The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-02-08
DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
Congressman Goodwin Working
Zealously for Swamp Drain
age-An Appropriation for
an Object Lesson Project.


age-An Appropriation for
an Object Lesson Project.
Correspondence of The Robesonian.
Congressman Goodwin is de-
lighted at the success he has
achieved with the drainage pro-
jects for his district. The drain
age of swamp land is a question
in which many of his con-
stituents are vitally interested,
and it will be remembered on
entering Congress two years ago
he commenced to work zealously
for swamp drainage. He intro
duced a bill last year in the
House of Representatives pro-
viding for examinations and sur
veys of the swamp lands of his
district and the report of the
effect of swamp drainage on
agriculture and health. He also
made a speech in Congress on
the reclamation of swamp lands.
which was considered strong and
convincing, and was heartily en-
dorsed by all who are interested
in this subject. He has secured
an appropriation for 5000 for an
object lesson project in his dis
trict and the drainage office of
the Agricultural Department
here has started the work at
Chadbourn, Columbus county,
North Carolina. The report of
C. G. Elliott, chief of Drainage
Investigations, upon this SUBJ
ject is as follows:
Mr.. S. H. McCrory, drainage
engineer, assisted by Mr.. J. V.
Phillips, level man, is assigned
to the project. 1t is estimated
that the field work will require
three weeks time under favorable
weather conditions. The pro-
ject will be known as the Chad
bourn project, Columbus county,
and will be entered upon the list
as No. 73. A sum of $500 is ap-
propriated for the survey and
completed report.
During the year 1908 letters
were received from numerous
constituents of Congressman
Godwin's, Of the sixth district,
asking that this office give at
tention to needed drainage in
vestigations at the several points
named by the correspondents.
After considering the conditions
described in the several letters,
it was decided that the first ex-
animation should be made at
Chadbourn. Columbus county. 1t
was reported by Congressman
Goodwin and particularly by ]. A.
Brown, of Chadbourn, that the
land at this point was mainly oc-
cupied by people from the West
and Northwest who had been at
tracted by the representations
of the Sunny South Colony,
which purchased a track of land
and in 1897 surveyed, plotted,
and placed it upon the market.
This land proved to be excellent
for the production of straw
berries, and Chadbourn has since
that time become one of the
largest strawberry shipping
: points in the State.
Crn1rDAI CcNrnJTJnN1c
: An examination Of this tract
2 shows that such portions of the
| land as are sufficiently drain
2 ed are fertile and productive
that the people occupying these
e lands are principally from North.
ern States and have introduced
d various innovations in the cult
f vation of the land, but that SOM
e part of almost every farm il
e subject to injury from lack O.
: drainage, and that though the,
r have constructed bitches and, il
, measure, greatly improve
d portions of the land, they ar
s. not able to perfect this worl
d until a general system of i'm
proved outlets has been cor
5. structed. The town is locate
e upon a table land at the head c
1t small streams, a part of Whic
= flow easterly into the Waccama'
| river, and a part westerly int
h the Lumber river. The branche
l. as they are locally called al
~ quite thickly covered with sms
id timber and apparently have fai
st ly good fall, but owing to lac
ID of channel and obstruction
ar in the natural depressions whi(
Id should carry the water they a
We inadequate drainage channels.
Strawberry growing has be-