le nefits aned Damages-Vaiegh an4



and often do enter into the problem of determining what will be
the rise in value of lands after drainage.
  Other elements, more rarely tending to vary future values of
drained lands have come to me and might be suggested here, and
probably many others have not come to my attention. Proper
answers to two or more of these questions usually are necessary,
in fixing the future value of almost any tract of land in any
district. And the most perplexing question of all that confronts
the commissioner is, What weight shalt each of these elements
involved be given in determnintisg the future value, of a particu-
lar tract of land?
  So far I have only considered the assessing of benefits against
lands. Quite as difficult questions arise when commissioners
assess benefits against corporations. Pro". Van Hagen's paper
(p. 53, 1915 Report) deals with railroad benefits and, while I
am not by any means sure that there are not other elements
(not there suggested) to le molnside're(d, in assessing drainage
benefits against railroads, I will not take your time to discuss
theiii here.

                   ASSESSING CORPORATIONS.
  With regard to benefits to towns, cities and villages I will
mention a few of the questions that arise.
  How much should they be assessed for bene'fits to highways
already laid oiut and built? It is generally conceded that build-
ing and maintaining roads on drained soil is less expensive than
building and maintaining them in undrained soil. You may
have to ask several other questions to get at the facts necessary
to answer the first one. Is the road in good safe condition be-
fore drainage? If so determine what is the difference between
the cost of maintaining that road on the soil in its present condi-
tion, and on the soil after you drain it as you will drain it, and
having found that difference determine what sum that difference
is statutory interest on, and the sum that it is statutory interest
on might be regarded to be a fair benefit to assess against the
town, city o village for that road. (FSee paper of Hon. J. A.
Gaynor, p. 50, 1915 Report.)
   If on the other hand the road in question is not in good, safe
 condition, you should add to the benefits indicated above such



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