The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-06-18
HOW MAY SEEP-WATER LANDS
BE MADE PROFITABLE.

Messrs Editors: Those of us own
ing and operating farms bordering
the Mississippi levees in the Yazoo
Delta, and 1 presume other parts of
the Mississippi Valley as well, are up
against a very serious problem.
Gradually the levees have grown from
little affairs four feet high, with ten
foot base, to huge dykes from twelve
to twenty feet high with 15O-foot
base. The erection of these immense
entertainments has required the use of
millions of cubic yards Of dirt, all Of
which must be taken from owners Of
lands nearest the base of operations.
A strip Of land running back from
the levee one hundred and fifty feet
wide, and an additional strip of fifty
feet, are condemned for levee use.
Water-Soaked Six Months i'm the
Year.
The dirt is used from the fifty-foot
strip back one hundred and fifty feet
from the base of the levee, usually
on the land side. This dirt is re-
moved, leaving what are known as
barrow pits" about in spots, uncon-
nected, without drainage, and are a
source of great injury to the ada
cent lands for practically six months
in the year, from January 1st to
July list.
The Mississippi River, always high
during the spring months, lags the
water against the levee until it is at
times dangerously near the running
over point. Seep water saturates
the lands back for one-half to one
mile. Frequently this water covers
the lands in great sheets, and always
level with the beds of the cultivated
lands; in other words, the water fur
rows are level full for five to six
months of the year, at the time we
are trying to get our crops in.
The writer, owing a small farm
within one-fourth mile of the coun-
ty-seat, and bordering on sixteen
foot levee, has been to date MAY
30th) unable to pillow and prepare
| any lands within seep water range of
| the levee. The holes made by con-
| tractors in removing the dirt are
overflowing, having no possible way
| of exit for the water. The public
| road parallels the levee and is on the
150-foot of condemned strip. This
so-called road has been impossible
for six months, and is at present a
''lob-lolly." Neither man nor beast
l
| levee authorities cannot or will not
| drain away the seepage water, which
can and should be done, if for no
other purpose, than to strengthen the
| levees.
What Shall be Done With These
Lands?
| The problem is, What to do with
the lands so affected. How can we
have them drained? Individual eff
fort is futile, and the landowners
have nearly bankrupted themselves
trying to grow crops on them. Here
We have the finest soil in the world
practically useless for want of drain
age. We read your delightfully."- in
teresting journal weekly, note what
progressive farmers are doing else
where, and We feel discouraged, be-
cause we have no possible chance to
emulate them. What is the remedy ?
What under the sun will grow and
flourish on water-soaked soil? Grass
grows luxuriantly, but the lands are
too soft to NOW at the proper time
1t any one can suggest a way out oil
the trouble, that comes within ouI
means, we should be most obliged te
have them tell us. We are there
on late crops.
The time must come soon for the
field to be occupied by drainage com.
panies that will charge planters q
reasonable annual fee for service per
formed. Kindly suggest, if you can
some crop likely to be profitable or
such lands, and confer a favor upor
alluvial interests.
| w. E. COLLINS.
i Mayersville, Miss.
Editorial Answer: The marvelou.