The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-12-04
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who would he willing to'cxpendlabor an,
rapital in trying to reclaim their ricl
swamp-laud, but are deferred from the TN
dcrtaking, for the want Of the co-opcratio,
OF their ncighbors above and below them
There are some wealthy planters OH the Ie
dee, Waterce and Edisto.* who after tn,
expenditure of much-
*Col. Williams. Mr.. Hale, and Captair
ntroman, labor and capital, have succeed
cd III great measure in embanking thos.
rivers, and have fine large bodies of ricl
land in cultivation, yielding fifteen hun
dred pounds of cotton per acre, and fort,
bushels Of corn. These noble examples o
individual effort demonstrate the fact, 'tha
these lands can be reclaimed and are mex
l'austi5lc in fertility. But the labor and
capital necessary to reclaim them, canno,
be borne by many Of our swamp owners
The work would require scientific engineer
ing to ascertain what should be the prone,
course OF the river through large body o
low ground--to ascertain the proper llegl,
to make the various embarklnenls, and the
proper fall to give the canals and bitches
Ibis would be Il work of great magnitude,
than the owncrs Of the laud possess.
The question then arises can tllcsel ands
be reclaimed ! freclaimcd, will they ever
pay the expense incurred, and ,.l,y whom
should the work be undertaken These
ale grave questions, and require the inves-
tlgation OF our most practical and scienti-
tic men. What, ask, has not been accom-
plshed i'll other states and nations, by the
AID OF science aud steam? We are now
boring holes through mountains that i'm
pede our progress, md dryi ng up rivers to
get the golden sand that liz in their in their
beds. With the examples set before us,
and with the aid of science, why may we
not undertake work fraught with such in
calculable benefit to the people of our
State. 1t will have to be done sooner or
later, or we will have to witness the grad.
ual decline of the true wealth of our State.
Ii we desire to see the wealth of our State
developed, we must reclaim these rich lands
and give employment to the thousands and
tens OF thousands of negroes that are aunu-
ally leaving our borders.
l unhestalingly answered that these
lands can be reclaimed and will repay in
the future wealth and prosperity OF the
State, ten times theamount expended, and
should be undertaken by the State, in CO.
operation with the owners of the lands.
This plan will startle some Of our ccono
mists who now have one eye on the State
Capitol and the other on the Blue Ridge
Tunnel. l am well aware that the idea Of
the State embarking in any more works
OF internal improvements with debt of five
millions upon her shoulders, is not enter-
tanned i'll various sections Of our State.
And am ready join any one in oppos-
ing the State iii engaging. in any enter:
prise that is not calculated to develope her
esourccs, aud increase the prosperity Of her
rpcoplc. But with all this debt am will
ing 10 Undertake ANY work of improvements
that wlllstend to dcvcIope the agricultural
manufacturing and mechanical resources of
our State. Ii the people of any section Of
this State have mineral resources, or fine
water powers, undevelopcd for the want of
access and communication with our mar
kets, or rich lands to reclaim, and are no:
able 10 perform the work within themselves
Il hold it 10 t'e the duty of the State
aud lis money well expended, for her to
aid her people in any great work calcula-
ted to dcvclopa the resources Of the coun-
try. The STATE has now invested in rail
roads over one million Of dollars, exclusive
Of the Blue Ridge appropriation. This
money has now accomplished the objects
for which it was invested in the middle and
up-couatry. It has assisted :" in bGilding
railroads, Which have done, and will do,
more towards developing tue resources of
the country where they have been located.
than all other efforts heretofore made by
the State. Let the State contine to assist
those roads under contract, and at the same
time let the funds invested in those roads
that have been completed, be gradually
Withdrawn ahdappI,ed to the reclaiining
the river and inland swamps. $ -
To convince any unprejndiced mind that
the work is eninen,ly practicable, let me
for a moment refer yun to the operatio MS
of that country whose fame for thrift and
plenty is ''world wide,l '-allude TO the
little kingdom Of Holland. The general
surtsce Of the country is exceedingly fla,
and travelling it,says reaent traveller
"oue finds himself from ten to.twenty feet,
below the surface Of the surrounding water;
ou fine rich plodder lands RECLAIMED by
the Governments Tile -, -
*Paten. Office Report, 1855. ,<4l
recovery Of these plodder lands is The most
important branch of.engiaeering, insomIch
that a Government Board has been estab-
lished Tor centuries, the duties of which ar.
tsop&led 70. The hydraulic works cof tlit
II n Ac.l \ ~