Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-24
sec, ZOO, 900 ANNUALLY MGY 81
ADDED TO VALUE OF Crops
| OF THE STATE.
MUCH OVERFLOW LAND
CAN BE MADE TO PRODUCE
More Than 100000 Acres Now Sub
ject to Frequent lnundation Redeem
able to Cultivation by Strais tightening
of Rivers and Small Streams
Other News.

Ottumwa. Jan. 24.-Out west the
government has many reclamation pro-
jects where the problem is to supply
water 10 arid lands. Here in Iowa
we have a reclamation project, but
our problem is different. Iowa has too
much water and its problem IS TO re-
claim the bottom land and the ,hous-
ands Of acres adjacent 10 streams, and
open them UP to cultivation.
Believing that this is one of the
most important questions before the
people of Iowa today. a local news
paper set about 10 secure specific in
formation as TO the amount Of land in
Iowa subject to overflow. with the idea
in mind that such information would
be valuable 10 the legislature in show
+ ing the need of reclamation work in
Iowa.
Letters were written 70 the boards
Of supervisors in all OF the ninety-n:ne
Iowa counties asking them 10 fill out a
blank inclosed. in which they were re-
/ quested TO state the number OF acres
overlooked at least once in two wears
by spring floods, and the number Of
acres OF this land that could be saved
10 cultivation il the streams which
Hooded il were strai ghtened.
Answers thus far have been received
from about forty Of the county Off
GERS. In many instances the informa-
ton supplied was furnished by the
county surveyor, who was ena blad TO
give fairly accurate estimate Of the
extent OF the flooded area. In other
cases the questions were answered by
members Of the boards of supervisors
on information furnished by the sur
veyor. The figures given in the ac-
companying table, in which the total
number Of acres overfowed and the
number OF acres that can be reclaimed
are given. is all the proof necessary
that Iowa today is far from coming up
to its possibilities
Can Save Thousands of Acres.
In 1hirty-dye counties in Iowa
1.25o.2oo acres of land are overf1owed
annually by swollen rivers and creeks
OF this vast area OF land rendered
practically worthless by recurring
floods. S5l,S0p acres or considerably
more than half OF it, can be saved to
SOAe4N c1t-p44 ny strengthening the
streams which overflow it, and by
scientific drainage.
: Al the most conservative estimate
| this rich bottom land that can be savet
by reclamation project here at home
can produce crops valued at $40 an acr,
! every year.
The value of the crops in those thir.
. ty-five counties can be increased 49,, ).
oI2.eo0 by utilizing this overflow land
The figures that are herewith given
show conclusively that strai ghtenins
the streams in Iowa SO that the water
aill run off, instead OF backing UP ovel
the land, viii give for cultivation ovel
million and a half acres Of land tha
does not nov yield anything Thi:
land Will produce $40 TO the acre, or
total of s60,0o0.00o annually. Thi.
means that every year the people o
Iowa would have s60C05o50 more Uhal
they now have from their crops.
] Following are the reports from thir
tyfve counties showing OVERLOOKED
land and percentage that can be re
81,