On this date in Minnesota History: June 20

June 20, 1916 – North Dakota is suing the state of Minnesota in the U.S. Supreme Court for $1,500.00 damages alleged done to North Dakota farm lands by the overflow of the Mustinka state ditch near Charlesville, Traverse County, which the Minnesota legislature ordered constructed in 1911.

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It is an action in equity and was filed by the attorney general of North Dakota. He asks that the ditch be permanently abandoned.

The papers allege that 12,000 acres of fertile land, comprising 80 farms, has been rendered valueless. It is alleged that the lands were never overflowed until 1911. The losses are reported to be over $100,000 annually.

On account of it being an action between states, the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “North Dakota Sues State of Minnesota For Damage to Land”; June 20, 1916; p. 1.

http://www.mbendi.com/facility/mustinka-river-ditch-205683

*https://books.google.com/books?id=cVU4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA175&lpg=PA175&dq=Mustinka+state+ditch&source=bl&ots=oWP1zC5LIx&sig=ZklFyHymjnbvG8cHns

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