Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co. v. Board of Supervisors

Soldier River Drainage District No. 24 is located in Monona County, and comprises 7,220 acres of agricultural lands, and includes about 12 miles of the roadbed and right of way of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, appellant herein. Soldier River, prior to the construction of the improvement in question, was a very tortuous stream. The improvement contemplated the straightening of the stream, thereby reducing the flow of the water from 22 to about 12 miles, and materially increasing the fall and capacity of the waterway. The valley lies between ranges of hills, and is a narrow one.…