429 A Laiu recommended for Regulating Drainage. Nov. 



Upon inquiring into the caufe, I was informed, that it had long 

 been the wilh of fome of the proprietors and tenants \ but that the 

 main drain which behoved to be deepened, was a march ditch in- 

 volving feveral interelts \ and though all would derive very confi- 

 derable benefit, it had hitherto been impoflible to get the parties 

 to agree. 



This is a ferious evil ; and I fhould think might be obviated, 

 without much difficulty, by an a<£l fome what fimiiar to that refpecl- 

 ing fences. I fhould however propofe, that all difputesof this kind 

 fliould be fettled by arbiters, mutually chofen by the parties, if 

 they can agree •, if not, then the Sheriff of the county to name 

 them \ which arbiters fhould have full power to award each per- 

 fon's (hare of the expence, &c. &c. -, and alfo, that their decifion 

 (hould be final, without the power of appeal by any of the parties. 



I am of opinion that it would alfo be an improvement upon 

 the A£i for regulating March Fences, were difputes left to arbiters 

 as above. 



No man can have a greater refpe£l: for the Sheriff courts than I 

 have ; but it mufl be allowed, that the generality of gentlemen 

 fiiling the office of Sheriff, though well verfed in law, have but an 

 indifferent knowledge of country matters. 



If you think the fubjc6l of the above hints worthy of notice, I 

 will be extremely happy to fee your remarks on them. 



Yours, &c. 



An Observer. 



1 8. Juney 1803. 



NOTE BY THE CONDUCTOR. 



We perfe£l:ly concur with our Correfpondent in thinking, that 

 a law is much wanted for regulating drainage ; becaufe, under 

 the circumflances condefcended upon, it is impra^licable for an 

 individual, however well inclined, to drain the lands in his poffef- 

 fion, unlefs c-. nterminous poffcffors can be obliged to join in the 

 previous operations. 



From our intimate knowledge with the diftricl: alluded to, we can 

 fafely declare, that the hints offered above are well founded ; and 

 we truft the fubject will be noticed more largely on an after occa- 

 fion. We have only to add, that the future correfpondence of the 

 • (Jbferver^ will be highly acceptable. 



TO 



