The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-15
DRAWERS FORM
AN ORGANIZATION
Delegate Page, of Hanover,
Chosen President of Viz
GINA Drainage Asso'n
TO BE ASKED
FOR FEDERAL AID
Prof. Elliot of Washington
Mayor Richardson Delegate
Old ana Others Speak
interest IS Great

With the election OF Delegate Rose
we'll baee, OF Hanover eeunty. az
president, I3r -. W. ~otarDuck, OF the
th.ckaaVminy river section, tirst vice.
prtsluent. tJe.gatc W. ". Dlu. Jr., OF
.>orioik county. second vice-presi-
ANT. Chartes \. Miner. of the de-
partment 81 agriculture, secretary. and
Josepn ites, OF Norfolk, treasurer, n
drainage Association at Virgins was
formed at an enthusiastic meeting IN
the house of delegates Thursday al
ternoon.
The object of the association IL to
drain the sNampy and semi-swamps
acres 81 Iiucwattr Virginia and otner
sections OF the State So as To make
them yield crops and revenue to the
farmers and state.
Befor the meeting at which the
organization was formed adjourned,
the following resolution was adopted.
Whereas We believe drainage IN
TideWater and the other sections OF
Virginia necessary ant pracvticable.
ana whereas we believe drainage is no
less important n worthy of con-
sheraton In Virginia than irrigation
is IN the West. resolved that we urge
the members of the Virginia delega-
lion in congress To work for Fedora
assistance In draining the swamp
lands Of this State, and hat we APP
point a committee OF two to call upon
the delegation n urge them to take
immediate action.
one hundred or more men from
the Chtckahomfny river section and
Norfolk county attended the meeting
and manifested the gree est interest.
stating their views plainly and ask
ing MANY questions. That the asso-
citation would accomplish needed re-
suits was assured.
Mr.. Miller outlined the idea of the
meeting and then presented Dele
gate Page. who declared drainage was
one OF the most important subjects
III the State to-day. MIR. Page intro
daced Professor {. g. Elliott. chief Of
drainage investigation of the depart
ment Of agriculture in Washington.
wlo told OF drainage methods and the
cost OF converting swamp lands Into
fertile fields. lie said there was no
more profitable field FOR drainage In
the United states than in Eastern Vir-
ginia. Professor Elliott eaid his de-
partment has spent 5000 assisting
North Carolina in fourteen drainage
districts and stood ready to help Vir-
ginia.
Mayor Richardson declared he knew
little about drainage, but h. knew
Virginia farmers would do better to
reclaim the fertile swamp lands on
their farms than 10 continue to spend
time and labor on poor and barren
uplands. He declared drainage haa
his most hearty support.
Or. u. w. Starbuck told of irriga-
ton Ia the West and said It was
easier To reclaim and than to irrigate
IL. Dr. Starbuck favored the plan Of
each farmer paying his proportionate
share Of the expense of draining a
section and not calling upon the State
10 better the cost.
Delegate old explained the drain
age laws passed by the last Legisla-
ture and said he would lend his most
earnest efforts to those who started
drainage sections in the State. JOS
cps Ives and j. Frank East told of
practical drainage, which had been
done in the State during the past five
years.
Or. Ennion Williams. State health
commission. said: Drain the swamps,
arrive the mosquitoes away. increase
the population OF the now swamp sec
lions. and you will increase the far
mer's income and the States taxes