The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-27

taKen OF the estates and compelled the proprle-
tors TO cultivate certain portion every year with
grain. lie was considering project for coloniz-
ing the northern part OF the Agro Romano, by
transporting thither 1900 families, or $500 head
at first cost OF some s2ooooOo; but political Cir
cumstances prevented him carrying out the plan
He had commenced the draining OF the P0nLine
marshes and had forbidden the further destruc-
tlon OF the forests. when the French invasion put
stop to his efforts in these directions. The
French Republic had no time TO occupy itself with
agriculture, and the laws promulgated by 1t Sc
questering ecclesiastical property were never car
ried into elect. Plus VII. ala much for the I'M
provement OF Roman agriculture. A motu pro-
mto OF 1902 gave the very minutest directions
to proprietors in regard to the cultva-
ton OF the soil; a tax OF eight paoi
was put upon uncultivated lands, and .
premium OF sixteen awarded to those who Guilt
waited them. He commanded the planting OF
trees OF all kinds and had in view the draining Of
the swamps at future day. The brief govern
ment OF Napoleon did not neglect the problem OF
the Agro Romano, but had the idea or carrying
out the ideas OF Plus VII. on even a larger scale
Napoleon first put on the budget of the Ministry OF
the Interior charge OF half million OF francs,
allottng the burden OF another half million to the
city Of Rome, intending tnat these sums should be
used for rendering the Tlber navlgabie from
Peruga to the sea, for draining the Campagna and
promoting the cultivation OF cotton on territory
extending six leagues around the city OF Rome.
lie ordered all the proprietors Of the Agro Romano
to plant trees along the roadside and to construct
cottages for their laborers. He appointed com-
mittee OF experienced men to solve
THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS:
FUst-Why the surrounding districts OF Rome
had been lett uncutlvated?
Second-Why is the Campagna unhealthy9
Thtfd-What means should be adopted TO bring
about q good state OF cultivation and to remove
the unhea thiness2
Folrtl,-How much territory is subject to the
foundations OF the Tlber
Fifth-How mucn is covered with marshes
Sirth-What IS the present state OF the Pontine
seUenth-what works are necessary-what
works have been started to drain them what
system has been adopted? what Is necessary TO
do?
Eighth--In the progress OF draining what kind
OF cultivation would be best ? What products
will best thrive on the new SOp
NiDth-What Is the present state OF agriculture
on The Roman CampagnaY &c, &c.
THE LABoRs OF Plus TX.
good beginning; but Napoleons career was
too short TO enable him to do anything Tor Rome
His ideas appear to have been exccled, however.
Plus VII. having returned, Inaugurated new re.
forms relative to agriculture. which, however,
were repudiated by Leo XII Neither Plus VIII.
nor Gregory XVI. had time or opportunity to give
much attention to the condition OF the Campagna.
Plus *, however Immediately paid considerable
attention 10 the subject He established an nst-
tuition for the teaching OF agriculture and in con-
nection Herewith some model farms, but the revo-
luton OF ls4s put an end to the plans. In 1854 he
appointed commission to study the question OF
coonizing the Agro Romano. But the political
events that so rapidly followed in Italy entirely
prevented any further attention being paid to the
subject. 1t may be said however, with truth, that
the laws existing under the pontiff sovereigns
especially those OF mortmain and entail, wore the
great hindrances to the labors or the various gov
ernments
SCIENTIFIC AND NoN-sCIENTIFIC PROPOSALS.
This is q record OF what the governments OF the
Roman territory have done. Now we will glance for
q moment at some OF the principal projects that
have been seriously entertained during the last
decades. Since persons OF nearly every class have
written about the Improvement OF the Agro
Romano, the number OF pamphlets on the subject
Is legion The plans OF the Abbe Nicolal, who
lived in the eighteenth century, generally con-
sidered to have been the sOundest OF those en-
tertaned IN the past century. He urged tue
draining or filing up OF the marshes, the smaller
ones by permitting the mountain torrents to de-
post their sands in them; the larger ones by the
process Of pumping, where outlet canals were not
possible. He suggested the building OF embank-
ments along the seashOre to prevent the refOr-
nation OF salt water marshes, rs soon as the
others should be removed. He proposed the
planting OF trees on the roadsides, the building
OF houses in villages for labOrers at some distance
from unhealthy neighborhO0ds. He proposed to
populate these villages by bringing out on the
Campagna the vagabOnds and idle population OF
Rome and Keeping them under strict surveillance
until properly settled. But this idea proved
great delusion. The great trouble was that no
benefits were offered TO these people, they could
not hope to become small farmers even. because
the greater part OF the land in the possessio
OF the Church or the mobiles, and in neither case
could it be sold. Crhis Is now different; both the
law OF mortmain and OF entail we're abolished In
the Roman territory in 1901
PROPOSALS TO CoTONIZE.
Sigismondis suggested the building OF centres OF
colonization IN various parts OF the Campagna,
where the people should dwell ana make war, rs
it were, on the surrounding district, conquering
and adding acre by acre TO their territory Here,
again, the propretOrs stood in the way.
Cacherano di Bricherasio proposed to cut
several channels for the Iber through
the Campagna for purposes OF irrigation
and draining. Coppi had wild sort
OF scheme OF repopuiating the Campagna with
orphan children and the idle masses. He would
build villages for tnem even in the midst OF mala-
rious districts, and then place at least one thou
sand persons IN each believing mat their num-
bers would in some mysterious manner neutraliZe
the effects OF the miasmas L'Accorambonl pro-
posed the purchase OF the Campagna by COM
pany, when should reet the land to small
farmers. All seemed to agree that the aid OF the
government was necessary to Improve the conot.
ton OF the Campagna. Before 1870 the laws OF
mortmain and entail prevented anything being
undertaken. These two abnormallties removed,
the way certainly much easier TO set about
now than ten years ago. In fact the government
could buy up the estates, improve them, parcel
them out and clear handsome profit by tue Ops-
ration. company could do the same thing
that 49, If the government gave 1t full power TO
buy and appropriate wherever demanded by the
public veal.
A MODERN PLAN.
ought to add here the plan OF Sgnor Parcta,
published very recently. He urges, as the first
thing to be done, the Draining OF the swamps and