The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-01-23
THE DRAINAGE SURVEY.
The Government Engineer Makes a
Preliminary Inspection-The Pro-
blem Is Not Difficult.

pert Of the department Of agriculture,
met with some of the city and county
officials yesterday. He said in sub
stance that the question Of drainage
in any Of the eastern parts Of Sumter
county was an easy matter. That the
idea current that Sumter city, or any
part Of Sumter county was too fat
for proper drainage, because there
was not sufficient fall, was big mis-
take. He said: "You have fall to
burn" eitioer for drainage or sewer
age. In regard to the Turkey creek
problem Of drainage, he said that the
present canal was the natural drain
age outfall, and that no survey was
needed by the United States govern
ment or city, as Maj. W. Loring Lees
and Civil Engineer Barbot's surveys
were correct, and he confirmed the
report made by Maj. Lees, who made
the most recent survey, THAI there is
plenty Of fall, and all that is needed
is to enlarge the present canal, with
due regard to carrying off the in
creased water, not only for the pres
ent, but for the future. All that is
now needed to be done is for Maj.
Lice to figure out the volume Of drain
age necessary, to get up the system
OF drainage and that the drainage de-
partrnent will pass upon the figures
and plans, if it was called upon in
consultation to do so. In regard to
the county survey it was decided to
await the action Of the general assem-
bly, upon Col Cosgrove's drainage
commission bill, and if the legisla-
ture passes drainage laws sufficient
to encourage interested parties and
municipal and county governments to
undertake the work Of draining low
and overfowed lands, then the Uni
ted States government will send en-
gineers down here to make the sur
veys and plans and specifications, es-
timates Of cost, etc. The government
is willing and anxious to help out
with the drainage problem, but wants
to wait until some intelligent and
definite mode Of procedure is agreed
upon, either by legislative action or
otherwise. There are no exceptional
conditions existing in this section, ac-
|cording to Mr.. Hidinger's idea, as to
the feasibility of drainage or sewer
age, and our natural drainage condi-
tions are vastly superior to hundreds
Of other sections where the fall is
not more than six inches 10 the rliie,
but which have successful drainage,
whereas this section enjoys from ten
forty feet fan to the mile.
Mr.. Hidinger, while here, inyesti-
gated our sand and clay roads, which
he pronounced Of superior kind and
workmanship. He says that we have
the very kind of sand and clay, and
gravel for fine roads, but suggested
that we send samples Of our sand,
clay and gravel to the good roads de-
partment at Washington, so that the
good roads experts will be able to
tell US just what proportions OF the
building material to use in mixing
the sand and clay for road and street
purposes. He also recommended tar
ring the sand and clay or gravel
roads, and said the government would
give valuable information along this
line.
He thinks that it will not cost so
very much to redeem overfowed land
and hopes that the interest in drain
age will be stimulated.
He believes that it will be cheaper
and much better to install two puria-
cation plants for the publication of
sewage, one to be on the Turkey
creek side of the city, and one on
the Green swamp side, and When Iur-
key creek is enlarged, we will be en-
abled to divide our sewage outfall by
putting a part in Turkey creek canal
and part in Green swamp, doing
away with the idea Of a pumping sta
ton to force sewage from the eastern
or rather extreme eastern portion Of
the city to Green swamp. So that
the charging of Turkey creek canal
not only will improve drainage, and
the health Of the city, but will SIM
plify the sewerage problem, and save
the expense of pumping sewage.
Mr.. Hidinger returned to Washington
Wednesday evening, but he gave
lot Of valuable information while
here, and completely knocked out
some Of the strange theories as to
lack of drainage and sewerage posi-