The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-08-18
...... For the Journal.
Must Wood County be abandoned

to more eifactualy drain it, or it must sink
into insignifcance as an agricultural county.
Its richness and fertility are known and ac-
knowledged by everybody; yet what benefit
is it while it is covered and saturated with
water during large portion of the growing
season? Something must be done to remedy
this evil.
1t is well ascertained fact that where
our lands are we'll drained and well titled,
they produce all that can be expected Of any
lands in dny country. The drainage is ex-
pensive, it is true, but the superior produc-
tiveness Of the soil more than compensates
for the cost. Capital can be as profitably
employed in draining our wet lands as in
other investments. There are two great er-
rors in Wood county farming. Tley are too
shallow ditching and too shallow plowing.
notwithstanding the complaints that it is
n hard country to settle, yet nature, as much
as she is complained of, has done more for
us than we are willing to do for ourselves.
Well directed labor in farming is as we'll re-
wardcd here as in other parts of the country.
Suitable drainage must precede plowing. Let
us picture to ourselves the situation of New
England in state of nature and see her
now, with the richest and best provided pop
ulation in the United States. The same en-
terprise that has made her what she is, will
make this county the richest in the state. A
portion of Holland was once swept by every
flow of the tide, yet the perseverance of the
Dutch has reclaimed it, and it now sustains
more inhabitants to the square mile than any
other country in Europe. Yet have pre-
sumed to ask the question, must this county
be abandoned
The answer depends entirely upon the will
and disposition of its inhabitants. There
arc no natural obstacles to its settlement to
require il, ,
But" says desponding settler, what is
the use of trying to make farm in coun-
try where there arc so few natural streams of
water? What is the use of farming where we
have TO make all the water courses to drain
the country? If person wishes to settle a
quarter section of land, he has to make
ditch from one to five miles, according to
the distance from a stream of water, and then
ditch his own land into it, before he can feel
that he is on terra frma. But few can do
this alone. And frequently in localities where
there are number of inhabitants equally in
terested in making our outlet bitches for the
accommodation of all, one or two have to
take it upon themselves TO do it, or 1t will
not be done. There are some people that
can live in one place as we'll as another They
are equally at home in the torrid Or frigid
zone. Wet or dry land makes but little differ
cnce with them. They are always pleased to
have industrious neighbors, because they ex-
pect to derive benefit from their labor. But
as for themselves doing anything, there is no
calculation. They would rather become webb
footed and smell fshy, than to take hold of
any public enterprise. These are some of
the difficulties to be encountered by the set
tiers in Wood county. The expense and
trouble of draining the lands are more than
they are worth. I'm off for more rolling
country. had rather farm washed side
hills than stay here"
The above expressions exhibit the temper
and feeling of more than one settler in this
county. 1t is no use to deny there is cause
for such feelings. Is there any remedy l.?
Will the Is or 10000 inhabitants now oc-
cupying this county admit that crisis has