84 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



reservoirs for holding water to flood the bogs in case of frost, 

 and to improve the waterways of certain highway bridges. The 

 Board feels highly gratified at the results obtained so far on this 

 project. 



North Marblehcad Drainage District. 

 The original petition for this project received late in Decem- 

 ber, 1921, called for the drainage of 100 acres of land in the 

 " Lower Division Pasture and Tillage." Examination revealed 

 that the small creek valley concerned consisted of a succession of 

 small wet pockets; that only a small portion of these wet lands 

 were required for agricultural purposes; and that drainage for 

 building purposes and to abate an alleged nuisance were the 

 principal needs involved. As the petition did not appear entirely 

 to cover the needs of the situation, the Board at a hearing 

 advised the preparation of a new petition broad enough to cover 

 the entire valley of this creek and its tributaries. This new 

 petition has been received, and at a meeting held on November 

 10 the new project was reported upon favorably and district 

 drainage commissioners appointed. 



Assabet River Drainage District. 

 Owners of the Assabet River marshes in Westborough and 

 Northborough petitioned in February, 1922, for the formation of 

 a district to drain about 500 acres of land. Examination showed 

 that for the main portion of the land involved, straightening, 

 deepening and widening of the channel and the rebuilding of one 

 highway bridge would relieve the main difficulties. Extension of 

 the project to Northborough as first proposed would involve 

 expensive changes in the culvert under the New York, New 

 Haven & Hartford Railroad and the lowering of two dams at 

 Northborough. This extension has therefore been omitted for 

 the present. District drainage commissioners were appointed, 

 the district formed, and the Worcester County commissioners 

 petitioned to finance the project to the extent of $40,000. The 

 county commissioners have not as yet passed on this petition. 

 The project will drain a marsh adjacent to the upland of the 

 petitioners which is now in productive cultivation. The drained 

 land will be used principally for raising hay and for pasturage. 



Shelburne Drainage District. 

 A petition received in April, 1922, for the draining of about 30 

 acres in Shinglebrooks Meadows, Shelburne, could not be acted 

 upon as the land involved had but two owners. The Attorney 



