Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-12
BELIEVES IT WOULD
BUILD UP BACK COUNTRY
Proposal to Drain Sawyers Swamp
Section Also Strikes the CommiS-
sIoner as Practicable and Desirable
-Suuoests That the Chamber OF
Commerce Issue Pamphlet.

State Agricultural Commissioner
George W. Koiner. who came mere
from Richmond yesterday To attend
a meeting of the grain committee OF
the Chamber OF Commerce, is enthus-
iastic over the proposition to estaDilsh
a truck shipping center IN Newport
News and he believes that there are
even greater possibilities in the pro-
ject than its promoters think. lie De
Heves that the establishment OF such
a center in Newport News will result
in the rapid upbuilding OF the truck
ing seeti-n of the Peninsula.
Mr.. Koiner has long shown a great
interest in the farming OF this section
and he declares that there is no bet
ter farm land in the state than that
be be found right at the door OF this
city. He was told last night OF the
proposition TO drain Sawyers Swamp
and he declared that this should be
a move which may result in great
profit to the city. This land, he says,
should be very fertile and no diff
Guilty should be had in getting Tar
mers to locate on IL and establish
fiourishing truck farms
Report to Directors.
Civil Engineer Gilbert Nexsen, who
has been making a survey of the pro-
posed canal TO drain Sawyer's swamp,
will make his report to the board OF
directors of the Chamber of Com
merce tomorrow afternoon. The di-
rectors will receive the report and
transmit it 10 the chamber at the
regular meeting OF that, body tomor-
row night Mr.. NeXsen is preparing
estimates OF the cost of the draining
and his report will be full and COM
plete. II the engineer reports that
II is advisable and feasible u drain
the swamp the matter will be taken
up with Commissioner koiner in an
effort 20 secure state aid for the pro-
iect National aid also will be sought
by the chamber.
During his talk with reporter last
night relative to the development OF
the trucking land in this section, Mr..
Koiner suggested that the Chamber
Of Commerce get ont small and mex
pensive phamplets describing the
farm lands Of the Peninsula and Civ
ing general information about this
section. Mr.. Koiner is constantly re-
ceiying hundreds of inquiries from all
sections e the United States and
Canada about Virginia farm lands
and he says he will gladly turn any
number of these inquiries over to the
oh han Tho
open mp correspondence with the per
sons inquiring about the lands and
send them the pamphlets.
Successful Elsewhere.
This plan has been tried In other
parts of the state and has proven 90
be highly successful. Hundreds OF
farmers have come to Virginia in re-
cent years from Canada and the
West. The Old Domlnion's farm
lands are extensively advertised by
the state department OF agriculture
and immigration and farms in Vir.
ginia are becoming more and more IN
demand. Mr. Koiner says that a good
back country Is Of inestimable value
10 any city and few cities have greater
possibilities in this respect than New
port News.
Mr.. koiner was gratified 10 learn
rpon his arrival here that the Nor.
way-Mexico Gulf Line steamers are
now making Newport News its port
q call in the United States. He be
lieves that very soon the steamer
will be bringing desirable immigrants
to Virginia from Norway and Other