USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 19
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Another example of a ridge of like char- acter is that of the divide between Mosquito creek and the North Fork of the Sangamon river passing through Mt. Auburn. Many other examples might be named.
As stated near the beginning of this ar- ticle, most of the earlier systems of drain- age upon the flat lands were started by plowing a furrow or a double furrow along the line of sloughs and low lands. Later these were improved generally, by mutual co-operation, using teams and scrapers for the work at such extreme dry seasons as were now and then available for doing the work. As the lands became more in de- mand, and consequently more valuable,
other methods of construction were used, and organization of drainage districts em- ployed. One of the carlier districts formed in the county was that of Taylorville No. 1, leading from near the paper mill, north- erly and crossing the north lane about 372 miles north of the city of Taylorville. The work of construction was begun in July, 1882, and was finally completed in the au- tumn of 1883. The cost of the improve- ment was about $3.00 per acre for the lands involved, and was considered a very great price to pay for drainage. Many other re- deepenings and recleanings have been done upon this system of ditches since then, and no doubt the ditches have repaid their total cost a hundred fold. About the same time, 1882 and 1883. there were three drainage districts started in Stonington township, and after much opposition were completed in 1884. There was at time, as now, consid- erable opposition to these drainage districts and the subject generally misunderstood, and after prolonged litigation it was finally settled by the Supreme Court by a decision in favor of the drainage districts. The way was then well opened for this class of work. Following almost immediately upon the completion of these three districts were or- ganized the Lake Fork District, north of Pana, another district in Stonington town- ship, three others in South Fork township and many other ditches constructed by mu- tual arrangement of the parties interested. Most of the improvements made up to 1888 was by deepening and enlarging the George Waggoner plow ditches and the cost to the interested lands ranged from $1.00 to $5.00 per acre. Not many really perfect jobs of ditching had yet been done. The ditches were through very flat lands, could not be given good gradients or great depth, and consequently filled up with deposits
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more or less and had to be frequently re- paired and recleaned. The farmer land own- ers were nearly all yet in debt upon their lands, and felt that they could not well af- ford to pay out enormous sums of money for ditch construction, and the systems of drainage were generally a compromise be- tween perfect plans for drainage on the one hand, and dollars cost upon the other, and were not always, and in fact were rarely what they should have been, in size, depth or capacity.
Of later years, as the lands have advanced in value, the improvements in the way of drainage have become of a more permanent character. Five miles of large dredge-boat ditches were constructed in Stonington and Buckhart townships; ten miles of dredge- ditch work was done in the Hog Lake, in the easterly portion of Ricks township. Seven miles of large ditches were construct- ed in the South D'Arcy lands in King Township with a dredge-boat; and eleven miles of large open drains in northerly King township; also seven miles of ditch recon- structed by a dredge in the upper "Big George" creek through portions of Assump- tion and Pana townships ; the aggregate of dredge ditches in the county being about 40 miles, costing on the average $2.500 per mile, or in all about $100,000.
The open ditches constructed by teams and scrapers in the various drainage dis- tricts aggregate 235 miles. Those con- structed by mutual cooperation number more than 100 miles, not taking into ac- count those constructed for lateral drain- age upon the lands, privately, which num- ber into the thousands, and probably com- prise over 4,000 miles more of open ditches. Thus it will be seen that the sum total spent for drainage has, in fact, been enormous, and it was, generally, well expended.
During more recent years, the demand has been for better drainage and works of a more permanent character. Thus the plan of under-drainage by tiles has now come into general use. Pipes of clay, moulded like brick, and afterward dried and burned are now generally employed. The subsoil of all these flat prairie lands is of a porous texture, being covered upon the surface, and from two to four feet in depth, with a black, decomposed vegetable soil, the underlying subsoil being of a "joint clay" whose com- position is such that it is permeated with numerous partings or seams, and has a cuboidal fracture, which admits water easily into the seams, and is an ideal subsoil for the employment of under-drains. Other sections of Illinois have not always the proper character of subsoil to admit of good under-drainage, but with few exceptions, where the Wisconsin drift has left a mantle of white tile, invading our precincts from the northeast, we have an excellent top soil, fertile and inexhaustible, and underlaid with an excellent "joint clay" subsoil. It is par- ticularly notable that such character of sub- soil is an almost universal accompaniment of the low, flat prairie lands of this county.
Without going too minutely into details, the first tile drains laid in the county were in about 1878, being then employed where the gradients were, without question. excel- lent, and looked upon with a degree of sus- picion, until time had demonstrated their ef- fectiveness. With constant experimenting and a general advance of enlightenment the work of under-drainage has gone on until now the demands for drain tile are such that we have ten tile factories in the county, mostly engaged constantly in the manufac- ture of drain-tile, and besides, buy outside and ship in upon the average 600 carloads every year. The earlier open ditches are, in
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many instances, being reconstructed. using large tile, going farther down stream where necessary to secure greater fall, and laying the tiles in the bed of the former open ditches. A notable example of this sort of recent construction is to be found north of Stonington, where a drain-tile 28 inches in- side diameter, so large that a small-sized man can crawl into, turn about and come back from the same, was laid from the Buck- hart creek northeasterly a distance of one and seven-eighths miles, at a cost of over $7.000. This system of drainage continues for some four and one-half miles further, the tiles decreasing in size as the principal laterals enter the same, and comprises in all over fourteen miles of tile drains, all the costs having been borne by funds derived from special assessments of the lands inter- ested, at a total cost of about $14.000 and embracing 2.790 acres of land. The lateral drainage tributary to this includes more than 25 miles of smaller tile drains. The work and materials cost some of the land holders more than $8.00 per acre for this improve- ment alone, they having previously contrib- uted more than $5.00 per acre for the orig- inal open drain. The land owners, some twenty-five in number, are all satisfied with the results obtained, and express their ap- proval of completing a system of drainage which, being properly done, is done for all time, and requires no expenditure constantly to maintain the same. In like manner a very great number of drainage districts have employed tile for perfect drainage. One of the earliest districts to use tile al- most exclusively was Locust and May Union Drainage District No. I. 'Squire Mink, C. A. Stattner and others were among the promoters, and after excavating an open (litch for about one-half mile, the rest of the drainage was effected by means of tiles.
using an 18-inch and 14-inch tile for a dou- Ile outlet. It comprises 12 miles of tiles of various sizes, whose outlet is upon the lands of Lee Bradley in section 1 of Locust township, thence northerly and northwester- ly in an open ditch to the middle fork of Brushy Branch. The district comprises 3.390 acres of what were formerly very wet lands ; has miles of lateral tiles throughout the various farms, laid in a regular net- work, cost about $4.50 per acre upon an av- erage for all the lands, has cost compara- tively little to maintain the system, and that mostly for extensions, and has given gen- eral satisfaction to the interested land own- ers. The benefits, in the way of reclama- tion of swamp lands, amount to thousands of dollars and at least tenfold its cost.
These are but examples of what has been done in the way of drainage. To enter into the details fully would require more time and space than are at my command. The importance of the subject of drainage and its practical application in our county in suffi- cient to justify volumes being written, and its results are greater, broader, deeper and more far reaching than would at first glance be appreciated. It has made fertile fields and farms out of watery wastes. It has transformed a wilderness of slough grasses and rushes into smiling fields of corn and happy homes. Its financial results may be summed up in millions of dollars benefits to Christian county, in increased productive- ness of thousands of acres of lands, other thousands of acres absolutely redeemed from prairie swamps and miasmatic pools and lakes. More than half the lands of the county were practically worthless, and one- fourth. at least, were valueless, before it was ascertained that drainage of these wastes could be accomplished. With even the first crude drainage systems, came en-
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hanced values, double producing capacity, and a general betterment of health. With further and more perfect systems of drain- age, has come still greater land values, bet- ter roads, and very greatly improved gen- eral appearance of the farms from elimina- tion of the small and often irregular waste patches of swamps. By drainage the natur- al habitation of the mosquito has been de- stroyed. The mosquito, it has been shown by Dr. O. L. Howard, an eminent expert in disease germs, is the harbinger and trans- mitter of the malaria germ, and the drain- age of the stagnant ponds has decreased by many millions the numbers of these insect pests, to say nothing of dispensing with the obnoxious and poisonous odors which for- merly emanated therefrom.
There are 63 regularly organized drain- age districts in Christian county, distributed among the various towns as follows: As- sumption, 8: Buckhart, 4; Greenwood, I ; King, 6: Locust, 3; May, 4: Mosquito, 4; Pana, 4 : Prairieton, 1 ; Ricks, 6; Rosemond, 3 ; Stonington, 9: South Fork, 3; and Tay- lorville, 7.
Some of these are counted twice, as they include lands frequently lying within por- tions of two or more towns. The towns of Bear Creek, Johnson and Mt. Auburn only have no such regular organizations, but have each done a great deal in the way of drainage improvement, either by mutual agreement of the land owners or by indi- vidual effort. The latter remark also ap- plies to each of the other towns, there hav- ing been very many of even rather compli- cated systems of drainage effected without organization under the law. The time is not long past when many honest men looked upon the tile-draining question with suis- picion. They affirmed that the great amount of drainage work done was the direct canse
of drouth, and during seasons of great pre- cipitation it was the great promoter of flood conditions in the main streams of the coun. try. There is some truth in the theory that better drainage facilities have accentuated the flood conditions, but what matter if the rivers rise an inch or two or even a foot or two higher than formerly ? The sooner come the sooner gone, and the floods do not now continue so long as formerly, even if they become higher.
The 20th century farmer is a man who will use any means within his power to "make two blades of grass grow where only one grew before," regardless of what were the opinions of his forefathers, and the great and constantly increasing demand for drain-tile tells the story more forcibly than words can express.
Experience in all affairs of life is the final test, and now that we have the experience of hundreds of our best citizens, farmers, land-owners and capitalists who have tested thoroughly the various methods of drainage. who have watched its effects upon the soil and crops, and who pronounce unequivo- cally in favor of thorough under-drainage, the question would seem to be certainly set- tled.
What are the real tangible benefits of drainage? Briefly told, upon well drained lands, those with deep drains, or where un- der-drained by tiles, dry out earlier by days, and in some instances by weeks, than those which are not drained, thus enabling their proprietors to get out early crops at the proper season, and this of itself often means a great advantage; then where one rain is followed by another at intervals of a few days, the under-drained lands are dry with- in a very short time so that farming opera- tions can proceed at the proper times, and with less loss of time. Again, where any
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. kind of fertilizer is used, with under-drain- age and not surface drainage, all the plant- producing food is absorbed by the soil, and used for vegetable growth.
Another benefit derived from under- drainage is that crops grown upon drained land, such as described, by reason of earlier seeding, better conditions of soil and other advantages, are matured earlier in the fall, and out of the way of early frosts, which during many seasons means a very great loss to crops upon lands not under-drained. By being under-drained, the soil becomes warmer by admission of air through the soil pores, which upon undrained lands are filled with water during the early season, and the warmth with just sufficient moisture and not too much is most conducive to plant- growth. Crops upon such lands grow with- out intermission, and if a dry season comes are hardier and ranker, shade the ground better, thus conserving such moisture as is available from dews or slight showers dur- ing periods of drouth. Then, to sum up the benefits of tile-drainage, they are as fol- lows: It renders the soil open and porous, makes it absorptive, thus retaining the nu- tritive elements, gives a circulation of air through it, thus increasing the temperature and depth of the available soil, and makes it a fit home for the roots of all plants, and last but not least, renders the land more accessible for going about upon, and more sightly to the view.
I cannot say anything more appropriate in closing this article than to quote a poem, entitled "The Tile Drain's Soliloquy" by Clayton Melville, and published some years ago in The Drainage Journal, with apolo- gies to Hamlet.
"Here I am resting.
In quiet and peace, At last.
Yes, and doing more good Lying still in the ground, Saying nothing,
Than in all my existence Before.
I'm fragmentary, 'tis true,
But not broken;
Made up of joints of burnt clay
Called tiles :
Yet I am one
Drain.
I've been talked about
In the papers,
And at conventions ;
Aye, even roasted.
But care I for that, do you think ?
Not I. Why should I?
I'm faithfully doing my duty,
With no one to hinder
Or help me;
I'm content.
'Still waters run deep,'
Yes, just four feet,
In this bit of soil
Where I am.
Do they think of me now,
At the factory,
I wonder ?
Where the man with the patent Kiln Made it hot for me,
Thumped me soundly, And said,
'That's a good tile-
Has the right ring And color,
Etc.' Does he care for me now ? I guess not.
He's selling kilns,
And I- Am draining land,
And making my owner richer Each year.
I've found my work,
And am going to Stick to it.
I suppose some men Still talk about me
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
As they always have talked And say I cause drouths. And floods in the Ohio valley, And elsewhere,
Of course !
For nothing of that kind occurred Before I got in My work.
Oh, no! But they'll understand What I'm doing Sometime.
I'm a Twentieth Century drain,
And am doing business According to lately Revised laws of Soil physics ! And getting along all right, Too.
The tile-makers likewise. Time once saw me proud, With few friends, and Choice,
But now, many Know me, And speak well of me. One is always well spoken of After he's buried,
I know, But it's true, with me, That I do more good Under the ground than Above. Far more."
CONCLUSION.
A review of this short, though imperfect. history of Christian county will doubtless impress the reader that from a small be- ginning Christian county has rapidly ad- vanced, and is now entitled to be classed among the leading and best counties of the state of Illinois ; her system of drainage has rapidly developed the agricultural condition of the county, improved the health and the roads. Today the farmers are, as a rule, en- entirely out of debt ; most of them have more or less money in the bank; almost every
farmer has his carriage or buggy, a spare team with which he can take the wife and the daughter to church or town with ease and comfort; most of the farmers are blessed with good comfortable homes ; most of them have good sheds for the shelter of the stock: nearly all of the horses. cattle, hogs and sheep raised in the county are of a high order or class, from which the pur- chaser realizes the greatest possible profit.
The farms are cultivated by the best im- proved machinery, and the farmer of today can do more work, raise more grain, than three farmers of a few years ago.
Everything used by the farmer tends to- ward economy in time and the employment of labor-saving machinery, all of which when properly cared for and used economi- cally tends to better the condition of the country ; also the tenantry of Christian coun- ty have good comfortable houses to live in, and comfortable barns for their stock, and they too are able, as a rule, to have their sej arate teams and buggies to give their families more pleasure.
Merchants and business men of the coun- ty enjoy large and profitable trade ; many of them have grown wealthy at the county, and many of the older merchants have retired and given place to younger men ; today you an article of merchandise as can be obtained cas purchase in Christian county as good in the great cites of St. Louis or Chicago.
The merchants of the cities and villages of Christian county have as fine a display of goods, as large a stock on hand as will be seen in any county or city outside of the larger class of cities. Nearly all of the cities and villages of the county have their streets lighted by electricity, using the most im- proved lights ; modes of conveyance by elec- tricity are being projected for the benefit of the different localities of the county. The
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PAST AND PRESENT
cities have an excellent class of buildings for business purposes, and, all over the county in every city, village and on almost every farm, can be found many beautiful homes with the most modern improvements therein: where but a few years ago the wealthiest men of the county had but a few thousand dollars, today there are hundreds of men worth more than $100,000 and thou- sands of men worth from $15.000 to $50,- 000 cach : this wealth has not been the re- sult of speculation or of a sudden accumu- lation, but has been produced by a steady and effective growth which was brought about by bountiful crops and the development of the interests and natural resources of the county, which has produced wealth for the coffers of many of the inhabitants.
The larger cities of the county have two and three banks, and in nearly every town and village in the county there is a bank located. yet all of these banks are today overflowing with money, have more than they can use, more than they can loan, and it has all been accumulated by a deposit of the surplus money of their patrons. Chris- tian county has grown rapidly in population and today it has a population of nearly forty thousand souls.
The health is good, business of every kind and character in the county is apparently prosperous : the people are law-abiding, and
while we have friction, some misunderstand- ings, and, as some people say, many law- suits, yet it must be remembered that the business of the courts depends largely upon the business transacted in the county ; a per cent of the business can be reckoned as re- sulting in litigation and this per cent will produce a greater amount of litigation where much business is done than where a small amount is transacted.
Christian county indeed has a record of which its people can be proud, its people are proud of it : and every inhabitant of Chris- tian county is as bold to say that he be- longs to Christian county as the old Roman was to say that "I am a Roman," and while many of our people have from time to time sought other communities to better their condition, very many of that number have returned to Christian, and say that they have not been able to find any country or community better to live in than Christian county. While it may not be very judicious for us to be "praising our own wares," yet as this book is intended more particularly for circulation in Christian county, and as its patrons are residents here. there can be nothing improper in confidentially saying to one another that we have one of the best counties on God's green carth.
J. C. McBRIDE.
J. C. McBRIDE
BIOGRAPHICAL.
J. C. McBRIDE.
The profession of law is one to which many aspire, but in which few succeed to any remarkable degree. The subject of this sketch is one of the few who have won suc- cess, and he is now recognized as one of the best attorneys in central Illinois and is the dean of the Christian county bar. Taylor- ville has been his home for a third of a cen- tury and no man within its borders is bet- ter known or has a wider circle of friends and acquaintances.
The McBride family is of Scotch ances- try, the great-great-grandfather of our sub- ject coming to this country at a very early day. General James McBride, one of his ancestors, was contemporary with Daniel Boone in Kentucky, and Grimshaw, in his "Historic Days." says "General McBride antedates Daniel Boone." Thomas W. Mc- Bride, the father of our subject. however, was born in Tennessee. He married Mar- gery A. H. Wiggins, a native of Kentucky, from which state they emigrated at an early day, locating in Macoupin county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming and stock- raising, becoming one of the leading citizens of the county. They reared a family of eight children, four boys and four girls, of whom five are yet living, James C. being the only one living in Christian county.
James C. McBride was born on his fath- er's farm near Palmyra. Macoupin county, Illinois, July 16, 1845, and in the public
schools of the neighborhood received his pri- mary education. Later he attended for a time the Quaker College, at Richmond, In- diana, after which he entered Lincoln Uni- versity, at Lincoln, Illinois, from which in- stitution he graduated in the class of 1869 with the degree of B. S.
In his boyhood and youth, Mr. McBride assisted in the cultivation of the home farm, but after graduating from the university he taught school in the neighborhood of his father's home for one term. While teach- ing he took up the study of law, and after the expiration of the term in which he was employed as a teacher, he entered the office of Judge W. R. Welch, of Carlinville, Illinois, and continued his studies for about one year, when he was admitted to the bar, being the first one admitted after the eleva- tion of Judge H. M. Vandeveer to the cir- cuit bench.
In the spring of 1871 Mr. McBride took up his residence in Taylorville and at once commenced the practice of his profession. Like young attorneys generally. he had at first a hard time to get along, clients being a little averse to giving their patronage to those untried, but by and by they began to come in, and now for more than twenty years he has stood at the head of the bar, and few cases of any great importance tried in the courts of Christian county but found him retained on one side or the other. Law with him has been a study, a profession, and
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to that profession he has given the greater part of his life and energy. There has never been any incentive placed before him to make him swerve from his chosen work, although he has been associated in some outside busi- ness enterprises, but in nothing that would take too much of his time to the neglect of the law. Until the admission of his son to a partnership with him he had always prac- ticed alone, except for a period of about three years, and his prominence has been se- cured by his own merits and not from the borrowed light of others. In 1898 he gave his son an interest in his practice, since which time the firm of J. C. & W. B. Mc- Bride has been in existence and has won the greatest prominence at the Christian county bar. But not alone at the bar of his adopted county, but in the supreme court of his state and in the federal courts of the nation has he been prominently identified. .
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