The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-08-13
DRAINAGE CONVENTION.
Drainage Problems of the State
to be Discussed at Important
Convention to be Held at New
bern September 9 and 10.

bern September 9 and 10.
Although the question of drair-
age comes home more forcibly to
the people of eastern North Car
olina than any other portion of
the State on account of the very
large area OF swamp lands in
that section, it is a question of
importance to all the people of
the State, inasmuch as it means
the reclamation not only of
swamp lands but also of "over-
flow" lands. There are approx
mately $3.50 square miles of
swamp lands in North Carolina,
besides thousands of acres of
''over-t1ow," lands, many of
which are susceptible to reclama-'
ton, if properly drained. In
many instances, no engineering
difficulty has stood in the way Of
draining a particular piece of
land, but absence of adequate
laws. There is no general drain
age law in North Carolina, al
though several counties and
townships have had laws passed
relating to the drainage of areas
within their borders. Thus, it
has happened quite frequently
that a scheme for draining GER
tain areas has had to be aban-
doned because, in order to carry
out successfully the plan of drain
age, it would be necessary to go
beyond the boundary line of the
township or county and in this
adjacent territory thre were no
laws relating to drainage. If
these large areas in the State-are
to be successfully drained, it will
be necessary to have some gen.
eral legislation passed covering
the whole State with certain sup
Elementary laws to govern GER
tain local conditions. There is no
doubt but that the Federal Gov.
ernment is beginning to take q
most decided interest in the re.
clamation Of swamp lands anC
when Congress passes laws per.
mitting Federal aid to States ir
the reclamation of swamp lands
it is those States that have prac.
tical drainage laws that will un
doubtedly be the first to Obtain
cooperative aid from the Fedora
Government.
When we consider the area O.
swamp lands in North Carolina
that it is nearly as great as tina
!. of the kingdom of SaXony, whicl
has nearly 5000, GOO people, i
;, will be seen that the State ha
| the opportunity Of developing al
area which is capable of support
ing q population that is large
than the present population O
the whole State. Although som'
of the swamp areas do not con
= tain land that is very we'll adapt
ed to agricultural purposes, stiI
there are vast areas which, /
= drained, would be capable O
= growing a vast variety of prod
ucts. They would not be ia
] from railroads, so that the prod
u u ucts of the farms could be easil
: marketed.
!, A large proportion of tn
swamp lands is sufficiently ele
! vated above the neighborin
y y water courses to make drainag
feasible, but usually this is be
: yond the reach Of the individual
= 1t is possible to accomplish thi
. if the laws of the State will pei
nit different interests joining tc
: gether to carry out these larg
i drainage schemes and to issu
! bonds to abtain the necessar
! funds to accomplish their end.
u In order to more thorough
=. discuss this question of drainage
3 the Geological Board at it's Jun
meeting authorized the Stat
= Geologist to call a meeting to b
u held in eastern North Carolina {
-. delegates from various countie
II II in eastern North Carolina to cor
g slider the drainage problems {
E the State and to suggest legisl;
u 4 ton that would make the sclvin
y Of the problems possible. Dell
gates have been appointed frol
- nearly all of the counties in cas-
1. .e ern North Carlina; also prom
y nent engineers throughout Il
~ " State who will. meet at Newber
;? September 9th and 10th. Thes
# men represent not only easter
= but also central and Westel
J.. North Carolina, where the drail
- = age problems are somewhat di
10 II. ferent from those in the easter
- swamp lands, but yet at the san
= time are as important to the
Il respective sections of the State
II II Congressman Small, Thorn;
IL and Goodwin Of the first, thil
! ond sixth districts, respectivel
!. are heartily in accord with VIII;
is Delng done In regard 10 Gran
y age in the State and are expectt
u VI to be in attendance at the CO
20 vantion. Mr.. Small has had N
,e Wright, of the U. S. Bureau
, Agriculture, give a great mar
?. addresses in his district on Il
"a question OF drainage, which ha'
~ aroused considerable interest
~ this important work. Mr.. Go
~ win has also most thorough
~ ~ identified himself with the I
~ ~ clamation Of swamp lands
i, - North Carolina and in Marc
=, ~ 1906, made a speech on the flo
ia .la of the House Of Representativ
1'7 io favoring Federal aid to States