Big Ditch constructed to protect rich acres of farm land

Submitted by Phyllis Stewart

After everything was signed by landowners and with approval from the court, the project was being built, tools moved in and people hired. Mr. McWilliams was the builder of the boats that housed the workers and a kitchen was on board to feed the workers.

The houseboats were built at Athol (close by Cornland) and they were to be finished by April. It took 12 railroad cars full of lumber to construct the boats. They were 102 feet long and 46 feet wide. They were to be virtually floating houses.

When spring opened up, the boats were ready for the workers and the places had been prepared for their launching. It was actually becoming a realization to the landowners that this project was going to take place. Digging was to begin in July.

The plan was to run three or four dredges and crews. It was to take 18 months to two years for the construction. Some 4,000,000 cubic yards of dirt will be excavated. The ditch starts at Marvel Bridge and runs southeast to the Osage River emptying between Prairie City and Rockville to the south.

The ditch would be 23 miles long and the estimated cost was $407,000. Assessed against the railroads was $15,000 and against county roads was $6,000. The crooked Marias des Cygnes was 73 miles long. The ditch was built parallel to the southwest of the Marias des Cygnes.

The first 19 miles of the ditch would be 40 feet wide at the bottom, 60 feet wide at the top and 12 feet deep. The last four miles would be 60 feet wide at the bottom and 86 feet to 100 feet wide at the top and 12 feet deep. A system of laterals, consisting of sux small ditches would be excavated for controlling local waters.

The bid from Timothy Faahey and Son were chosen builders of the project. He quoted eight cents per cubic yard for moving the dirt. The bids were all made, the bonds were all sold and it was time to get started. There were $370,000 worth of bonds that were sold to many bond houses in many cities. The bonds sold for $500 each.

The counties that the ditch would be going through was: part of Charlotte, New Home, Osage, Prairie and connecting into the Osage River. The ditch crosses the Marias des Cygnes River two times. One up to the north where it started and one to the south of Papinville. This is where the tour will be stopping.

The construction started in 1907 and was finished in 1909 on the first digging. There was a second digging starting in 1910 that ended in 1911. The Ditch was dug 10 feet deeper to carry more flood waters. The Miami lateral was six miles longer, 40 feet wide and 10 feet deeper. The second digging cut-offs were dug in the four larger bends of the Ditch. Land owners who received 100 percent benefits were assessed $10.93 for the first digging and $4.98 per acre was added to the second digging. This was a real hardship to the landowners. Several land owners lost their land because of the added taxes.

There were several people that we know of that worked on the Bates County Drainage Ditch project. They were: Johnnie Bracher, Guy Sherman, Tom Henderson, Ben Kienberger, Ben Rapps, Wm. Klinksick, Henery Klinksick, Arthur Baker, Andy Gallup, and Rosie Klinksick was one of the cooks.

This valley is a silt formation, deposited for ages from the washing of a rich limestone soil and watershed. If there is such a thing as a soil that cannot be exhausted, this valley has it. Before the ditch work was started these lands could be bought for $7.50 to $10 per acre. After the digging in 1911 an acre was selling for $25 to $75. Now an acre of land starts at $2,500 and up.

In an interesting article that was given to the museum this quote is found; “People were watching a big flood. The water was rushing into the Marias des Cygnes at state line and it was going into the new ditch. The people were asking, “Will the water stay in the banks of the river and the ditch?” Guess that question has been answered more than once.

Come to the Papinville Picnic on Sept. 24. The Drainage Ditch Tour will start at 1 p.m. Activities to follow throughout the afternoon will be as follows: Live music by Heartfelt Band, silent auction, cake walk, duck pond, children’s craft and coloring contest, pie contest (enter before 3:00), conservation display by Don Tiller showing hides, trapping items and handouts, live auction of pies and other items at 4:00 (Larry Hacker is our auctioneer and he knows how to have a good auction), meal served at 5:00, silent auction ends and drawing for quilt at 6:00. For information you may call 417/395-4288 or 417/395-2549. Call or text 816/769-4832 or email papinvillemo1800@outlook.com.

See everyone on the 24.