452 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



a cost to each dollar of benefit conferred. It was arranged that where 

 it was considered tile drains would be sufficient that some of these small 

 ditches would be changed and become tile drains. 



Indiana's law fits more nearly your condition here in Iowa. It also 

 provides that you may have districts as small as tracts held by two or 

 three land owners. ' 



The department has recognized recently the great importance of this 

 subject. A year ago they made provision for some investigations which 

 were begun in the arid regions. It is in that capacity that I have been 

 able to visit the various states during the last fall. This work is under 

 the stipervision of the office of experiment stations. It is desired to ex- 

 tend this work. It has been well received. A new bulletin on drainage 

 is now in the hands of the printer and may be obtained upon applica- 

 tion to the Department of Agriculture. We expect to be able to extend 

 this work during the coming year and render a personal assistance 

 whenever it can be done. 



I had hoped to be able to have a few copies of the Indiana law here 

 for distribution. They may be obtained. I believe, from the secretary of 

 State of Indiana. I thank you for your attention. 



DISCUS siox. 



At the close of Mr. Elliott's address, Mr. Robinson from EmmeU 

 county, opened a general discussion by saying: 



I wish to say that there is no question in my mind abotit the need 

 of a drainage law for this State. Feeling is intense. The feeling of 

 those here is signified by their willingness to sit patiently and hear the 

 most instructive remarks with which we have been favored. I am very 

 much and heartily in sympathy with all of you here in regard to that 

 matter. I realize that there are farmers here that are anxiotis and im- 

 patient that Sjomething be done along this line. The members of the 

 legislature which I see here are farmers and lawyers and other classes 

 of men whom I feel sure are anxious to take up this matter and carry 

 it forward as much as any of you can possible be. The question is not 

 how much is to be done, but how shall we do it and how can we get at 

 it. It seems to me that the object of this convention would fall short if 

 we did not at this time before the adjournment of the convention formu- 

 late some plan along which we could work together. It is my judgment 

 that it should be taken up at the beginning of the session of the legis- 

 lature and continuiously worked at until ,some results are obtained. I 

 wish to move that a committee of five be appointed by the chairman of 

 this convention, of which he shall be a member, to co-operate with a com- 

 mittee of the house and also a similar number from the senate t^ tako 

 up this matter at as early a date as possible and present some legisla- 

 tion along this line. 



A motion was made to amend this motion by deferring the action 

 of the convention until the morning session, January 16th. The amend- 

 ment was carried, and after considerable discussion the original motion 

 as amended was carried. 



