The Osceola times., 1874-12-05
i,ommrn..s'ci.
TIE Drainage and Deposit
System Of ReClaiming the
Swamp Lands.

political storm has somewhat blown
over IN Arlia' sas, and we have u
new constitution, . new Governor,
a new Legislature, and ncw hopes
of peace and safety under our
political Skies, we beg leave
through your excellent paper, to
call the attention Of the people, to
one oi the most important subjects
that has engaged the public mind
for many years, ! have reference
to the reclamation and improve
ment Of the swamps and ovciilowed
lands of the Mississippi Valley.
When we contemplate the vast ca
pacity, which these lands have for
the support Of animal life, the
'eeming population that might be
maintained upon them, rs well AS
the many advantages that would
/ flow To commerce-both local and
general. We wonder that the checks
o! every legislator, and every polit-
zeal economist in the Mississippi
valley does not burn with shame,
when he remembers how little has
been done. and how little is being
done for the rcclama,ion OF these
lands.
1t is also u sourc" Of mortifica
I lion TO every observer OF natural
laws, how little the index finger oi
nature hiss been regarded III all
shat has been done, aoi in much
! that is now proposed to be doHc
! TO accomplish this end. That The
itvce sy,,rM IL I. ..iiure, and must
ever prove failure past expert
eucc mSsl .a,iy demonstrates. That
local and partial advantages may
oe :!a,ned :, .eyees, is allowed; ; but
that the general system of !oNceing
heretofore proposed and pract'ced
/ viii ever prove successful, both
reason and experience contraiic's.
The Jetty system may improve the
navigation OF certain points; but
will prove 4 curse 10 the landed
interest. What then is the plan
that does promise success! Drain.
age. drainage. drainage. But
how shall this be done, and what
|. are the grand objects to be kept in
, sippi as possible second, TO arranc,
'hese wastes SO as to throw tn,
largest possible amount of deposi
into the lakes, swamps. aud dccpl,
. overilowed sections; the idea is I,
overflow the back lands by head
water, instead Of back. iol
y
II, as is the case, the back lands mr.,
pverhowed by waters first BACKING
up the natural outlets from III.
bottom, the deposit is dropped, on
settles, in the mouth of such. out
lets, SO filing them up, and thu.
holding the water back on the low
lands 80 that they find but little
means OF escape when The river
falls except by absorption and
evaporation. But if these lands are
Overiowed by 4 head water, he
waters will early press upon the
natural outlets, 80 rs to prevent n
a measure the outlets from filling
up, and will thus prove ono Of the
chiet means OF drainage. and will
rapidly raise the low lands, by leav-
ing a large amount OF deposit upon
them.
The straitening Of the Misslssip.
pl river at many points, is u con
sidefation OF some importance, 80
far as drainage Is concerned. This
would increase the current, deepen
the main enamel, and shorten the
distance to the Gulf. But the main
point In " open and clear out the
small rivers aud bay GUS. and chains
OF lakes running parallel with the
river, and turnin. the waters OF
the Mississippi river into tncm;
wherever the na,nral relation be-
tween item wOuid indicate \ way,
"a beng easy and i,nu;i.abie.
To ii!Ustru.e-thuve is point IN
Hichmans Bend, where u canal
ans quarter of . mile in length,
would bring water from tho Missis-
sippi river into Waixers Lake, and