New-York tribune., 1906-10-28
SWAMP RECLAMATION.
Richest Land an United States To
Be Drained and UTILISED.
IFrc,n The Tribune Bureau.I !

Washington. Oct 2.-No factor m agricultural
production is more important than the ability 10
regulate the amount OF moisture needed. This IN
cludes the ability 10 irrigate land when IT Is too
dry and drain It when II is too wet Under the
bToad-;ninded policy which has characterized the
administration Of the Department of Agriculture.
under Secretary Wilson, investigation of irrigation
problems, begun under his direction, was extended
a little three years ago include the general
problems OF drainage. At the outset this work
was chiefly directed toward the relief of irrigated
lands which had become swamped and impreg-
mated with alkali eithor through the of too
much water or through seepage from canals; but
there has been a growing appreciation OF the
Importance of drainage all over the United States.
and the Office Of experiment stations of the United
States Department OF Agriculture is now carrying
on work in all parts OF the country.
Reclamation OF water soaksd areas and convert
ing the dismal fever breeding morasses into firm,
clean farm lands is no less important a project
IN the eyes OF the agricultural experts than max
ing the dry desert lands blossom by irrigation. In
the Eastern States there is a tremendous area of
swamp lands wholly without value for productive
purposes under present conditions and an actual
menace TO health The great swamp area OF the
united states IS east OF Nebraska. II is sixty
million acres in extent. or. in other words the total
area OF swamps and bogs in the United States is
almost equal in size 10 the states OF Illinois In
diana and Ohio combined. AS shown by the map
prepared by the department there is scarcely a
state east of the Rockies free OF swamp lands
-044 cat ~ a &c prOpOTlOn or their productive
area Florlda and Louisiana have the biggest
shces' but IN Michigan there is 1900 square miles
OF swamp land. in Illinois $500 square miles New
Jersey 800 and in the State OF New York 1850
square miles which could be cultivated II the
superabundant water were drained off,
There is decided tendency on the part of the
states to place the entire responsibility OF draining
their waste swamp lands on the federal sovern-
naent as was done in irrigation legislation It has
been found that the states unable to core with
the drainage scheme in its larger aspects because
or complications due TO the possession of swamp
lands by diverse interests. AS demonstrated by the
history Of irrigation. the only possible agency
through which draining works can be planned and
constructed in a broad way. modern principles
without serious complications resulting from divd-
ed ownership is the federal government Realizing
thls' members OF Congress have introduced numer-
Gus bills providing for the drainage of swamp lands
In the last two years the Office of experiment
stations has been engaged in making survey and
plans for the drainage Of the lands of North Da-
kota on the west side of the Red River This work
has been completed, and shows the location, size
and cost Of bitches necessary to drain area 162
miles long, Is miles wide and comprising $50, 200
acres. The carrying out of this great Improvement
would more than double the productiveness of what