Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-01-26
ge@istellanepns &eadiug,
DRAINAGE, FOR HEALTH AND PROFIT,
IN YORK COUNTY.
Essay by j. II. BrattOn, NJ. d., in Second
Annual Repo t of the State Board of Health
of South Car lima.

of South Car lima.
Mr.. PreSide, and Gentlemen Now that
the system of Quarantine Regulations for the
City of Charleston has been satisfactorily az
ranged between the municipal authorities of
said city and the State Board of Health, and
that the proper officials by appointment of said
their respective duties now that necessary
care and caution have been displayed i'll the
diffusion of vaccine virus among the physi-
clans of each county in the State, and by them
skillfully and s lccessfully applied in their re-
spective fields on labor, that the bill to declare
what shall be nuisanceS in juriouS to health" ="
''tO adopt system to regulate the registration
of marriages, births and Deaths" ''tO regulate
the licensing Of physicians and surge0ns,H
have had favorable consideration by one
branch of the General Assembly, and bids fair
to he passed by that body into statute laws at
its next session, the State Board Of Health
have reason to congratulate themselves Oh the
successful result of their past labors, and the
cheering, encouraging, prospects which await
them in the future. At this time and at this
station of their successful progress, it is but
natural that they should stop and enquire what
remains to be done?
The field of labor before us is still wide and
extended, much work in that field is still i'll
tact, and it is to be hoped and devoutly wished
that the results of our labOrS in that field will
ultimately I've crowned with success.
Among the many subjects III that field which
should claim our earnest attention and conSid.
Grafton, none are of more interest and Vita
Importance than that of 'county drainage. >
From the beneficial effects arising from the
proper application and development of county
drainage, it involves the interest and prosperi
ty of all the people of the State, of every grade
and class.
1t rekindles, teammates the fires of the pat
riot, who loves to see his country prosperous
and happy it appeals to the true philanthropy
| iSt who is ever ready to extend the hand OF
charity and benevoence to his fellow man; il
at once attracts the attention, eXcites the adj
miration and laudable ambition of the medica
scientist, whose every thought, word and ac
tion are most cheerfully devoted to ever.
means, plan and purpose, calculated 10 i'm
prove and advance the general welfare, happi
ness and prosperity of the cOmmunityin whicl
he moves, us well rs of the State at large.
Among the very worthy trinity here alluded
to, none occupy higher, holier, nobler Status
than the medical scientist, the intelligent
skillful, scientific practitioner of medicine
lie alone devoteS all his thoughts, cares ant
anxietieS, his time and labor, to the well-beinE
of those coniiding in his skill as a physician
and in his honor as gentleman. BY nigh
and by day, in heat cold, in wet or dry wealth
er, he holds himself in readiness to obey thei
calls during their Affections, in many case
without cent of compensation and much les
gratitude, often falling victim to the labor
of his profession, leaving his family homeless
and pennileSs, he sinks into his grave will
much ''pOSt mOrtem praise" bestowed upol
| him Inf coornp1V nnonrh of fhic IVnrl tS M u n
to wrap his body in winding sheet, and re
turn it to it's mother earth.
At this day we see the medical profession o
this State leaving their homes and their dali
lucrative practice, meeting together to devils
means and plans, not to advance their Owl
selfish interests, but to obtain healthy, menta
and physical enjoyment for the whole people
and it is from this source that this idea 0
county drainage arises.
regret that short time, and the want of
proper source from which to derive satisfac
tory infCrmat!Cn or data, upon which to baS
this humble, though earnest report, renders i
rather difficult for me to make the same cor
rect and precise in all the details relative t.
the subject, as the Importance of the same dc
mands. Having no county maps of sutficien
accuracy to learn the length and breadth O
the creeks within the limits of York county
| II do not write of other counties, because
have not the record of them, from which t.
report l have been compelled to rely upon m,
own knowledge of these creeks and rivulets
supported by the information derived from
those who have lived upon or traversed th
same from their origin to their termination, il
the rivers bounding the county on the east an,
west.
From information so obtained, and which
consider sufficiently exact for our purpose,
am enabled to report:
That there are two hundred and twenty
eight miles of creeks orrivulets in this county
requiring draining, seven of these creeks lie OF
| west and north west of the county, passing
through an undulating country twelve lie OF
| the eastern and southern side of the county
passing through flat lands, slightly undulating
These nineteen creeks average twelve miles il
length, the maximum being twenty-four miles
and the minimum five miles. The average
breadth of the bottom along the same is about
One-siXth of a mile, or two hundred and nine
| ty yards. The number of square miles of these
| flats or bottom lands along these creeks is for
| ty-twO, and the number of acres tWenty-si.
thousand eight hundred and eighty. (26,SSO.
Now if we estimate forty bushels of corr
per acre, which is considered low estimate
| for such character of land, we will have from
| the 26, $50 acres, Ito be reclaimed by drainage
the very satisfactory amount of !, ,075, 200 bush
els of solid corn, which at S1.25 per buShel, al
| this time, would place in the possession OF ou
people the attractive little amount of 81 ,294,
600. The above number of bushels of corr
distributed among the people next spring vii
confer untold blessings among hundreds o
families, who now dread that approaching
season
The population of York county us per las
csnsus is 3d. 600. Now, allowing annually l:
bushels per capita, and we have the number u
390. 900 bushels of corn, with which to brea(
the people of York county. If this amount b,
distributed from 1918, POO, which could D(
easily produced on these bottom lands, wllel
thoroughly drained, we will have a clear sur
plus Of 6S5 POO, bushels of corn, which at 81
per busllel would give the neat sum of SS56,5 ,50(
and if the amount SO procured were equally
divided among the people of York county to-
day, it would not only pay their whole debt
but also make them independent corn princes
bidding defiance to the smoke houses and corr
cribs in Ohio and Missouri.
So much for tine agricultural and financial
| benefit accruing to the people OF the county
| from the consideration of the subject, and the
practical application and development of the
plans and means for perfecting the same.
| But, as the increase agricultural products
and an improved sanitary condition OF tht
county is the necessary consequence OF county
drainage, they can not be conveniently sepa.
rated in this report without ignoring one OF
the other, and it is more especially the SANTA
ry condition of the county to which it is the
object of this Board to direct their attention.
The streams inning through the western
portion of the county, which is quite bro.
ken in surface and undulating, do not present
so much fat In 4 ayrOspd TO overflow with
consequent lakes and pools of stagnant water
filled with decaying and decayed vegetable
matter, as those on the eastern and southern