New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-19

cht instance the villa or the Younger Pltny,
to-day The once nourishing Ostia has
altconsumed by the fever; Fumicino. at the mouth
OF the right arm of the Tber, that deserted
but mephitic swamp. During the Middle Ages the
malaria Increased even in Rome which have been,
Lealthy than now, while the Agro Romano was not
is proveS a Gaa h, as tho at present This fact
Gus small villages and towns. and fortified and
Inhabited castles, which have gradually disappeared
Pontine Marshes, was at the end of last century
Grained 10y Plus W. and 80 had still 5000 in
OF the Campagna has been healthy and has
steadily worse Formerly, however. In spite OF the
iover ~ was inhabited by AGRICULTURAL laborers thing
Inc unhealthy character OF the air is by some attrb-
ued not TO the direct influence Of the Marshes but TO the
great Inference between se atmospheric moisture and
temperature of the days ana nights 1t has however,
tins dh renee is greater than in Rome but where tho
climate Is perfectly healthy 1t undoubtedly true
health of the CampagDa the unhealthy air needs for
ITS development heat and moisture and tho warmer and
shown In the north of Italy where the marshes OF the
valley OF tue Pc produce evers which, however do not
tuscany and Rome are much more TO be feared.
The native Of Italy NAV then accept the opinion or
malaria Is due TO the exhaations OF The marshes
The main of the malaria is to be found in the two
probably originally quits which by the deposit OF tue
Tiber became Enclosed and transformed into swamps
had means OF drainage, which were carefully Kept Open
For Instance, near Tivo, at the mineral springs OF
Al0ua, there was splendid bathing establishment.
which proves that there was formerly some way OF
draining these springs. During the Middle Ages they
were abandoned and have produced u swamp, all the
deadher from being filed with mineral and sulphur
water. The farmers of antiquity devoted much care
and attention TO drainage, and many OF the small
marshes at the foot OF the bills, which nave been men
uOned above were probably removed oy caLtdi 9 Hvc
already been described, do not individually produce
much effect but taken together are an ipora factor
removed for the most part simply by an Improvement
IN the mode OF cultivation $50
Another important reason for the present condition OF
the AgrO Romano to be found III the tenure OF prop
eriy The property is divided between great families
TO whom they descend by entail the ecclesiastical cor
pOrations-mOrtmainand few actual farmers IL VIII
readily be perceived that agriculture will be pro-
oted when most of the land is in the hands OF those
who take no interest in It's cultivation The noole
Roman families have for their land til! M
selves. but have rented it out to Others The following
statistics will make the above clear: Tie Agro KOhan9
contains at present eight farms OF between 1iW ana
5000 hectares "a hectdre equals acres, l rood 80
perches) farms of from 5000 1000 hectares 80
farms OF from 1000 TO 1000 hectares; q farms o o
1000 10 Dos hectares Is farms OF IRON 90 70 $40
l22 farms of from 800 10 100 hectares As farms OF rom
100 hectares down. Thus the reader may see that "a
quarter o the Agro Romano is taken up III estates eac
containing 1900 hectares half in estates containing
between 500 and 1000 hectares ana the DINER M m
OF extent. In regard 10 the ttc ny whlch
G093O hectares in mortmaln and 65,6sp hectres
in entail :, C., l?4,62O hectares OF inaiehSDe prop
ery, while the amount OF land hed indcp evidently was
only 79,T3l hectares divided among 200 owners.
PLANS FOR REDEEMING THE CAMPAGNA.
1t is evident that any Improvement OF the Campagna
must begin with the reduction or total removal OF the
malaria that is. the various swamps aud ponds must
be drained and dried up. These swamps are of two
kinds-thOse having great extent. as the swamps OF
Osiia and Maccarese, and the smaller marshes which
DOT the Campdgna. IL would be unnece ;sary 10 name
these latter all Of which could be rendered harmless by
and charging tne Grams WIZ WHICH troy
are already provided either natural or artneia Tue
Of strsccacappe for Instance can De drained az
a cost OF $4,000 francs ny draining los OUT
let This is the estimate made III 1913 by board OF
Roman engineers. In addition to thiS the sum OF ISoGt
francs is needed to MI up some Ola narrles near lyo
which become filled with water III the winter ana IN
important however OF all me swampS IN ne Campash@
are often mentioned ones OF Ostia and Maccaresc
gated by a Commission OF three members OF the
Board of Public Works OF which the writer OF
I p4epoped .e" First to inrn into them tie muddy
water OF the TDer and fill Them up by the deposit which
wU1 rsrs m M each pond IL being necery to de-
post cubic metres OF earth IN the Ostd pond
hem by hand would 7OcOO.cOO francs. II |
" ould be also expensive to deepen them ana unite
hem with the 10 turn them INTO harmless sat
water ponds. The dirt which resulted from deepening
hem, and additional earth brought from distance for
1aDks the pond to insure an easy drainage OF
he whole Campagna INTO the ponds. The cost OF this
plan would be over 4o,00O0O0 francs
These projects we're al gwen up Of the Dutch
method extensively employed'in ialy IN the valley OF
Pc. This method consists III removing the water by
Of steam pumps 1t has been estimated that this
be done at cost of - ~ francs per hecare OF re
leetare MaccaTese Other small pools I've dried
40 by pOr;a pumps. IL may be SAID then That
he entire AgrO Romano be DRAINED AT an expense
If 4OOOOOO francs. This does not include the POnne
N rsncs the influence OF which, 10 j. generally con
,eded does not extend far Rome. After all this
work shall have been done "a lailcal chahSe III |
he mOde OF cultivation viii stu be necessary |
,O continue the Improvement. This change cannot |
AXE place suddenly; ii requires new buildings, |
mprovcd implements, and TO procure these all !
A. once will require an enormous tOutlay, WITH III
many cases as for instance IN raising f0fcsts no re-
urnS for many wears. The change III thC GOFcrLinent
has greatly siInpied the tenure by which tie ldnd III
Inc Campagnd held, thc entail has been removed ana
the LANDS belonging the religious corporations offered
for sale These changes Will of course, result III en-
arging number of small propretOrs directly inter
ested in the cultivation OF the SOIL.
the Government appointed commission com
noseu OF large OF members 10 Investigate the
hole question the Improvement OF the AsrO Romano
or This commission the writer was also IA memhor |
Their conclusions incorporated In PROJECT Tor
Law for draining the above mentioned alShcS, with the
aid of tho state, the province aud the CtyO Rome
he last two bear hall u the cost III was s0
nroposed to divide the AgrO Romano into SIX districts
Inc proprietOrs each being formed INTO Obligatory
cnmales whose object tue draining and drying up
nf The smaller marshes and sWampS IN their dsirlct ana
for which purpose they 10 prOpOrtOnatc tax
The Government has not yet however, selected any
an although plan for the Improvement of the Agro
i,"mano hi soon LAID before the Italian Parliament
one interference the Government, except so Tar ds
the great marshes is cpncerncd Is MOI dcSlTa-
HE lie is Oppose all associations aud taxation Tor
of the Canpagna, achieving
mat must Ocpond on Dctrr uloueS oi cuA4' AVN" an"
,nese must be gradually introduced.
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NORTH CAHOLJN1S UEDT