Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

industry and the conservation of the mineral resources. Indeed, with the exception of the geological survey, little has been done by the State for the encouragement of this industry.

THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Two early attempts were made to establish a geological survey in the State of Iowa; but owing to the weakness of the legislation both efforts failed of any satisfactory accomplishment. It was a case of voting an appropriation for the beginning of a piece of work without making adequate provision for its continuance.

The primary aim of a geological survey is to discover natural resources in and beneath the soil and to encourage their development. It was in 1855 that the first attempt to provide for such a survey was made in Iowa. A State Geologist was appointed by the Governor to make a thorough geological and mineralogical survey of the State, along with an investigation of the character and quality of the soil for agricultural purposes. An appropriation was made to carry out the work for a period of only two years. The next General Assembly continued the appropriation for two years, but thereafter appropriations were withheld. 150 Provision for a geological survey was again made in 1866. Biennial appropriations were made at the following session of the General Assembly, but in 1870 the work was once more discontinued for lack of funds.151

More than twenty years later, in 1892, renewed agitation for a survey resulted in constructive legislation. A Geological Board was established, and to this board was entrusted the appointment of individuals to carry on the work of the survey. This was the beginning of a continuous policy of scientific and economic investigation. The survey was organized as an independent agency, and was not appended to any other department of the government. An arrangement

for the printing of the reports of the survey was provided under the same conditions as pertain to other State reports. Permanent annual appropriations of moderate size rather than larger amounts for uncertain periods were favored by those interested in the measure; but this feature was not secured until a later time.152

The object of the Geological Survey has been to determine the character and distribution of the different soils and their capabilities for agricultural purposes; the extent and value of the various deposits of ores and minerals; the distribution, properties and uses of the beds of valuable clays; the accurate determination of the areas of artesianwaters; the analysis of mineral waters; and the relative value and durability of the several kinds of building stones and other structural material.

The results accomplished by the survey have more than justified the expenditures made, both in the field of agriculture and in mining, since the relation of geology to agriculture is so intimate that a good geologic map is practically also a soil map, and a thorough geological survey establishes conclusively the existence or non-existence of valuable minerals.

V

CONSERVATION AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS

DAMS AND WATER POWER IMPROVEMENTS

One of the many problems which confronted the early settlers was that of obtaining power for milling grain and sawing lumber. Water being the most available power many dams were erected across the streams and rivers of the Iowa country. The erection of such dams was early provided for by special acts of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory. The records show that not less than fortyone special laws of this character were passed during the Territorial period. Moreover, this policy of special legislation was continued until 1855, when a general law authorizing the erection of mill dams and providing for the regulation of the same was enacted.

The special acts authorizing dams were all very much alike: the location was usually definitely specified; the parties authorized to build the dam were named; a time limit within which the dam should be completed was set; and the height of the dam was limited. In most cases locks of specified dimensions were required and were to be kept in good repair by the owner of the dam, who was to receive no toll for raising boats through the locks. The lands of others were not to be damaged; while injury to the dam was prohibited under penalty.153

By the provisions of the general law of 1855, which was entitled "An Act authorizing Mill Dams", the manner in which persons owning lands on one or both sides of a stream or water course could secure the right to erect a dam by petitioning the district court was definitely prescribed. The

84

court's duty was to empanel a jury to examine the site and determine whether or not any one would be damaged by the proposed structure.154 Other provisions similar to those contained in the special acts were included. In 1864 the act of 1855 relative to the construction of dams was made applicable to the construction of mill races; and in 1872 a law entitled "An Act to Promote Water-Power Improvements" appeared on the statute books.155 By its provisions private corporations were authorized to take and hold as much real estate as might be necessary for the location, construction, and use of canals, conduits, mains, waterways, or other means or devices employed in the utilization of water power. The whole object of this law was to make possible within the State the wider utilization of the water power facilities. The Code of 1873 made corporations taking advantage of the provisions of the act of 1872 specifically subject to legislative control. No further laws were enacted on the subject until 1917 when the purposes for which dams could be erected were specified and provision made to prevent pollution or injury to the stream.156 Agitation for the wider utilization of water power has been raised at different times, but no legislation has resulted therefrom. Throughout the State steam power, being more convenient and economical, has displaced water power almost entirely for industrial purposes.

DRAINAGE AND RECLAMATION

The problem of drainage is one of great importance to Iowa land-owners- especially in the northern part of the State where the level stretches of land are without natural drainage. Indeed, it is one of the most important questions of conservation with which the State has to deal. Of the 55,475 square miles of land in Iowa, it is estimated that more than four and one-half million acres, or about one-eighth of the total area, is in more or less serious need of artificial

drainage. Within the State there is a net-work of streams, channels, depressions, swamps, and lakes which may be improved by careful drainage; a series of table lands is found at the upper ends of the streams, particularly in the northern part of the State, which require the construction of artificial drains; while the alluvial valleys of the streams, which are subject to overflow and which are excellent lands for agricultural purposes, need protection by a system of levees in order to make them permanently productive.157 All the natural drains of the State discharge into the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

In order to understand the policy of the State in regard to recent drainage projects the earlier legislation concerning swamp lands in the State should be reviewed at this point. By an act of Congress of September 28, 1850, all the swamp and overflowed lands which were undisposed of at that date were granted to the State. The object of this legislation was to enable the State, by the use of the proceeds derived from the sale of such lands, to reclaim them for agricultural purposes by the construction of levees and drains.158 The Fourth General Assembly, by an act approved on January 13, 1853, granted these tracts to the several counties in which they were located, on the condition that the counties would carry out the provisions of the grant relative to the protection and reclamation of swamp lands.159 In this manner the State instituted the policy of leaving the drainage projects to the counties.

After the swamp lands had been turned over to the several counties the General Assembly, between 1858 and 1866, passed measures relative to the manner in which counties could dispose of such lands.160 The result of all this legislation was that the counties were allowed to dispose of their swamp lands for not less than a dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Moreover, the lands or the proceeds from the sale of such lands could be used for the erection of public build

« ZurückWeiter »