The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-09-18

6alU OWueSS. a JuOlCIOuS SuACtuueuG VI tuIS
character would stimulate the proprietors Of
wet and undrained lands to remove the prime
cause of malarial fevers, thereby beneftting
the public health, and bringing into cultivation
the best portion of our bottom lands. Besides
greatly augmenting the value Of these lands,
the amount of corn likely to be produced
would go far towards sustaining our present
population, and proportionately diminish the
amount of money annually contributed to
other sections for this purpose. We suggest
the County Commissioners, as the final arbiters
to settle all difficulties Of this character, for the
reason that they are the proper guardians of
all that pertains to the welfare and prosperity
Of the County. Sustained by the opinions and
guided BY the suggestions of the Board of
Health, which should embrace skillful and
learned men in every County, there would be
fewer mistakes in their action, and less chance
for the landowner to be improperly dealt
with.
We know that the financial condition of
many farmers has not permitted the expendi-
ture of large sums of money in ditching and
draining lands. The anxiety to accumulate
means by the exclusive cultivation of cotton is
another barrier to proper drainage. Still an
other difficulty presents itself in the obstruc-
ton Of the larger streams by dams for mills
and other machinery, whereby the obstacles to
proper drainage are increased. But the health
Of the people is far more important than all
other considerations, especially of financial
character, while the spread of malarious dis
eases brings the question directly home to the
minds Of ali, and every year the extent and
prevalence of malarial fevers deepens and
widens through the up-country, so long recog-
nized as the healthiest portion Of South Caro-
lima. Hence, the necessity for remedial meas
ures, so guarded and framed as to work injus-
tice to no class of our population, and at the
same time guarantee the prospect of an entire
exemption from the dreaded malaria. The
wisdom of our lawmakers ought to be directed
to prompt and earnest inquiry as to the best
methed Of securing these ends, and we trust
there viii be no delay In thorough investi-
CATION of the subject
P.S.-Since the above was put in type, we
have received the annexed communication
from VIM. Henry Trescot, Esq, urging prompt
action on this important subject. We concur
in the suggestion for public meeting, in
which every Township should be fully and
ably represented, and plans devised for secu-
ring such legislation as may be necessary to
meet the exigencies of our situation. An ear
nest consideration of their wants by the people
themselves, and we have no doubt that plans
will be developed for their attainment which
will iniure no one, but tend largely to greater
security in the public health Our friends are
invited to consider the propriety of public
meeting, and agree upon 81 time for holding
such meeting. The letter of Mr.. Trescot is as
follows:
PENDLEroN, Sept. 16, 1873.
MR.. EDITOR: IF there is any one subject
upon which there should exist in this County
a.pesfect unanimity of interest and sentiment,
it is the health of the country. The steady
Improvement Of Anderson County in its agri-
cultural prosperity has been matter of gen.
eral recognition, and that improvement will
continue, if the health of the County can be
preserved. Its soil and climate are unsur-
passed by any section Of the State, and the
distribution Of its property among small far
mers--who make one of the most industrious,
the thrifiest and the most law-abiding COM
mnnities in the world-has secured intelligent
and energetic labor for its cultivation. This is
due to the fact that it is climate in which the
white man can work the year through, steadily
and efficiently. Should this capacity for
healthy and steady work be taken from its
population, its great advantages will be lost,
its fields will be abandoned and its population
be hopelessly diminished.
This danger confronts US now. The expert
ence of the last two or three years shows that
whole sections of this County are becoming so
unhealthy as to render its cultivation exceed
ingly dangerous. if not impossible. The type
of sickness that has carried 80 much sorrow
into the private homes of our people, and is
threatening to close our fields, is clearly mala-
rious. 1t is, in fact, what is known upon the
coast as country fever.
There is as little doubt as to the cause of this
mischief 1t is the want of drainage in the
lands bordering upon our water courses, and
this is due not entirely to rice-feld here and
mill-dam there, although these may have
served TO aggravate the trouble, but to the fact
that drainage of these lands has been neglected
since the war, and that the evil has now grown
80 great that it cannot be remedied by the in
dividual effort Of farmers who own small tracts,
and who cannot command either the means or
the authority to drain on such scale as will
relieve the County.
have not gone into particulars, for the con-
dition of things is known TO every body. Nor