The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-10-30
For the anderson htelHgencer.
THE Work Goes BraVelV On"

Mr. Editor: From the tenor Of the editorial
in your paper of the 10th inst, headed ERE
move the DISTINCTIONS, "and from the action of
the farmers on Generostee creek, looking to the
formation of Drainage Association on that
stream, am led to believe that the subject of
drainage has taken deep hold upon the pub
lie mind. A Ditching Association has also
been organized among the farmers residing on
the head waters of the Three-and-T Twenty
creek, which has for its object the draining of
the bottom lands laying above Rankin's mill
pond, and the thorough cleaning up of the
surroundings Of said pond, with view to the
restoration of the good health of that long
afflicted locality With concurrent action on
the part of the Legislature, providing by
statute, the ways and meaDs by which the peo-
pie of any locality may relieve themselves of
the great evils resulting from lack of drainage,
backed by public opinion. we may anticipate
the most beneficial results from these proceed
ings. We are not left without precedent in
this great work of reform. We have the prac-
tical test and a palpable demonstration Of the
good effects of drainage, in the improved
sanitary condition Of that locality, by our
friends on the Beaverdam creek, in the Fork
portion of Anderson County. One year ago.
the extensive sickness prevailing there under
the type of malarial fevers, and numerous
deaths, induced the people to engage at once in
the work of draining certain body of swamp
lands on said stream, which were believed to be
the principal cause of the sickness. A long,
wide, and deep canal was cut through these
wet bottom lands, and other corresponding
steps were taken to cleanse the wood lands of
decaying vegetable matter, and the result, in a
single year, has been very decided improve
ment in the general health of the country. The
difficulties which environ the subject of
thorough drainage of the bottom lands of our
County, are considerable, grant, but not insur-
mountabe, and the results to be attained are
so great and so necessary to the public good
that any sacrifice should be cheerfully made
for their accomplishment. Aside from the con-
sideration that the health and lives Of our
citizens are involved in this question, which is
the first in importance, there are material and
financial advantages resulting to the County,
which are of great moment. 1t il believed
that there is an ANIMAL loss to the County, in
her productive resources, of not less than one
hundred thousand bushels of grain caused by
the untillab1e condition of hundreds of acres
of our naturally fertile bottom lands. Is that
not public calamity? Then, again, these
very lands ought not, and can not be assessed
for taxation, at more than two dollars per acre
about the assessed value of wild pasture lands
What would be the increased value of these
lands, if reclaimed for the purposes of cultiva
ton Shall we say 1000 per cent? 1t can
not be much less.
The Legislature of our State is now in ses-
sion, and it is very certain that the subject of
drainage will be brought prominently before
that body. understand that public meet
ing of the citizens of Anderson, will take
place on Tuesday of Court, to consider this
subject in all its bearings. Let there be
general turnout of the people to consider these
grave questions. While there should be a
manly and brave graphing with the inherent
difficulties of the question, wisdom and pru-
dence should characterize the proceedings. Let
united effort be made, on the part of every
interest involved for the accomplishment of
this great purpose.
THREE-AND-TWENTY.