The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-06-27

.tIO.
Washington, D. c., June 19.-The
question of drainage will undoubtedly
cut a, large figure in Congress during
the next few years. Already the agl-
tation has begun and sundr. bills
have been introduced touching the
proposition. Senator Hansbury, Of
North Dakota, is the first on the dock
ct with a bill early in the session.
His plan is to set aside a part Of the
reclamation fund arising from the
sale of public lands in the Western
States for drainage purposes in those
States, particularly in the State Of
North Dakota. Under the Irrigation
Act, the proceeds of the sales of all
public lands in sixteen States and ter
ritories become part Of the reclama-
ton fund to be used to reclaim arid
lands. The Act provides that more
than one-half of the proceeds Of the
lands in any State or territory shall
be expended in such state or territory.
It appears that from the sale OF
lands in North Dakita, nearly thirty
million dollars has been added to the
reclamation fund and only about
s5O0,000 Of this fund has been used
in the State. Senator Hansbury's
plan is to have a part Of the fund,
which under the law would go to re-
claim arid lands in North Dakota, put
to the purpose Of draining some OF
the swamp lands in the State.
Representative Stevenson, Of Min
nesota, on May 29th, introduced
bill the purpose Of which is to ap>.
propriate the receipts from The sale
and disposal Of public lands in certain
State for the purpose Of draining
swamp and overfowed lands. Fol-
lowing close upon the heels Of this
bill, on June End, Senator Latimer
introduced a bill which in terms and
language is the Steenerson propo-
sition. Both of these bills provide,
.that all moneys received from the
sale and disposal Of public lands in
the States Of Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louis
lana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missis-
sippi, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin,
shall be set aside for the examina-
ton and survey Of, and the con-
struction and maintenance Of works
for drainage in swamp and over
flowed 'ands. These bills set out the
plain in detail. The trouble with
them seems to be that they do not
include the Thirteen Original Safes,
among which is South Carolina. 1t
is thought here that an attempt to
use a part of the reclamation fund in
other states than those in which there
is public land, would arouse so much
ahtagonism in those States as to de-
feat the undertaking. Those who
have given considerable thought to
the matter of drainage legislation,
hope to get up some proposition
which win meet no antagonism, and
at the same time provide funds which
can be used in any Of the States re-
gardless of whether or not there is
any public land in them.
Representative Lever, who is a
member Of the Agricultural Commit
tee, and who has given much thought
to the subject, and who has been in
strumental in getting a substantial in
crease for this work put in the agri-
cultural appropriation bill for this
year, today introduced a joint reso-
luton which has for its purpose the
collecting of data with which to
make a fight for general legislation.
The resolution provides that the Sec
retary Of Agriculture shall cause
survey and investigation to be made
Of the swamp and tidal lands of yir-
ginia, North Carolina, Soulh Caro-
lima and Georgia, with view of as
certainng the probable cost of re-
claiming these lands, and of determi-
ming also the quality and adaptabihty
and probable productiveness when so
reclaimed. The sum of twenty thous-
and dollars is set aside for this pur-
pose, and the Secretary instructed at
as early date as possible to report to
Congress the result of said survey and
investigation, with such recommenda-
tions as he may think prope- and
feasible. Mr.. Lever has been in con-
slant consultation with the officials
Of the Department for the past week,
and it is understood that his resolu-
ton meets the hearty approval Of the