LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 



36& 



great portion, if not all, of its fertilizing materials. But the principal objects 

 of this paper is to tell "how to drain," rather than to argae the benefits of 

 drainage. Tliere are two classes of drains, one the open ditch or trench, and 

 the other the closed or iinder-drain. 



The drainage law of the State of Michigan makes provision for the com- 

 pulsory construction of drains when a majority of those interested desire it. 

 Legal safeguards are erected for individual rights in the forms and petitions 

 that must be secured and posted as the law directs. Frivolous but legal tech- 

 nicalities have in some instances been allowed to overthrow the operation of 

 this law. The law itself has a clause tending to nullify the captious opposition 

 of dishonest attorneys, yet, despite that, in some counties the attorney fees 

 have amounted to more than all other charges together, and even then some 

 illegality would take away the power of collecting the cost by taxation of those 

 benefited. 



My own opinion is that the remedy is not to be found in any amendment of 

 the law, but rather in the election of intelligent drain commissioners. The 

 law at present is as simple as it well can be and guard individual rights. Some 

 essential conditions are required, and these conditions are all reasonable and 

 necessary. In the first place those desiring the drain are to petition the 

 drainage commissioner. He is to examine the land, and if he thinks it feasible 

 he is to have a survey. As a description of the ditch is required in the first 

 petition to the drain commissioner it is safer to have that resigned after a 

 surveyor has located the ditcli. Then the commissioner should proceed as 

 required by the law. If his work is done intelligently and justly it is hardly 

 possible to be overthrown by the worst shyster lawyer in the state. 



In most countries this law has given satisfactory results in its operation, and 

 although at times there may have been made unjust assessments and hard 

 feelings, yet on the whole it has done more to improve the health and 

 prosperity of our people than any single law ever before passed. By its help 

 large marshes have been drained, lakes have been lowered, and immense 

 tracts of unhealthy, disease-breeding swamp converted into excellent mead- 

 ows, or in some cases into arable land. 



CONSTRUCTION". 



No. 1. Proper form for open ditches. 



The open ditches constructed under authority are to be dug as the officer in 

 charge requires, but usually they have a width on the bottom depending on 

 the area to be drained, and a uniform slope to the sides of 45°, or one foot 

 horizontal to one foot in depth, — a slope somewhat flatter would no doubt be 

 better. The standard railroad slope of 1^ feet horizontal to one in depth 

 would be none too much to secure permanency of the drain. It would however 

 be more difficult to construct in boggy or grassy ground. 



