The Forrest City times., 1907-11-01
CAMPAIGN IS ON.
Government Expert and Industrial Commissioner Of Iron Mountain
 Railway is Here.

\ campaign or education upon the subject of drainage was inaugurated here yesterday by party headed by Dr. C. C.. Elliott chief drainage in- yestigator of the Department of Agri- culture of the United States Govern ment. The campaign will be contin- ued during the next ten days through out that portion of Arkansas, which is mostly interested in the question of drainage.
 The tour was arranged by officials of the Missouri Pacific system, and D. F.. King, Industrial Commissioner of the Missouri Pacific, is accompanying Dr. Elliott and cooperating with him in the work of spreading the gospel of drainage. Congressman R. E. Macon. of Helena, joined Dr. Elliott and MT. King here yesterday party during the greater part of the week, while the campaign is being pushed in this district.
 The tour is the second which has been conducted over the Iron Moun- tain lines ill Arkansas for the pur- pose Of advancing the cause of drain age. A trip was made over the same territory last February, and at that tFne the way was paved for the pres cslt campaign.
 OBJECT OF THE CAMPAIGN.
 The object of this campaign is chiefly to crystallize the sentiment which has already formed ill favor of draining the low lands of Arkansas and Louisiana, and to give the people If those districts the benefit of the expert advice of Dr Elliott who has t.i1 (. i,, If drainage and ill aiding iH tue actual Work of drainage ill all parts If the country.
 \ bout twenty representative citi- zeus of this city and vicinity gathered yesterday forenoon in the court house and listened to instructive addresses hl br Elliott. Congressman Macon 4Hd Ar. King. h was announced during the conference that arrange meuts have been made fer the intro daetian iu theHeN Congress Of bill apprlpriatiug S50u0o for the purpose al making I survey of what has been termed the Lower Mississippi Valley Drainage District. This district will Include all ef Eastern Arkansas from tHe Missouri line on the north tothe Louisiana line oh the south. The ob- Ject al this appropriation Will be tq provide general scheme of drainage, N4 that, when small drainage districts are formed, they may have intelli- gent plans upon which to work, and i'll order that, eventually, there may he d comprehensive system of drain age canals which will cover the entire territory. The support of Congress- men from all the States which will be affected has been secured for this measure, and it is believed that favor able ao tion upon it can be secured.
 MACON IS INTERESTED.
 Congressman Macon pledged him. self yesterday to do everything in his power to advance the movement, and asked that the communities which will be interested in the project sub- init to him statements of the bene- its which will accrue from the drain age of the swamp lands, so that he may have the necessary weapons to carry on the fight in Congress.
 MT. Macon also expressed the belief that the United States Government will eventually give financial aid in the drainage of the lowlands, if the matter is properly presented, and the benefits which will result, both from financial viewpoint and from the viewpoint of health, are demonstrat- ed. MT Macon declared that he be- lieved the Government had as much right to appropriate money to aid in the drainage of swamps as it had to appropriate money to fight the yellow fever or to prosecute the fight against the boil weevil or other pests. The extermination of the mosquito, and the consequent elimination of mala- ria, he declared, would furnish ample ground for the use of Government funds.
 TALK BY DRAINAGE EXPERT.
 Dr. Elliott gave a practical talk on the formation of drainage districts and the construction of the ditches. after the districts are formed He outlined the drainage laws of Arkan- sas, and declared that they were sHf- Helently broad and clear to meeteyery requirement.. lie expressed the belief Ihat the Arkansas law and that of Iowa on tie same subject are the Lest drainage laws in the country.