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Allen, George E., 1886-1944. Papers, 1910-1972.

Title: Papers, 1910-1972.

The collection deals with farm foreclosures during the Great Depression and complicated legal matters arising from drainage problems in Woodbury, Harrison and Monona Counties. The collection contains legal documents, correspondence, maps and printed matter. As background to the drainage cases, it should be noted that the problems of flooding and drainage in the Little Sioux River Valley go back many years. The Monona-Harrison Drainage Ditch was built in 1906-1909. In the 1910's the Monona-Harrison Drainage District was formed. Some time afterwards an "equalizer" (a connecting ditch) was built between the Drainage Ditch and the Little Sioux River. This "equalizer" was blamed for shifting the water at the time of heavy rains from the Little Sioux to the Drainage Ditch. The Gaynor Plan (1953) was proposed to correct the problem of periodic flooding. In the same year the Monona-Harrison Flood Control Association, organized by R.W. Fischer, was formed to oppose this plan and to support Plan "O" of the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control. In 1955 the Gaynor Plan was defeated and the "O" Plan was begun by the Corps which finished it in 1958. As a means of helping the Corps with Plan "O" the Little Sioux Intercounty Drainage District (Little Sioux I.D.D.) was formed in 1955. John Beardsley, Sewell Allen and Michael Murray were retained as attorneys for the Little Sioux I.D.D.

ArchivalResource: 4.5 linear ft.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/15598142 View