The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-26
TIE DRAINAGE or QUE swAMPS.
Governc~ Scots Suggestions Antici-
patcG-Prac:ical Views OF tho Subject
from n Scientific Source.

In The recently published volume entitled
Resources OF tho Southern Fields and Forests"
the author, pr. j. Pcyre Porcher, auding to
mat5cr Of some interest ut this time, remarks:
There is subject, however which the writer has
been long rejecting upOn ana which he coasld-
ers one Of supreme Importance whether we re-
gard the Improvement Of our cultivated crops,
or the fields and forests OF the country. If sue
cessfuiiy carried CUT it will reclaim and render
t for tilage vast bodies OF lands now lying Idle,
and greatly improve their sanitary condition. 1t
will also make white labor avalanle curing inc
whole year, aud greatly stimulate immigration.
refer 10 the drainage OF the marshes ana
swamp lands, particularly those near inc cities
and along the river courses. This, save III par
tlcular instances, cannot now DC done Dy inc
separate and isolated efforts Of planters and
farmers, but should be accomplished as pubic
work by the State. Operations could be COM
nenCed on the inland sw3mps, eacn Ol WHICH
presents an independent problem to the civil en-
gineer. Along our coasts, at 4 distance OF forty
miles from the sea- there iS . rise OF about twenty
feet above the general tide level, giving fa oi
half foot to the mile, which Is sufficient. Al my
oHn experience, these are capable or thorough
and perfect drainage.
The Engineer Mills in his Statistics OF South
Carolina, published in 1926 has presented an
elaborate scheme Of this kind, by which 1t was
proposed that the State should purchase SO many
slaves and when the Swamps were drained, the
lands so improved and increased In value
shoulL be sold TO the farmers and planters.
EntcrnrlSeS OF q SltIllldT cALCuSi'C
scale have long since. rs il generally known, been
successfully prosecuted in Holland and III Bel
GUM. The simplest plans for draining the
secondary or inland swarnps, Is to run stralSht
central canal which removes the obstructlonS
caused by logs and mud 1atS, ana taxes OH the
main body oI water. 4 canal or drain is also cut
on each side to receive the water coming IN from
the surrounding high lands The underground
system wish tiles, generally practced In England
and on the Continent, is only applicable III tlls
country to a limited extent Ut present.
The lands throughout L large poriioA Oh tIle
South are quite rich enough for every purpose,
and we nce no. go To The West or elsewhere in
quest Of better soil. Since emancipation, iinini-
grants from Europe may be employed III tlese
public works now proposed. The cutting down
the trees and exposing the surface to the almost
constant action Of the sum- Will subject 1t TO the
important agency Of eyaporatlon; tile relnOval Oh
the causes OF malaria VIII be the result; ana II
complete exemption OF the sckly portions OF tnc
States from its baneful influences anu from perl
odical fevcrs, by which white labor Is made pos
sibe Is not secured the hygicnic condition OF the
whole country WILL ut least, he improved, anu
the wealth and happiness OF our cltizens general
| ly enOr mOusy Increased.
By draining our swarnps, we secure soil for
corn, cane &c, enriched by the vegetable mat
| ter accumulated for centuries and the nsher
! lands are released for cotton ana other crops.
Besides, when we drain the sWampS there en-
sues an interstitlal drainage, by n process OF
! molecular absorption necessarily acting, which
extends for miles around, affecting the nigh
| lands ut q much greater distance than MANY
would SUPPOSE rendering them drer, and allow
| ing mines oaks and other plants To spring up
where before only swamp trees aud RANK grasses
| grew.
Islands and Isolated sections Q! country. favor
| ably situated, as, for example, those adjoining
| Charles tOn and embraced between the cooper
ard Ashley, tnc same being true OF those lying
near ether cities, and along the coast, can DC
| drainc! and made rich and llGbitable even IN the
warm months. They will be occupied by garden
farms wlICh viii supply, not only the cities con-
tienous to them, but ill orr ships going TO Tie
| North with fruits. vegetables and produce.
| Many of Us residing on the COAST are aware oi
what was accomplished in The way OF cnlbanx-
mcntS by our fathers and the carrier settlers ol
the state. ihcy were built, FOR the most part, 10
aid in the cultivation oi rice; hut INC remains oi
| these Immense banks attcsv the industry ana en-
terprisc Of our people, anu are an earnest oi whac
We ourselves may accomplish when fostcrcd anu
aided by the State.
| IL IL true that much OF this work was done un-
der the system OF prmogcniturc; when It was IN IN
the power and To tac interest OF the owner OF the
| sC!l 10 make lasting improvements, anu by so
! doing look for thc permanent welfare Cl his dc.
srendanS. 4 different organization OF LABOR anu
capital also enabled the private individual to ac-
| complish mere then than now. These consldera.
| tons, however, furnish arguments in support oil
| the same being done by the State, which should,
when IL becomes necessary, perform Tor It's clti-
zens those acts o. public Gtilty, thc right OF lnG
| ability to DO which depended upon systems anu
Institutions which Il has, from reasons oil policy
OF interest abolished or destroyed, and being de-
| privcd OF which, they suffer.
TO carry out the project impcrfcctly unfO1ed
| above, the State hr government may organize Il
drainage commission ~ Joint stock association,
which will make tho financial scheme feasible
| and successful one into the details OF which /
| cannot now enter. IS realization Is doubtless
Impossible at present; h,ts viewed in every light
;ls respects the comal0n welfare, 1t involves en-
| terprises which are To ~ and to those coming
| after us Of commanding Importance and worthJ
oi the most thoughtful consideration.
| When the time arrives for its execution, the
| wisdom and policy OF the step being apparent, IL
will establish the distinction Of any administra'
! ton which undertakes 1t, or the fame OF any
statcsman who shall have the wit to use his inliu-
ence successfully to achieve it EniS cofOndt
opus.