The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-10
ORA|NAGE MEANS
MUCH TO STATE
Thousands of Swanpy Acres
to be Reclaimed and Agri-
cultural Men Benefited
INTERESTED PERSONS TO
DISCUSS PLANS HERE
Water Can be Wooed Fro Il
Farms and Turned Into
Streams at Low
Cost

a convention unique IN Virginia and
calculated TO be Of inessinlabIe benefit
To owners OF farm lands and the axri-
cultural interests throughout the State
win be held In Richmond THURSDAY
when the first meeting Of persons in
terested in drama &c In the Old Domin-
ion Is called IL order
The convention viii be held IN the
Capitol and lie divided into a morning
and afternoon session
Stirring Addresses
Addresses which will whet the in
terest OF those not well acquainted with
the project to reclaim the swampy and
semi-swampy portions OF Virginia
farms or are not alive to the possibiii-
ties Of the scheme and Its simplicity
are to be made, and II Is believed many
new enthusiasts VIII be enlisted in the
landahie movement. The pithy. prac-
teal talks by men who have given
drainage in Eastern Virginia deep and
close study cannot. it Is believed, but
spur those already awake To the SPLEEN
did results that can easily be attained
and crystalize the movement for re-
clamation int fruIiious activity
That serious thought and much en-
ergy and thought is being given to
drainage Is proved by the fact that
two days after the convention here
another will be held in Newport News
The subject will not only be kept alive
on these TWO occasions but pushed
right along unt!l dredKers are put to
work in several streams and deep
treach diggers started running through
Il number Of farms.
The principle speakers at the Rich
moad convention on December Is will
be Professor {. e. Elliott. chief Of
drainage investigation. OF the Federal
Department Of Agriculture. Senator
Lesner. of Norfolk county; Commits
sioner of Agriculture George w
Koiner; DR.. d. W Starhuek. of the
Chickahontny section: Chief Clerk
of Agriculture. and John c. Ives. of
Norfolk county
Pleased to Come.
When invited 10 speak at the con-
vention. Professor Elliott said he would
be delirhted. as he had spent consid-
cradle time studying drainage I'm east
ern Virginia. had often wonder why the
matter had not been agttated In the
Old Dominion before and was ready
and willing to give Virginians his con-
illusions on the subject based on sci
entific analysis of the problem. His
subject will he. The Possibilities and
Feasibility of Drainage In Eastern Viz
ginia." He will bring a large coinred
map with him to point ont the best
places TO attempt drainage. those To-
cafities where IL would be most pracd-
cable. profitable and inexpensive. and
the starting and finishing points in the
several sections, where few days
work will convert boys and lnorasscs
into fertile fields swaying with heavy
headed crops. His address is being
anticipated with the greatest interest
by the many advocates of drainage.
AS a native of a section which has
long needed drainage, n man who has
seen and studied what he intends talk
ing about. and ;he patron OF the Sc
ries OF Legislative acts which viii great.
ly aid the drainers, Senator John Les
ner is expected TO give the reclamation
projec. great impetus and stimulus
He advocates the drainaing of Dismal
swamp and believes the Herculean la
Dor Will be performed before many
wears. lie also realizes the need for
dredging in sluggish rivers To drain
abuttiny farms.
Aid and Encouragement.
Commit sion.r Koiner and MIR. Miller
have long appreciated the benefits
which would accrue to individual farm
ers and farming al large In the State
By inexpensive and thorough drainage.
They have given their hest Thought and