The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-08
B. F. YOakum Would Improve
Southern Swamp Lands.
Says Government Is Inclined ia
Cooperate at Once.
FOOD AND CLOTHING.
Land Could Be Cultivated to
Produce Rich Results.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad Circles.

New Orleans, March s.-Reclama-
Ttion of southern swamp lands was ad-
vocated by B. F. Yoakum, chairman
of the directors of the st. Louis and
San Francisco railroad in an address
delivered last night before. the New
Orleans board of trade.
1.-The government can afford and is
inclined to cooperate with you in
this important undertaking so long
as the government feels that you are
this important undertaking but so long
building up the resources of Louis
lana, the public men of Washington
will also be satisfied" said B. r.
Yoakum,
Mr.. Yoakum said:
For almost a century our govern
ment has looked with Indifference at
the rich unused lands of the south
ern states, while the British govern
ment furnishes its money and credit
to aid Egypt to reclaim waste lands
| in the valley of the Nile 5000 miles
away.
1.-The low rich lands of the south,
which have hitherto been regarded
| as matter of interest only to the
| southern states, have now become a
| matter of Importance to the whole
country. First, the people need the
food, cotton and other products which
your low lands will produce in album
dance. Second, these lands are need
ed for settlement by the American
citizens who are now seeking homes
in other countries. Sixty thousand
people moved from the United States
to Canada last year. They carried
with them $1,000 each OF $50, 900, 900.
Our people are leaving thickly settled
districts where the price of farm lands
are high. This means that our own
people are building up an empire be-
longing to foreign nation at the ex-
pense of our own country.
THE necessity of more lands under
cultivation to produce more food and
clothing need only be stated to give
the second strong reason why the gov
eminent must take an interest in the
waste lands of Louisiana and other
southern states. Your rich lands may
be drained at cost of So per acre To-
Gated near the congested centers, and
will produce the kind of food that sup
plies the kitchens of the consuming
masses. The government is interest
ed in reclamation in the northwest,
but the administration at Washing
ton has become interested in the irri-
cation projects of the northwest be-
cause the people of the northwest be-
came interested in the development of
their country and urged their claims.
"a drainage bill permitting the
drainage of southern lands was intro
duced by a western senator at the last
session Of congress. 1t was killed by
a southern senator. This OPPOSITION
which attracted but little attention
then, stopped for the time important
work for the south's DEVELOPMENT. |
There are 14S senators and represen-
tativeS in congress from the southern
states. By working together with one
object in view they can accomplish |
much; in fact they can get what they |
want if they will go after it.
1.-THE state of Louisiana has % mil
lion acres that can be made into rich |
farms at one-half of that cost or SIS |
per acre. These idle lands are en-
riched by centuries of decaying vege- |
tatfon and deposits of silts They are |
the richest and deepest alluvia1 soil |
in the world. This applies equally to |
on both sides of the Mississippi river |
in the states of Illinois, Mississippi, |
Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri.
Small Cost at First.
1.-THE small section of these swamp /
lands which the drainage bureau of |
the government has surveyed shows /
the cost would not exceed SIS per acre |
to put them in readiness for the pillow. |
Valuing these lands at SO to SIS per
acre, when drained and cleared will |
stand to cost $25 per acre. In culti- |
walton. their value would be from SIS |
to 500 per acre. In other /
words, for an investment of SO |
to SIS an acre in drainage and clear
ing, the increased wealth of Louisiana |
would be more than 500 million dol
lars.
1.-THE value of this work does not stop
with making these lands tillable. It is
conservative to estimate $50 per acre
annually from crops. which would mean |
an annual increase of 300 million in the |
products of louisiana. or to put it in
another way, each dollar invested in
drainage would pay Sc annually in
products. This in connection with the
~ L.
cotton mills. rice mills, railroads and
other industries. shows the Importance
of starting this work under broad and
comprehensive plan, with the aid and
cooperation of the federal government.
The government is waiting for you to
say what you want. Everyone must
realize what it means in raising vege-
tables and products from such rich soil
to the masses who are struggling under
the burden of the high priced food. The
government could afford to make the
surveys and lay out the plans on a COM
prehensive scale; the government could
channels for the surplus waters to make
their way to the gulf. If it will I'M
dertake the surveys and provide the
main channels for drainage, private
cents the government will expend, pri-
vate capital will spend SIS to push for
ward and complete the work of re-
clamation to make your state in land
VALUES AQ pIOOuCbANSuCSS Ou0 VI Lie
strongest and richest of the nation.
There are &c million acres of swamp
lands in the United States, IS million
acres of which are in the southern
stateS-a greater acreage than the
states Of Tennessee and Kentucky. This
fertile area is not being utilized as it
should. While local in its development.
It is nationwide in its effect to pro-
vide food for the people. Let the sena- ,
tors ana representatives of the south
ern states cooperate with the agricul-
E.r.na sra4a ~