men who have borne a part in planning, directing and executing it.

Historical Kevieav Of The Enterprise

In the eastern secti<:»n of Lee county is a large liody of land known as "Inlet Swamp"" which until recent years was not only of little worth, but seriously depreciated the tracts that l3r»r(lered it. The more depressed portions were submerged in wet seasons, so that large areas were converted into lakes and ponds. The prevailing growth in this jiart <:if the tract was slough grass hoi'se high, cattail, bullrushes and the like. The land coming within this class had no market value. In dry seasons the fiuer grades of slough grass were cut f(n' hay, l)ut in wet seasons Inrrrters ei'joyed the only revenue. It is difficult to estimate the acreage iu the slough proper, but it was probably not less than ten thousand acres.

A marvelous change has l)('en wrought in all this section l\v the organization of Inlet Swamp Drainage District and the work it has been cai'rving on and has ln'ouglit to final completion tins winter. The district was organized in tb.e county couit of Lee county, the Hon. R. S. Farrand, judge presiding, by an order entered Aug. 5, 1887, the petition therefor having been filed on the 10th day of the preceding November. jMuch Intter- opposition was aroused and every conceival»l(' oltstm-lc interposed by a large element of the interested landowners, who seemed to labor under the conviction that the movement was destined to r'esnlt in virtual confiscation of their property. The feasibility and utility of the scheme was doubted by many who l^elieved that the cost of the work worrld greatly over-match the benefits to be dei'ived. l)nt now that the hopes of the most sangirirre have been realized, the work is generally regarded as a great success. In view of developments, it seems rrnaccountable now. that the undertakiuu' sliould have met the antagonism it did fi'om the very landowners who have since reaped rich benefits in yearly incomes fr'om once unsalable property, and in the consequent enhancement of values.

Though little has been said or known about this work outside the immediate vicinity where it has been going on, and aside from occasional articles in the Ambo)^ Journal and brief references to it in other papers and the formal legal notices appearing as required, the press has been silent regarding it; the fact is that no public work ever carried forward in Lee county compares with it in magnitude of wealth created or reclaimed. It has raised whole farms from the mire, and converted an unsightly, pestilential swamp into a rich agricultural district, where lands unsalable before are bringing from sixty dollars to eighty dollars an acre.

It has added an average of nearly 40 per cent to the assessable A-alue of the lands within the district. By towns the increase has been as follows :

The increase in actual market value, as indicated by the price at which lands have been sold and ai'c now selling, is A^ery much greatei' than these figures would indicate.

The process by which such beneficent results have been accomplished may, therefore, be a matter of public interest, and it is due to those who have encouraged and supported the enterprise, as well as to the officers who have borne the burdens of the task and surmounted its many difficulties and discouragements, that the story of the task be told.

The district embraces 30,079 acres, all of which was found by the court to need drainage, although much was fair ]iasture and hay land in other than wet years. The four main ditches or chaniiols have a total length of thirty-two miles, into which empty over seven and (tn(>-]ialf miles of smaller ditches and "laterals."

Preliminary t<> the order oi-ganizing the district the court appointed E. C. Parsons, Wesley St(>ward and John Nelles, commissioners to lay out the proposed ditches and report plans, profiles aiid ostiniatcs. including the ]ir(iba1>l(' cost of the work. They first called to their assistance the county's old reliable engineer, William McMahon, Esq., but he soon discovered that lie could not go on with the work to the end. Mr. A. E. Rutledge, a thoi'oughly competent young engineer of Rockford, took his place and Mr. McMahon contributed such counsel as was needed. As far as weather would permit advantage was taken of the frozen condition of the ponds the following winter to make the surveys, and on April 21, 1887, the commissioners submitted their report. The engineer estimated that the prt)posed district drained a watershed of about one hundred and fifteen thousand acres, and that the construction of tlie ditches as located by his survey woidd require the removal of 3,544,817 cubic yards of earth and 79,700 cubic yards of stone. The connnissioners reported that the work, including all expenses of the district, would probably reach $185,000. When the report came up for heai'ing the protestants were nmnerous. Evei'y available lawj^er in the county, and some from neighboring comities, were enlisted and the court room was crowded with indigiiant landowners from far and near, clamoring for protection against what was characterized as a high-handed outrage on the part of the commissioners.

After patient hearing the court ordered the commissioners to estimate and report the probable cost of a modified system, terminating the "Main Ditch" 2,600 feet below the Birdsall bridge, instead of at the Badger dam, as recommended by the commissioners, lessening the depth and width of the rock cut at Inlet, generally contracting the size of the ditches throughout the district and reducing the estimated material to be removed to 640,000 cubic yards of earth and 10,400 cubic 3^ards of stone. The commissioners reported the probable cost of such work at $67,000. On the basis of this report the court granted the order organizing the district, the purpose being to ccmstruct the ditches according to the modified system. Time has shown that the one first advanced by the commissioners should have been followed, but jmblic sentiment in that as in most matters had to be educated up to the point of wisdom. Drainage was then in its infancy and must needs slowly win its way to public favor, as it has most trimnphantly done. The ditches, as at last constructed, conform substantially to the lines and dimensions laid down l)y these first commissioners and their young engineer.

The contract to do this first work was let Eel). 15, 1888, in two portions, the larger to Pollard & Goft' who sublet it to McGillis & Company, the lesser to Gilbert F. Henning.

A jury composed of William McMahou, foreman, J. C. Howlett, James Kirby, Julm Fruit, John Hoklren, Abram Bennett, Jerome Bennett, John Nass, Oeorge Carey, (i. A. Lyman, E. W. Pomeroy and James King, was impaneled to spread the assessment (»n the lauds of the district for the required $67,000. This work was done during the fall of 1887, and was very thoroughly performed, every tract thrttughout the entire district being inspected carefully by the jury in a body, the WMjrk covering a period of nearly three mouths. The laud in tracts was classified in proportion to tlie benefits to l)e received from the drainage - f lom 5 to 100 ; that is, those tracts receiving the least benefit were marked 5, the next in order of l)enefits 10, and so on, the tract receiving the greatest l)enefit l)eing marked 100. The $67,000 was then apportioned to each tract from these figures according to the number of acres in a tract. Work was begun and was pushed during the year 1888.

A year later, Feb. 15. 1889, the couunissioners made a report, based on the actual result of the year's W(n'k, to the effect that the first assessment would fall short of completing the ditches, and asking for a second assessment. After due hearing at which the ])rior opposition was renewed, the court oi'dered an assessment of $17,000 to finish the W(U'k undertaken, and a jury to make the same was again impaneled, composed of William McMah(m, foreman. J. C. lIoAvlett, Jerouu' Bennett, A. J. Tompkins, Abram Bennett. John lloldren, James Kirliy. John Fruit, George Cai'ey, John Nass, (I. A. Lyman and A. B. Fitch, and their labors w^ere confirmed by tlie court May 6, 18S9. In the (^onrse of that summer the ditches were completed.

Aug. ;>, 185)1, the court ordered the couunissioners to extend an assessment of $2,800 foi' i»ur poses of repair, and their action was confiiiiied by the coiiit Lee. 7. 1891.

As the season went by it Ix'came more and more apparent to tlie conuuissioners and to the ardent friends of the woi'k, that the ditches were entirely inadequate to thorougldy drain the swamp aiid gi\-e the owners of lauds tlu' relied' sought. The swainp was a vast basin of wet cu- soggy land, dominated by ledges of rock at Inlet, the only ])lace of esca])e. The level of w^ater was gauged ])y the lowest i>oint in this Imrrier. Below this the water saturating the soil could not f;ill. excepting l)y evaporation, any more than a full bairel could eiiqtty itself. As completed, the openi7ig thi'ough the rock was eighteen feet wide at bottom, and about live feet deep. Througli tins aperture the floods of tlic raiuy seasous were compelled to pass, and it was impossible for tlie water to get away quickly eiiougli and lower the water level in the soil sufiicienth' to render the wetter lands relial^le for tillage. This was evident to any unprejudiced person.

With the hope of remedying this radical defect the connnissioners petitioned the court, Jidy 18, 1893, for authority to widen the rock cut to the width of twenty-four feet at liottom and to (lee})en it four or five feet, and to extend the "Main Ditch" to the Badger dam to secure the necessary fall. But at the hearing the oi)position on the part of many of the landowners was so stubborn that the court was compeded to refuse the petition of the commissionei's ; and thus did the contesting landowners once more accomplish the temporary defeat of thorough drainage, and ])ostpone the benefits idtimately to be attained. It will ])e seen that at no time was it the fault of the commissioners that the system stopped short of the Inghest efficiency; lint by a strange blindness to self-interest, and an unaccountable disrespect of the law which prevents water from running up hill, the contesting ])roprietors obstinatel}' set themselves against the necessary improvements. This was in 1893. At this writing (December. 1900) an outlet of much greater capacity than here proposed is carrying away the water of the district.

Restive undei- the restraints and losses inflicted by a policy so short-sighted, a number of owners of lands in the district, residing in the central part of the state where the value of drainage had been demonstrated, generously offered to pay the expense of widening the rock cut. The jDroposition was submitted to the court and the commissioners were authorized to accept the proffer and do the work. The cut was thus made twenty feet wider down to a line within a few feet of the bottom at a cost to these people of $10,24] .8], for which they have received no reimbursements other than the benefits residting to their holdings in common with the rest of th(> lauds of the district. These non-resident landowners were represented by ]Mr. E. F. Nichols of Delevan, 111., whose intelligent judgment and persistent laboi'S in supporting the commissioners and promoting the interests of the district deserve to be here recognized as well nigh invaluable.

In July. 1895, the commissioners reported a shortage of fmids needed to keep the ditches in good condition; that trees were becoming rooted and bars wei'e forming. After due notice and hearing the court impaneled a jury to levy a fourth assessment amuimting to $9,000 ou the lauds of the district - James Kirby, foieiuaii, Abraiu Bennett, Warreu Smith, Demiis Bradshaw, John M. Sterling, V. E. Rogers, George Carey, W. B. Merrunan, Hiram Hetler, M. M. Avery, H. E. Chadwick and W. W. Gilmore, comprised the jury. Their work was confirmed by the court Nov. 4, 1895.

In 1897 the connnissioners made a third and successful effort to extend and enlarge the outlet and increase the caj)acity of all the ditches to proportions adequate to carry off the water as quickly as possible. Proper profiles, plans and estimates were made and presented to the court with their petition May 19, 1897. It was noticeable ou the hearing of this petition that the grounds of opposition had shifted. The ditches had been for years arguing the cause of drainage, and their logic had compelled recognition. Now the question did not turn on the advisability of greater capacity and swifter flow, but on the adjustment of the tax among the different owners.

On the hearing of this petition the court found "that it is necessary that the ditches of the district be widened, extended and deepened, as hei'einafter ordered, in order to secure the proper drainage of the lands of the district;" and that "the probable cost of said work, together with charges and expenses necessarily incident thereto will be fifty-five thousand dollars." Accordingly the court ordered the commissioners, June 7, 1897, to extend an assessment of that amount on the lands of the district for the purpose of lowering the cut through the rock four to five feet and widening it to the width of thirty feet and extending the "Main Ditch" to a point 100 feet below the Kreiter dam and lowering correspondingly the North Ditch, Fourth Ditch, Middle Ditch and South Ditch, as well as certain laterals. This work has now been eonqileted; and thus lias )»een A'indicated, by l)oth court and ]in])lic sentiment, after a long and often disheartening struggle, the i)t)licy reermmieiided by the first commissioners and their engineer and advocated by their successors. The loss caused by its belated victory has fallen on the ])ro]terfy owners.

'^I'his fifth assessment made hy the commissioners was confirmed by the court Sept. 13, 1897, and on the 16th day of the same month the contract foi' the work was let to John W. Boyer of Norfli Mauchestei-. Ind. Mr. Boyer 's prosecution of the work was so (lilafoi'y and unsatisfactory that the conmiissioners rescinded their confi'act with him and relet the job to TNIr. John E. Burke of <'hicago at the same figures. Notwithstanding the many unex- pected difficulties encountered by reason, principally, of unfavorable weather, be hung manfully to his task and fulfilled his contract to the letter, except in the date of completion, which was extended as the necessities of the situation required. Mr. Burke's work showed him to be a thoroughly reliable contractor.

But the money raised by the fifth assessment proved insufficient to finish the job and the commissioners were forced to petition the court for a sixth assessment. After due hearing, at which many landowners appeared, the court ordered that $15,000 more be raised to complete the work and repair the ditches. This order was entered Jan. 13, 1900, and a jury to extend the assessment was impaneled, consisting of James Kirby, foreman, Jesse Cole, Hiram Hetler, Edward Lamb, Abram Bennett, E. L. Thorp, F. L. Childs, F. E. Rogers, Frank Messer, George W. Smith, William V. Jones and B. F. Lane, whose assessment was confirmed by the court July 6, 1900.

The ditches of the system being now finally completed it only remains to maintain them in such condition as will render them most serviceable. The assessments aggregate $165,800, and this plus the contribution mentioned must be set down as the cost of ditches to date, less such joortion of the last assessment as will be left for repair purposes.

The work done under the contract with Pollard & Goff was at the rate of ten to twelve cents (according to locality) per cubic yard for earth, fifty-five cents for stone and thirty-five cents for hardpan. The rate under the contract with Henning was nine and one-half to twelve cents (according to locality) per cubic yard for earth, twenty-five cents for stone and hardpan ; but the Pollard & Goff contract embraced all the rock and hardpan work. Under all the contracts with Boyer and Biirke the price was ten cents per cubic yard for earth, fifty-five cents for stone and forty cents for hardpan. The three contracts were let to the lowest bidder and were considered to be very favorable to the district. In each instance there was sharp competition among contractors seeking the job.

The assessments were made payable in installments. The last installment of the several assessments fall due as follows : Of the first in 1902; of the second in 1895; of the third in 1896; of the fourth in 1900; of the fifth in 1912; of the sixth in 1905. Of the first assessment $2L000 of the principal has been paid, $12,000 of principal will be paid this year (1900), $15,000 in 1901, and the balance, $19,000, in 1902. The second and third assessments have beeu fully paid. The last installment ($630) of the fourth assessment will be paid this year. The sixth assessment is payable in tliree installments, of $5',000 each, in 1903, 1904 and 1905. The fifth assessment is divided into nine installments, payable each year commencing in 1906 and ending in 1912. The policy of the court in so adjusting the several assessments was to postpone the heavier payments until such time as the owners would be receiving the benefits of the woi'k. The amount <lu(' this year, including interest, is substantially the same as last. Next year it will be $l.(i00 more and in 1902 the climax will be I'eached, the amount then falling due with interest being $20 J 40. After that the burden, exclusive of interest, which will lessen with every payment, will average about $7,000 a year (not taking into account payments made in advance), or about 25 per cent more than the rate of 1897. The assessments all draw interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum.

Inasmuch as the payment of the assessments was ])ostponed. and it was necessary to have fluids available to pay contractors and meet the general expenses of the district, the court directed the commissioners to borrow money on the bonds of the district, payable out of the several assessments when collected, except the last. Of this last assessment $8,945.39 has already been jiaid by the landowners and they have received their releases from further liability on account of the sixth assessment.

Six series of bonds have been issued, all bearing interest at () per cent per annum. Imt all except the first issue of $6,000 were sold at such a premium as in effect reduced the interest much below this rate.

The tax on the lands of the district if distributed equally would be apiDroximately five dollars and fifty cents per acre, but as the constant effort has been to adjust the load according to benefits, many tracts are charged with much more and many much less than this. The record shows that the largest total assessment paid by any one is ten dollars and forty cents per acre.

The work of the civil engineers who laid out the ditches and supervised their construction has been from the first extremely satisfactory. Mr. G. TT. T. Shaw of Dixon succeeded Mr. Hutledge, and by his aliility and fairness has added to a well earned reputation in both respects.

Josiali Tiittle, the old-time and always reliable banker of Ani- ])oy, was early appointed treasurer of the district and still securely holds the purse, the details of the office being discharged by his efficient cashier, Mr. F. N. Yaughan.

The district lias been fortunate in its comparative immunity from litigation. Portentous clouds gatlieied in the early days, and various mutterings such as the lawyers of the county combined were capable of, disturbed the air, but in due time the clouds drifted away, the thrcateuiugs subsided, and calm prevailed. One landowner appealed from the assessment of damages awarded him. The contest ended with the verdict of a jury in the county court.

The failure of Glann & McDonald, subcontractors under Boyer, to comply with the terms of the contract, and their abandonment of the job leaving workmen and material - men unpaid - foiced the commissioners again into court. Something over $2,000 was due Boyer on final settlement. Glann & McDonald insisted that the money should be paid to them, and the people whom they owed also contended for it; while Boyer, who was disposed to pay the men, but refused to pay the defaulting subcontractors, demanded the money. Under this sort of cross-fire the commissioneis were compelled to bring an interpleader suit in the circuit court whereby the rights of the contestants should be determined. Glann & McDonald, claiming to be non-residents, removed the case to the United States Court in Chicago, where it is still pending.

"Tit extending the ditches beyond the original boundaries of the disti let as required hy the court's order of Jan. 7, 1897, it was necessai'y to condemn the right of way or acquire it by purchase. Not lieing able to come to an agreement with the owner of the Bac\gor dam, the destruction of which was necessary, a jury was called to assess the damage. Only one other contest has been experienced. Indeed it was the only genuine lawsuit in the history of the district, and was occasioned by the erection of a temporary dam at Inlet to produce backwater sufficient to float the dredges. A portion of the farm of Austin Willis was overflowed and he sued the commissioners personally as well as in their official capacit.v for damages. He recovered in the circuit couii, but the appellate court reversed the judgiuent and dismissed the suit. A. C. Bardwell, of Dixon, has been the attorney for the district from the first. The organization was effected, all assessments were made and all bonds were issued under his direction, and he has had charge of whatever litigation has occurred. It may be fairly said that he has always faithfully seconded the commissioners in their policy of patience and conciliation, by

But credit for the successful development of Inlet Swamp Drainage Distiict is chiefly due to the court and the commissioners - a court that had faith in the i^ossibilities of drainage and at the same time proper regard for the views of the landowners and commissioners who were steadfast in their purpose to accomplish the thorough drainage of the lands of the district. It, doubtless, would have been much more economical if the required funds had been raised in one or two assessments instead of six, and greatly to the benefit of the proprietors if the work as first proposed could have all been done under the first contract; but conditions which could not be ignored demanded a slower, though more expensive process.

As already noted the first commissioners (the ones who may be justly said to have laid the foundations of the work) were E. C. Parsons of Dixon, Wesley Steward of Steward and John Nelles of Viola. On the organization of the district the court appointed William S. Frost of Bradford, Henry B. Cobb of Viola and Wesley Steward, their successors. Frost was made president and Steward secretary. The board as thus constituted continued without changes until Sept. 12, 1899, when Xavier F. Gehant was appointed in Mr. Steward's place, and succeeded him as secretary. They have all accoimted to the county court for every dollar of the fimds expended by them, and every expenditure, item by item, wiU be found spread upon the records of the court, where he may read who cai'es. That these several commissioners should each be somewhat proud of their part in the work as finally consummated is not strange. No better nor more enduring monument marks the faithful services of public officers in Lee county.

In 1901 the 30,000 acres comprising and bordering the old Inlet Swamp will take their place among the most ]iroductive and valuable agricultural districts in the county to which they belong. The only solicitude now to be indulged is that a networl-: of drainage on which so much has been expended may not be properly cared for. If not kept clear of the industrious and prolific willow, and if bars are allowed to form, its service wiU rapidly decline and the lands will suffer accordingly. It is to be hoped that in maintaining the ditches up to the highest state of usefulness the commissioners will receive the active cooperation of all persons interested therein.