Looking Back – Calhoun County 3.15.23
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25 years ago
March 11, 1998
A resolution was approved regarding the Sny Island LeveeDrainage District by the Calhoun County Board at its meeting on Thursday, March 5. This levee provides flood protection for approximately 115,000 acres. There are 54 miles of mainstem Mississippi River running within the boundaries of the Levee Drainage District which also protects two national roads, an interstate highway, a U.S. highway, homes, businesses, wildlife habitats, and insures the integrity of the Upper Mississippi River basin.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined that a 3.5 mile segment of this levee, located between the north end of Pharr’s Island and Clarksville Landing, is in imminent danger of failure which could result in catastrophic flooding in Calhoun and Pike Counties and cause long-term damages. The resolution states that all appropriate action necessary be taken at the Federal level, including invocation of PL 84-99, to ensure that emergency repairs are completed to the levee sections as quickly as possible. The estimated cost of the repairs is $2 million.
75 years ago
March 18, 1948
Back in1946 Calhoun County Farm Advisor John Allison started working for a Soil Conservation District for the county.
Mr. Allison had been talking and teaching on the subject of soil conservation all during his long tenure with the Farm Bureau here, but his many other duties kept him from doing much work along that line.
The Federal Government, through its agricultural appropriations, has assumed the obligation of providing for these soil conservation districts, furnishing free the services of trained men to help in the work. In order for any county or community to set up a district it is necessary to present a petition to the proper authorities and carrying the names of 56 percent or more of the farmers in the area, Calhoun’s petition was filed with the Springfield Board in February 1947.
The Board finally got around to holding a hearing Friday afternoon at the Farm Bureau Hall. In spite of bad weather this meeting was attended by more than sixty farmers. The meeting was in charge of Ralph Haye on the State Soil Conservation Board and Paul Wartick, a district conservation representative. After these men explained the necessary steps toward organization, it was voted unanimously to form the new district of Calhoun County.
Calhoun will be the 87th such district in the state, and to start the work two temporary directors, Paul Fiedler and Everett Byrd, were appointed by Allison. When the organization is completed a full board of five members will be elected by the membership.
These directors will assume a heavy responsibility, and they will work without pay.
Calhoun County probably needs a program of soil conservation more than most counties of Illinois. Its rough, hilly contour makes erosion its number one problem,
In some places it is already too late to start corrective methods of farming, but it is still possible to save most of the land, if the owners can be educated to the necessity of full cooperation with an experienced conservationist.
100 years ago
March 15, 1923
News from the Associated Press says a forerunner of possible revival and development of freight traffic on the Illinois River is seen in the application of the Peoria Grain and Barging Company for authority to operate on the Illinois River between Pekin and Grafton, which came up for hearing last week before the Illinois Commerce Commission at Springfield.
The company asks authority to issue $100,000 of capital stock to open operation as a freight carrier.
It looks like the Eagle Packet Company might have strong opposition in the Illinois trade.
