No. 123.] RECLAMATION, ETC. 85 



General ruled that the provision of the drainage law, stating 

 that "several proprietors may petition," requires three or more 

 owners to make the law applicable. 



Cherry Rum Brook Drainage District. 



The owners of about 600 acres of wet lands lying along Cherry 

 Rum Brook at the northern limits of Greenfield petitioned for 

 a drainage district in April, 1922. 



The lower portion of this valley is controlled during the winter 

 months by the ice pond dam of the Greenfield Ice and Trucking 

 Company. This portion of the project will eventually be con- 

 verted into house lots, but for the next few years will be used 

 for agricultural purposes with which the dam will not interfere. 

 The upper portion of the project is controlled by a concrete cul- 

 vert through the State highway to Bernardston. This culvert is 

 of ample size, but sets about 3 feet too high to permit of fully 

 draining the wet land above. In addition, the brook itself is 

 narrow, shallow, crooked and not of sufficient size to carry the 

 water from this area. The Board approved the project to the 

 extent of $7,000, appointed district drainage commissioners and 

 organized the district. The county commissioners have financed 

 the project and construction is partially complete. By agree- 

 ment with the Greenfield Ice Company work ceased by Novem- 

 ber 4 to let that company raise its crop of ice for the coming 

 season. Work will be resumed after March 1, 1923, and probably 

 be completed in the early spring. 



Wessagussett Drainage District. 

 At North Weymouth and bordering on Fore River is a small 

 valley of about 13 acres surrounded by high knolls. The valley 

 floor is below the height of extreme high tide. A highway along 

 the beach acts as a dike, and a poorly constructed culvert 

 through it provides very poor drainage for this valley. The 

 surrounding land is developed as a summer colony, and it is 

 desired to also build cottages in this valley. Mosquitoes from 

 the wet valley lands also constitute a nuisance. The owners 

 therefore petitioned the Board in May, 1922, to form a drainage 

 district. The Board held hearings on the petition, have approved 

 the project to the extent of $1,500, and appointed district drain- 

 age commissioners. The district has not yet been formed. A 

 new and lower culvert with a tide gate is required, and the 

 present ditch should be enlarged and deepened to accomplish 

 the objects desired by the petitioners. 



