The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-01-09
THE DRAINAGE SURVEY.
SENATOR LATH1ES WRITES SEC
RETiEN I.Ei1iDCN con-
CE1.xENG IT.
Work Will Begin in This County in
the Near Future-Where the Sur
vey is Needed.

the Near Future-Where the Sur
vey is Needed.
Senator Latimer's letter printed be-
low will be Of interest to the many
readers of this paper, as it shows that
he has made good his promise to the
Sumter Chamber of Commerce to
have a government drainage survey
made in this county. The first work
to be done by the drainage experts,
the Chamber of Commerce hopes will
be to survey the section between Sum-
ter and Rocky Bluff swamp with a
view to draining the low lands in that
section, and also with a view to find
ing a better fall towards Rocky Bluff
swamp for the drainage Of water
from Sumter, which now goes to Din
gle's Mill, through Turkey Creek ca
nal.
The United States department Of
agriculture has already notified the
Chamber OF Commerce that the soil
surveys for Sumter and Lee counties
have been ordered and the experts Sc
lected and assigned to this work. Con-
gresham Lever secured the soil sar-
| veys through the request Of the Sum-
ter Chamber Of Commerce.
| Washington, D. c., Jan. 5, 1907.
Hon. E. I. Reardon, Sumter, S. c.
Dear Sir: remember very pleas
antly the correspondence we have had
in the past, especially with regard to
good roads and drainage, and I am
glad to report that have just had an
interview with Mr.. J. O. White, one
of the drainage experts Of the depart
ment Of agriculture, who came over
to see me with reference to the work
| to be done in Sumter county. He
SAYS that the department is now
ready to take up the work Of making
surveys in your section. He tells me
that they have already made surveys
around Charleston that will keep the
men they are able to employ there
busy for three years at least. You
know Charleston. is trying to accom-
plish drainage through local contri-
buttons and, as their means are lin
tied, they will progress very slowly
I am very anxious to get congress to
take action on my bill and resolution
which was introduced last session.
The bill provides that the proceeds
from the sale Of all public lands re-
naming to the federal government,
except that in the 13 States and three
territories provided for under the ir-
rigstion act, shall be set aside to ere
ate permanent fund to be loaned to
the people desiring to drain their
lands These loans are to be for 10
or Is years without interest and to be
returned to the government at the
expiration of that time for use in 9TH
er drainage projects. The resolution
referred to simply calls upon the Sec
retary of agriculture to furnish infor-
nation to congress bearing upon the
subject of drainage, that is, how
much land in the different States is
overflowed, swamp or salt-marsn;
what has been done towards draining
it: and any other information that
will be of use in investigating the SUBJ
iect. We have now some lO,OOO,O00
acres of land in IA States that would
come under the provisions Of this bill,
the proceeds from which, at S1.25 per
acre. would amount to nearly s15,-
100000 and I hope thai by the time
that has been exhausted such practi-
cal results may be obtained from the
work accomplished that congress will
feel free to aid by direct appropriation
in further draining the land that may
be left.
have not yet been able to discuss
with Secretary Wilson the probability
of his being able to visit Sumter dur
ing the coming spring or summer, but
I shall see him before leaving mere
and if I can arrange a date will noti-
fy YOU, so that our people in your
community may have the oeneht OF
his counsel and the pleasure of per-
sonal contract with him.
With best wishes, I am,
Very truly yours,
A. C. Latimer.