The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-04
slN7EE CANAL IS FEASIBLE.
Expert C. G. Elliott Will SO. Re-
port.

MI. G. G. Elliott, an experti in drain
age matters, who was sent to South
Carolina as representative of the
United States department. of agricul-
ture to make important observations
and Investigations, was in the city
yesterday. Mr. Elliott came to South
Carolina for the purpose of determiR-
ing whether it would be feasible to
constructs canal from the Santee to
the Cooper River, the object Of such
an undertaking being ito drain vast
area Of land now useless for farming
purposes and so provide greater sup
ply Of fresh, water for the irrigation OF
the valuable rice fields which stretch
along the banks Of the Cooper. This
supply of fresh water has at times
proven inadequate to the needs Of the
planters, and it was sought to deter
mine definitely whether means OF
relief was open TO them. Mf. FL
liott's Investigations have convinced
him that such a canal as that suggest
ed is entirely feasible He found that
between the Santee and Cooper there
is fall Of about seventeen feet to-
wards the last named river. A canal
such as that suggested would have to
be about fifteen miles in length and
would thus have fall Of something
over one foot to the mile. This, Mr.
Elliott says, will be ample for the pur-
pose in view, should the building of
the canal be finally determined upon.
OF course it would be necessary to as
sist the flow of water in the canal by
artificial means at the Santee end, but
construction 5here would not have to
be extensive or expensive. Mr. Elliott
said he had not gone at length into
consideration of the expense which
would attach to such a project. The
canal would have to be from IS to 40 feet
deep for ten miles. It would reach
straight through what is known as He'll
Hole swamp, and in addition to it's
other important and valuable services
it would thoroughly drain shat section.
The He'll Hole lands are of the richest
and most valuable character, Mr.. Ell
lott says, and to reclaim them by means
Of the canal would be an enormous
contribution to the wealth Of the
State. Mr.. Elliott said also chat he
had not attempted to make an es-
innate of the acreage which would be
rendered available for rice planting as
direct8result of the construction Of
the canal. That it would be very
great, he said, went without saying.
As the canal would run for fifteen
miles through a territory which is
naturally fertile, but which is poorly
drained and inadequately provided with
facilities for irrigating purposes, it
would be understood that thousand Of
acres of land now wholly useless and
invaluable, or partly so, would be re-
turned to the taxable and productive
list.
When asked what, if any, plans we're
in contemplation for putting to prac-
tical use the observations which he
had made Mr.. Elliott said that was
matter for future consideration. The
department of agriculture wished to
learn whether such a canal was feasi-
BILE. He had been sent here to deter
mine this point. When he returned to
Washington he would report to the
authorities there that such canal could
be built, and once constructed it would
perfom valuable sevices. Further than
this his instructions did not go just at
this time.
Mr.. Elliott said also that he had
found party representing the forestry
division of the agricultural department.
at work in the section from which he
had just returned. The members of
this party were working with the lum-
Der com panies for the preservation of
the forests: that is to say, they are in
structing the owners of the timber
how to enjoy the products of their
lands without destroying them. The
plan being followed is one which is
well known to students of forestry and
under it timber may be cut for an in
definite period without ruining the
forests from which it is taken.
Mr.. Elliot is one of the best known
men in America in his particular
branch of Government work. He talks
of his observations between the SaDtee
and the Cooper in the most interesting
and instructive manner. The report
which he will make when he returns
to Washington will doubtless prove to
be document of great value to the
property owners in the section over
which he has gone, and it will be read
with much interest and attention as
soon as it appears. It may be the first
step in a great enterprise which would
add millions of dollars Of taxation val
ues to the tax lists of the State, and
which would develop vast and fer
tile area almost at Charleston's OWE
doors.-News and Courier.