The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-25
LAWMAKERS GOTO WORK
9th HOUSES PUT IN a BIG DAY
ON IMPORTANT MEASURES.

astead of Committing Itself by Nam
ing tho Day Of Adjournment the
Senate Leaves the Matter With a
Committee-A Long Discussion over
the Okehnokee swsmp-The State
Road Question Also Under Fire.
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept. 24-It is a matter
Of remark that both houses were unusually
busy to-day, though the results are hardly
commensurate with the tine occupied and
the activity displayed.
The Senates session opened with the
report of the committee on rules on two
resolutions. one limiting the introduction
of new bills to Sept. 20, and the other pro-
viding for adjournment on Oct. Is. The
committee recommended a substitute for
9th; a joint committee to examine the
usiness before the legislature AID report
she earliest possible day of adjournment.
This was adopted.
There was a lengthy and interesting dis
cussion on Senator Falk's bill to convey the
Okeefinokee swamp, the states property, TO
the Okeefnokee Land and Drainage Com
pany at 121S cents per acre under certain
conditions of drainage and improvement s.
The committee on internal improveme Is
vides that the property be advertised sixty
days for sale to the highest bidder, and II
no bib is received greater than l219 cents,
then the governor lie authorized to convey
It to the Okeefinokee Land and Drainage
, Company at the 1215 cents per acre offered
/ by them as set forth in the original bill.
AN AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Shannon moved TO amend the substi-
tute by fixing the minimum price at 25
cents ger acre and advertise six months.
He urged that if 1919 cents is now offered
the presumption is reasonable that it will
be more valuable and that six mont S adj
vertising would give better opportunity
for profitable sale.
Mr. Bradwell opposed this proposition
and was confident MIR. Shannon would not
offer it if be had ever seen the Oke6nokee
He described it as dismal swamp made up
mainly of water. marsh AID tremble earth,
dismal place which the state would do
well to sell at the price offered. 1t would
+, be to the interest of the state to have that
vast tract drained and put under cultivation.
The work of reclamation is a stupendous
one, and it will be at vast expense to
these men who propose to do it. The
drainage of the swamp would also add to the
health of the sur oundiug country. This
would increase the value Of tue surrouni-
ing lands, and with the 100000 acres re-
claimed would give the state a considerable
increase in taxes. As it is now, the Dismal
swamp is the home of wild beasts, the bear,
the deer and the alligator, but notwith-
standing the wonderful abundance If game,
as much an unknown territory to the wife
hunter as it was TO the red man 100 years
ago, who feared t. enter its dismal receSses
HALL AGAINST 1T.
Mr.. Hall opposed the % cents feature of
the amendment but had no objection to ex-
tending the advertisement to six months.
He was satisfied from his information
that the price offered by the company vas
good one, and there would ha dly be a
better. The company did not insist on
direct sale 60 them and were willing that it
be put up to the highest bidder lie
thought when the cost of drainage was con-
sidere and the clearing afterward to be
borne by the purchasers, ~ ceats to the
state was ir price. He gave as infer
nation the Official survey of the swamp
ordered during Gov. Herschel "
Johnson's term, end made by
Col. Hunter That estimate made the cost
of drainage leg, $50. The idea then was
that the state appropriate money to reclaim,
but the high cost forced its abandonment
In addition to the cost of drai, age the
clearing of the land afterward would re-
quire IS to $40 per acre, which as the area
is over 100000 acres would greatly increase
the expense to the purchasers. The drain-
age of the swamp would reclaim also, and
bring upon the market over l.000. 900 acres
of rich lands which, besides benefitting the
people, would in taxes considerably increase
the states revenues.
BOYD ALSO AGAINST 1T.
Mr.. Boyd of the Thirty-second district
opposed the amendment He said he knew
something about the swamp, as he had
been there in April, 1882 There was an
incursion of l dams in that section, and
when the governor called out troops be
volunteered, although boy, and was in
the campaign three months, during which
he traversed the swamp to a con .iderable
extent. While he Endorsed what had been
said of the high character of Mr. Hail.
who is from his district, he would favor the
amendment making the minimum price %
cents per acre. 1t was worth more If it
would not bring 25 cents the state was able
10 hold 1t. For his part he Thought it ought
to bring 81. 1t would bring it hereafter
Mr.. Folks asked if the Senate would be
willing TO do something that would con-
tribute to the heath, welfare and
prosperity of the people in the surrounding
country.
Mr.. Boyd replied that the swamp was
there when those people came there and
they were willing to take the country with
the swamp. He thought the property was
worth great deal more than the company
proposed To give for it, and he wanted tho
state to realize best price possible.
MIR. Shaunon's amendment was defeated
MIR. Folks moved t. can the Okeefinokee
Land and Drainage Company to the Sc anee
Canal Company. This was adopted. The
substitute then passed by vote of 81 to 5.
Mr. BOyd'S bill to open the university and
its branches to white female students was
next taken up, but pending discussion the
Senate adjourned.