The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-06-15
SWAMP LANDS VALUABLE

Remarkably Fertile and Productive When
Properly Drained-MiI1ions of Acres
Reclaimable Ia Louisiana aud
other Southern states.
Albert Phenis, special corresponds
ent OF the Manufacturers Record,
discusses the subject OF swamp-1and
drainage in recent issue OF that pub
LEGATION, and declares there are mil
lions of acres Of low lands in the
Mississippi valley and in states to the
east that could easily be reclaimed
and made immensely valuable.
looming into New Orleans over any
of several railroads, - says Mr.. Phenis,
ssone rides through wide waste OF
swamp lands, those along the coast
salt marshes extending for some dis
lance inland, but others. such as the
Southern Pacific passes through, SIM
ply wet prairies, where the rainWater
stands in saturated soil close to the
surface OF the earth, not running off
because there are no streams adequate
TO drain the surplus water away.
The superficial observer is likely to
give but passing glance at what
appears to be merely monotonous
landscape. II discussed at all, the
opinion is likely to be heard from
Louisianians themselves that these are
worthless wastes which would not
justify the COS. required to drain them
and put them in shape for guilty alton.
To those who have given the subject
of swamp-land drainage any consider
alton at all, however, there comes the
impatience that one feels on seeing
great opportunities neglected, for
ample demonstration right in this
vicinity has been made that not an
acre Of these water soaked lands is
less fertile and productive when prop
erly drained than are the lands of
Holland and other ditched and dyked
sections, where $500 to $500 an acre is
the ruling price.
Shy spending few million dollars
the United States can reclaim enough
land along the Mississippi river now
valueless to duplicate the entire cotton
crop of the south. 1t has been proven
that there are $4,000 square miles
capable of yielding indefinitely with
out fertilization bale to the acre, and |
even allowing for only one-half of 1t |
to be in GUILTY. alton at any one time,
there would still be land enough to |
give 100000 more bales of cotton |
than the south is now producing.
Considering the amount to be ex-
pended, this is probably the most |
gigantic Investment opportunity ever
given to any country in the world, for
this 10000, 900 bales of cotton would |
mean an annual addition of from $780,
900, 900 to 5000, 900, 900 to the value of
the south's agricultural production.
TN the reclaim alton and improve
ment OF these lands, the canals which |
would take the place of streams would |
provide cheap transportation both by
water and by road. The canals would
afford navigation, and the earth
thrown out of them would make the
roadway. Thus, when reclaimed, the
country will be a network Of canals
and good roads.
what Holland has so remarkably
veil done with infinitely less to start
with, I believe the south will some
where near attain in time Ultimately
'he should surpass anything the world
las seen. For where else has there
'ver been soil 1000 feet deep with loca-
ion such as this ?''
In recent article in the National
Geographical Magazine, Herbert NJ.
Of the United States Geologi-
al Survey, presents some interesting
Igures concerning swamp-land re-
lamation, as follows; +
The United States contains over co. T,
10000 acres Of swamp or oVerfowed
ands. Let us speculate on what drain
,ge of oue-halfof this may mean. II +
were possible to reclaim by drain |
zee %, 1000, 900 acres of these swamps,
ne land values of the country would !
% increased by more than 50, 500, oO0,-
90 and the crop values of these Sec
ons by more than $4,000, 0oo If it t
ere possible to sub-divide this enor-
lous area into forty acre farms, it /
ould supply 1850, 900 families with
ONES and put 100000 people upon Ii
snds that are now practically worth v
,ss. 1t is safe to say that each of i
lese. families would spend $1,000 in L
'ecting houses and purchasing equip
ents for their farms. This would
anse an expenditure on the waste land :.
today of more than So, 500, ZOO, 900. :
average family of five will spend
100 per year. This would mean TO
10 business interests of the United
tates an increased trade OF $3.50, 600, + :,
10.
GIBSON ON LOUISIANA. p