The Owosso Times

THAT MAPLE RIVER DRAIN
Dissatisfaction in Middlebury Over Construction, Says Ovid Paper.

Much dissatisfaction is being expressed on account of the alleged unsatisfactory manner in which the Canal & Construction Co., of Chicago, is doing the work of dredging the Maple River. It is claimed that in Middlebury township especially, the work is not according to specifications as to depth or width.

The county drain commissioner will soon look the work over and he says if he finds the dredging as it has been represented to him, the company will be obliged to go back and do certain portions over again.-Ovid Register-Union.

If the Register had waited to investigate it would have discovered that as soon as the poor work was called to the attention of Commissioner Boutwell he at once made a personal inspection as well as to order one made by County Surveyor Joslin. The result was that the Construction Co. was ordered to take its dredge back to the point where it was found that the drain had not been dug as wide as the specifications called for and to do the work properly. It was found that on one bank of the Maple a long row of trees had been cut down some years ago and the stumps were still in the ground and almost as solid as when the trees were standing. To avoid blasting these stumps the work was slighted. However, the stumps are out, the drain is fully as wide as the contract provides for and all parties are happy. Both Commissioner Boutwell and Surveyor Joslin state that the construction work on the drain has been done in good shape so far. About a mile and a half has been dug in Middlebury.