The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-11-06
Public Ileetinq.
ANDERSON, S. c., Nov. 4, 1873.


A public meeting of citizens was held in the
Court House this day, in accordance with
previous notice, to consult in regard to drainage
of swamp and bottom lands, as means of
restoring the health Of the country, and to ask
theinterposition of the Legislature in devising
wise and efficient laws upon this subject.
The meeting was called to order by Capt. ].
Y. Fretwell, who moved that DR.. o. R. Broyles,
Sr., be elected Chairman, which was carried.
Dr.. Broyles, on assuming the Chair, ex-
planned the object of the meeting, and com.
mented upon the Importance of giving i'm
mediate and general attention 70 the matter of
drainage, thereby promoting the health of the
country and accelerating its material pros
perity by bringing into cultivation large bodies
of land, now lying idle and vi reproductive. He
announced the meeting ready for business
On motion, Mr.. James A. Hoyt was requested
to act as Secretary.
Maj. T. H. Russell, after few predatory
remarks, offered the following preamble and
resolutions:
WHEREAS, the extensive sickness prevailing
in many portions of this County, i'll the form
of malarial fevers, and the numerous deaths re-
sulting therefrom, has been such as to arrest
public attention, and to induce efforts to seek
for some adequate remedy; AND WHEREAS,
it is believed that the sohbed and unhealthy
condition of large bodies of bottom lands, lying
on our inland streams, is the fruitful source of
these malarial fevers. Be it therefore
Rtsolved, That the general good health of
this region Of country is matter OF the first
importance, and that no sacrifice is too great
that may be necessary for the accomplishment
of such desirable result.
ResoIued, That the drainage of the large
bodies of wet bottom lands on our streams is
an indispensable step, and commends itself to
the better judgment Of ALI our citizens, both
for its sanitary advantages and as calculated to
add largely to the productive resources of our
County.
Resolued, That we commend the subject of
drainage to the consideration of the Legisla-
ture now in session, and request the Chairman
of this meeting to appoint committee of
twenty-one citizens, whose duty it shall be to
memorabilia the Legislature on the subject at
on early date.
Hon. J. P. Reed seconded the resolutions,
and addressed the meeting in an able and in
teresting speech, giving the result Of his obser-
vations as to the causes producing malarial dis
eases, and detailing numerous incidents of the
widespread calamity, which has so severely in
jured the reputation of this section for health,
which was once the proudest boast of our peo-
pie. He likewise alluded to the difficulties
attending correct solution Of this question,
but expressed the belief that adequate legisla-
ton might be procured, without danger of in:
fringing upon the private rights of any citizen
or constitutional limitations of any kind.
DR.. W. G. Brown and Gen. J. w. Harrison
also expressed their views on the subject, in
the main agreeing with the first speaker, and
advocating the adoption of the preamble and
resolutions.
The resolutions were then put to the meeting,
and were unanimously adopted.
The Chairman appointed the following gen.
tlemen, to constitute the Committee authorized
by the third resolution, viz: w. II. Trescot,
J. P. Reed, j. w. Harrison, Dr. G. Fl. Symmes
James A. Hoyt, DR.. o. R. Broyles, jr., G. W.
Maret, J. Y. Fretwell, J. P. Sitton, VIM. Perry,
E. j. Earle, G. S. Williford, DR.. D. S. Watson,
R. N. Wright, DR.. j. 81. Reid, B. #. Crayton,
DR.. E. N. Brown, James A. Drake, j. r. Coch-
ran, B. F. Whitner, John Martin.
On motion, the newspapers of Anderson,
Oconee, Pickens and Greenville were requested
to publish the proceedings ofthi meeting.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
O. R. BROYLES, SR., Chm'n.
JAMES A. HoYT, Secretary.