The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-23

lands of your state. Using the same basis
as for the Mississippi valley, of 80 acres to
the farm, 1t would bring into cultivation
1900 additional farms from lands that
are now producing nothing. With seven
persons to the farm, 1t would mean an
increase in the rural population of Ar
kansas of $4,000 people In sections of the
state that are now useless, adding so per
cent to the entire population Of the state.
Annual Production.
The annual production of these 5000,
900 acres at $50 per acre would mean
an additional income to the farmers OF
Arkansas $120,000,000 annually. View
ing it from another standpoint, an in
vestment of s41.00C,000 for the drain
age of the swamp lands of Arkansas
would increase the wealth Of the state
one-half billion dollars. To show the
results in another way, under a com
prehensive drainage plan, the wealth
of Arkansas would be increased s12, for
each 81 invested in drainage.
BY comparison only. and not for
criticism. would say that the govern
ment's enterprises in the northwestern
states cost for reclamation OF the arid
lands by irrigation an average of sS5
per acre, while these swamp lands can
be placed under cultivation for an aver
age OF $3.50 per acre. The results from
land reclaimed through drainage are
immediate. Canals and bitches put in
during the summer and winter months
make the lands ready for cultivation
and produce crop the following
spring.
Irrigation projects require large
amount of engineering work; and in
some cases several years to control
the water for irrigating the lands.
The swamp lands of your state, and
other southern states. when drained
Will furnish farm and garden products
for the kitch ems of the populous cities
of Chicago. st. Louis, Kansas City, Gin
cinnati, Cleveland and many others
where millions are to be fed daily,
while the irrigated lands produce for
comparatively few in number and at
too fancy prices for the working
classes.
Stands For Irrigation.
Do not understand me as talking
against irrigation. 1 am for it. 1t is
important work and must be pushed
forward What / do say is that so
much more can be done with the same
amount of money in retaining swamp
lands, the results of which will be i'm
mediate with the productiveness where
ii is most needed. The reclamation u
such lands should have immediate ce1l-
sideration.
Government aid for drainage is not
without precedent. In France one
third of the cost of large drainage
projects is borne by the government,
ne-sixth by the state and the balance
by the owners of the land. As xe-
Gently as 1900, Italy appropriated $4c,-
100000 for drainage work. The gov
eminent of England has at various
times come to the aid of drainage
projects and is now considering extend
ing this work In the aid of its agrfrul
tural development. In our southern
it would be fair to all interests IL
the property to be benefited were
taxed one-third of the cost, leaving
two-thirds to be advanced by the fed
eral government and by the states, un-
der law which would safeguard the
government on it's loans, which fie
property owners would refund to the
federal government and the states,
with a reasonable interest charge for
the use Of the money loaned.
Az a southerner I desire to say that
the south fights too much for the dead
issues OF the past / do not refer en-
tirely to the Civil war between the
states It's traditions and feelings. While
not forgetting the past, let us organize
to fight for tho future.
go South, Young Man."
Mr. Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture,
recently said go South. young man."
He no doubt had In mind the overlooked
opportunities In the states of Alabama.
Arkansas. Florida, Georgia, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Maryland, Kentucky Mis-
souri, Virginia and West Virginia. COM
prising a total acreage of 6l20O0.o0o acres,
with only 16,o0o.OO0 acres under cultiva-
ton In your state only 20 per cent Of
the Land v In cultivation, while In Iowa