DRAINAGE INVESTIGATIONS. 207 



conditions. However, it is to be hoped that in future work the farm- 

 ers may avail themselves of the more durable draintile, or possibly 

 of cement pipe manufactured upon the ground. "When the profits 

 from this kind of improvement are fairly determined, we may then 

 safely incur greater expense and use more durable and costly mate- 

 rial. " 



A tract of 30 acres was experimentally drained near Lexington, 

 Nebr., at the earnest request of citizens of that town, the State having 

 made an api)ropriation for irrigation and drainage investigations, a 

 part of which Avas available for this purpose. These drains were 

 constructed during the sunnner of 1905, and are reported to be operat- 

 ing satisfactorily. The occasion for work of that kind is that during 

 the last four years the level lands along the Platte Valley, in Dawson 

 ('ounty, have become saturated by reason of more than usual rainfall, 

 and also because previous irrigation of land in that vicinity had filled 

 the lower soil with water. The injury of that land by alkali is increas- 

 ing, and it was desired to show that it would be benefited by thorough 

 drainage. This experimental tract will be cultivated in 190G, and 

 the etfect of drainage carefully noted. However, the success of this 

 experiment in that localit}' will not solve the great problem confront- 

 ing the owners of land. A general system of open ditches which will 

 serve as outlets for the drainage of the country and also give them 

 good roads is the great improvement now needed. Tile drainage, 

 however effective, can not be used in that locality until drainage 

 ditches of proper depth are made. They in themselves will produce 

 a marked change in the value of that land, and in many cases may be 

 sufficient to meet all requirements. 



Taking up now a description of a problem of a character dift'ering 

 entirelv from anv of those previouslv mentioned, it mav l^e stated that 

 in 1004 this Oflice made some ])reliminarv investigations of the lands 

 in the Kankakee Valley, in Indiana, and found that while large sums 

 of money had been expended in drainage and work was still being 

 prosecuted with remarkal)le vigor, there were many problems con- 

 nected with the work which would eventually give serious trouble in 

 the valley. During 11)05 one of our agents has given his entire time 

 to an examination of that country, and has collected much infor- 

 mation I)earing upon the matter and learned much concerning the 

 fertility and value of the land cultivated and the effect of drains 

 i.lready consti-ucted. The watershed of the Kankakee River is ap- 

 proximately 400.000 acres, but the tract known as Kankakee Marsh is 

 about miles wide and extends from the city of Momence. 111., to 

 South Bend, Tnd. It is reported that more than $500,000 has been 

 expended by varioiis drainage organizations in excavating large 

 ditches in thai uiai'sh. Mr. .1. L. (Maik. who has been acquainted 

 with the Kankakee Marsh country for more than thirty years, and 



