The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-08-05
For tic anderson Lntclligcncer.
DRAINAGE.

nj ESSRS. EDITORS: see by the late
Anderson papers that the people inter-
ested are taking steps in various neigh
borhoods to have their bottom lands
drained, and the County Commissioners
are called on to render all the aid practi-
cable and necessary in each case, under
the provisions of the recent drainage law
recently passed by the Legislature. That
the act in question evidently contem-
plates the necessity, in extreme cases, OF
| County aid, cannot be doubted. And if
once the point is conceded that the sani-
tary condition of the people generally is
involved in this question of drainage,
the justice of public aid cannot be denied.
If only the advantage and hygeine Of
those persons owning bottom lands on
any of our streams where sickness has
prevailed were involved, then the notion
that only those persons owning said
lands should be saddled with the ex-
pense of drainage would be we'll foun-
ded. But exactly the reverse is the con-
dition Of things. In many cases whole
communities were prostrated by the
malaria generated on these undrained
bottom lands, the dweller upon the
ridges equally with the inhabitant along
the margin of the stream suffering
therefrom, many of whom were forced
to abandon their homes to escape the
ravages Of disease, although not the own
er of an acre of the infected lands. It is
worse than idle to say that such persons
are not to be greatly benefited, pecuni-
arily as we'll as otherwise in the drainage
of said bottom lands. And for these
benefits thus conferred, such persons
ought to pay reasonable proportion of
the expenses; not as much, of course,
as the owner of said bottoms, but just
proportion. The justice of said PROPOSE
ton cannot be disputed, but yet the
County Commissioners in assessing COM
pensation to the owners of mill dams, as
they are required to do when such OBJ
structions have to be removed, did not
feel at liberty to go beyond the owners
of the bottom lands, believing that 9th
er parties equally interested, in san
itary point of view, would generous
ly assist, especially where the assess
ments imposed are of such an amount as
to operate as great hardship upon a few
individuals, and where the whole COM
munity is equally interested and equally
benefited. This leads me to remark,
Messrs. Editors, that if the people of
sickness and distress which prevailed
two years ago in every portion of the
County, we will all arrive at the same
conclusion, viz: that the drainage of the
marsh lands of our County is great
public necessity, and should receive in
every practicable way the public patron
age and aid. But how far, and in what
direction should such aid be afforded :?
That is the question, and the only ques-
ton that need be discussed at this time.
For my own part, if it were absolutely
necessary, and the County could COM
mand the means, it would be better for
the County to defray the whole expense,
rather than permit those lands longer to
remain in their unhealthy condition.
In the long run, she would be amply
remunerated in the improved sanitary
condition of her citizens, and advanced
agricultural development. But it is not
necessary thus to tax her energies. A
little judicious aid to individual enter
prise will speedily accomplish the object
aimed at. In all public enterprises, it
may be laid down as an axiom in politi
cal economy that public aid should be
afforded as an adjunct to individual en-
ergy. Adopting this as our guido, the
question arises, how shall public assis-
tance be afforded, so as best to stimulate
| individual enterprise in the great work
the thorough drainage of our wet bottom
lads. To answer this question satisfac-
| torily, we should consider the main diff
Guilty to be overcome in any system of
thorough drainage. And, first, would
remark, as general rule, it is not the
unwillingness or inability of the land
owner to ditch and drain his own bottom
lands. With scarcely an exception the
land owner is but too glad of an oppor-
tunity thus to invest his money and la
| Dor, when he becomes satisfied that q
| sufficient outlet below has been afforded
him for his surplus sand and water, and
| that his bitches will not be blocked after
wards by the backing of sand from some
natural or artificial obstruction in the
stream. Here lies the great difficulty in
any system of drainage, and 80 far as I
know, with scarcely an exception, is the
principal cause of the sobbed condition
of most of our wet bottom lands.
Now, it is apparent that where the
obstruction consists of shoal in said
stream or dam for milling or manufac-
turing purposes, that no one class of the
community more than another is respon-
sible; hence, the removal of said OBJ
struction becomes public necessity,
and has strong claims on the public aid.
Indeed, have long thought that County
aid should be restricted mainly to this
important feature in any system of drain
age. do not say that County aid should
not be afforded in other cases. There
are exceptional cases, where persons
owning wet bottom lands arc positively
unable to command the pecuniary means