The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-25

1 place IT is work which requires co
| operation among land owners, inc
general drainage Lave enacted by me
last legislature makes this possible
III Iesal and practicable way
y nc drainage of swami lands cor
! sists of two parts, ono OF which may
ne regarded as public, aud the other
private If farmer can drain his
own land through natural outlets
| Whicll exist on his own farm lio Is n
dependent OF his noighbors III TINS re-
spect. but if he cannot do this he must
JON with them and hear his part OF
the cost of constructing such ditehes
as VIII give each au outlet such out
lets thus become of common value and
partake of the nature of public I'M
! proVolncnts, which are paid for not
by a general tax but by special ASSESS
ihents upon the property.
Getting Down 10 Law.
| The aim and purpose of the law
should not be misunderstood. In the
] hrst place, tho inauguration of any
seneral drainage work Is OPTIONAL with
! The owners OF the land which VIII re-
ceive benefit. 1t must originate in a
petition properly signed and presented
to the clerk OF the court The district
can be established only upon the
ground that the execution of the pro-
{
| lie welfare and will be of benefit Land
owners must be remuncrated for prop
erty which is taken or injured for the
| common good. but must pay the cost
OF the Improvement in proportion TO
the beneht conferred. Cooperation is
the dominant element in the proceed
ings, yet The rights of all who are af-
iected by the works are secure. The
work performed under the provisions
OF the law Is only that part of drain
age In which the several land owners
nave common interest The law does
not contemplate comforting benefits
upon any one for which he does not
pay proportionate amount of the
cost. The working out of any project
is designed to furnish each owner
with Quiet rights and other benefits
which accrue from the construction of
main drains, SO that he may then
drain his own farm as he chooses
without becoming liable for damages
to owners Of adjoining lands,
1t Is scarcely necessary to say that
such work should not be done with
out surveys. plans and estimates of
the cost, all of which the law provides
for. The area to be drained must be
ascertaned, the boundry of the pro-
posed district fixed, tho bitches which
VIII be necessary must be designed
and their SIZE specified, the location of
each parcel of land must be repre-
scented upon the map. and the damages
and amount of benefits must be as
sessed against the respective property
owners.
The cost OF reclaiming wooded
swamp land Is considerable notwith-
standing me highly colored represen
'taholis to the contrary which are
often given wide publicity 1t is a
plain business proposition which in
wolves liberal outlay, but which
Yields good and permanent returns, We
are rapidly passing the day of the one
mule farm with It's primitive outfit.
Profitable farming to-day is we'll
established business managed In a
practical way rather than clipping
coupons from interest bearing bonds.
Modern Equipment.
The facilities for reclaning swamp
lands have been so perfected during
the last few years that work which
was impracticable few years ago is
now feasible and profitable. The
steam excavator with the aid Of dyna-
mite lifts the stumps easily aside and
plows canal through the wooded
swamp at cost which is far less. not
the high price of present
labor, than that at which such work
y
tricts The donkey, engine and cable
pulls the stumps from the field and
piles them in stacks for burning, leav-
ing the field ready for the plow. One
or two crops at most yield sufficient
TO defray the entire cost, leaving a
farm OF new land ready to repeat the
crop each succeeding year.
Returning to the discussion Of the
first cost, it should be understood that
n
or a year. like factory or an electric
road. The proceedings prescribed by
the law must be followed absolutely,
and the work should be carefully
planned and we'll executed. and the In
terests of all land owners should be
For these reasons. two and
sometimes three years must elapse,
where districts Of medium size are
worked out, before any returns can be |
from the land. II the land |
to be reclaimed Is fertile, and the |
plans under which the drainage is ac-
comphshed are sound. no fears need be
that the operation will not
Fay out with abundant interest on the
amount invested.
Gradual Growth.
Drainage for agriculture Is most en-
development. It does not
advance by leaps and bounds. but
grows gradually until ii becomes
well recognized and essential part of
agricultural operations Tenants as
we'll as owners should have voice
in this Improvement, for both are
equally concerned in profitable farm
Ing. ] have seen lands in this and
other Southern States lying idle be-
cause no tenant could be secured They
were not worth tenant. Where lands
are put In uniformly good condition
they attract the most enterprising and
skilful tenants, who take pride in
building up the institutions of the
community in which they live Every
movement In the interest OF healthful
living. bountiful production and the
amenities incident to happy and con-
tented life may appropriately originate
with the intelligent farmer In modern
times
There Is another important phase of
this subject, This Is not n movement
that can be manipulated and forced
upon the people. Every owner OF wet
and which is susceptible Of improve
nent for agriculture Will look at the
question from his own point of view. A
great variety of personal interests
must be harmonized whenever a CO.
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