The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-05-07
SWAMP LANDS.
AS Well to Reclaim Them as to
Reclaim Arid Lands.
VALUE OF SWAMP LANDS INCREASED.
Their Reclamation Is a Very lmpOr.
tant Consideration.
(Rale;gh Times.)

Having made good progress in the
policy of retaining the arid lands of
the west by the construction of irri-
CATION works out of the proceeds of
public-land sales the government is
that much nearer the day when i will
undertake the redemption of swamp
lands. The area Of the public do
main naturally available for agricul-
ture will soon be fully occupied by
settlers. Only by artificial means of
irrigation and drainage can it be ex-
tended on a large scale.
In recent report to the senate by
Secretary Wilson it is estimated that
there are 79,0O5,0 ,023 acres of swamp
and overfowed lands in several
states which may be reclaimed for
agriculture, exclusive of coast lands
overhowed by tidewater. These wet
lands in area about equal the entire
territory of New Mexico or the six
New England states, New York and
New Jesey taker together. About
one-ffth of the whole amount lies in
Florida and eighth Louisiana.
Arkansas, Minnesota and Mississippi
have each over 100000 acres re-
quiring drainage to be fit for farm
ing purposes, and California, Geor-
gia, Michigan, North Carolina and
South Carolina average approximate
ly 100000 each.
The total increase in the market
value of the swamp lands of the
United States by reclamation, it is
estimated, would be nearly 81, ,6OO,-
900, 900, with an annually increased
production of about $275, 100000.
This would be an immense addition
to the nations wealth. 1t would
mean 160,00 farms on an average
of fifty acres each of great fertility,
representing homes for perhaps l.
10000 people and giving lucrative
employment to vast army of farm
laborers, who in turn would feed
and draw on a large city population
for supplies.
In 1850 congress granted to the
states in which they were located all
federal swamp and overfoWed lands,
but states admitted after that date
did not receive the benefit of the act,
Of the whole amount in the United
States, according to Secretary Will
sons estimate, about four-fifths have
been covered by claims of the states
and patented to them. Z: This is an OBJ
stacle to action ty the federal gov
ernment, but with the growing scar
city of cheap farming lands and with
rising values, it seems reasonable to
suppose that way will ultimately
be found to reclaim this immense un-
productive area.
FOREST PRESERVATION AND SWAMP
RECLAMATION IN NORTH
CAROLINA.
The following has just been receiv-
ed from Washington:
North Carolina is another state
which is showing an interest in prac-
tical forestry. Between 1892 and
1900 the North Carolina Geological
Survey Investigated the forest re,
sources of the State. The wide
spread popular interest in forestry
the fact that the State Board of Edu
cation owns 10000 acres of wilc
swamp land has shown the need fol
further work in foresty in the State
The North Carolina Geological
Survey and the Board OF Education
are cooperating in an investigation
of the swamp lands and at the same
time will carry on educational worl
showing the need of forest manage
ment with the object of securing th
adoption by the State Of a perma
nent forest policy in managing tn
public lands, and in giving assistanc
to private forest owners The worl
will be in charge of w. w. Ashe, VIII
is at present in the office of services
United States Forest Service. an
will be conducted under the direc
ton of the State Geologist.
The lands of the Board of Educs
ton present two problems: first, t
determine the portion which is sui
able for agriculture and eliminate
for farms, second, to devise NEAR
for repIanting the open lands, whic
are of large extent. In addition
the public lands the private fores
are 50 extensive as to rank anon
the States most important natur
resources. large part of them b.
ing on mountain land suited only II
forests, and protecting them fro
: fire.
: The forests interests of North Ca