Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-18

i0f New Market creek from It's s""'.'
some three miles due north OF TINS
lefty 10 its outlet an the east side OF
the Peninsula and pointed out tha'
the fresh water swamps near the
source gradually merge into ,ypica'
salt or braekish marshes near lamp
| ton and further down toward BACK
river.
DRAINAGE Area Of 4.300 Acres.
"The total drainage area above
SWANS bridge may be as much as
| 800 acres, and from rotner hasy
Examination II seems prSDanle Ina
upwards Of 10 per cent. OF TINS haS
its ground water so near me Surface
as 10 render II wholly unit lor gen
era! agricultural purposes. while tne
rise and fall OF the tide in tnis locai'
litv Is only about two and one-half rect
1.-The natural drainage conditions are so
moor that the effect OF It's Hood IS
| felt a long distance above the actiai
reach of salt water" continued Mr..
| Warren.
grinder these unfavorable conditions
The agricultural development In the
vicinity of Newport News and espe'
clally 10 the north Of the city has IAN
euished. while nearby places win
soils no more fertile and geographical
! position In no wise superior. but win
n better drained soil, have buiit up
large and profitable trucking indus
tries. contribu ing wonderfully TO tine
commercial importance and life OF
those communities. | am informed
that YOU do not produce vegetables
in suHicent quantities 10 supply the
home consumption. and that you pur'
chase from Norfolk and other places,
Notwithstanding there are thousands
OF acres Of waste land nearby which
could readily be made 10 supply home
wants as well as the wants OF many
other communities less favorably SIT
uated for trucking purposes.
Newport News and the surround
ing country has been we'll endowed
by nature, combining at once a fine
geographical location. splendid trans
portaiion and commercial opportuni-
ties. o salubrious climate and scenic
attractions. which bring visitors and
tourists throughout the year.
Grow Fruit and Grain.
"The soils OF the region have been
surveyed end plotted by The bureau
of soils of the department OF agri-
culture. and it is well adapted to
vegetables. strawberry and small fruit
growing. and In certain parts Of the
watershed TO hay. corn and wheat.
Lands which now are worth only $40
and 500 per acre with proper draii-
age should become worth 500 per
acre. and 1t is well known that high
" developed trucking areas may be
worth several hundred dollars per
acre"
After naming the four plans sug-
geeted for draining the territory and
as too costly and imprac-
ticable for other reasons the three
plans of digging canals from the
swamp to James river or Salter's
creek. Mr.. Warren went into a discus
sion OF the only feasible plan OF
widening and deepening the creek
running through the territory. He
proposed to dredge a ditch. using
some form of floating bridge. from
the mouth 10 near the south OF New
Market creek for the purpose OF short.
ening. Strengthening. widening and
deepening the present creek.
Comparatively Small Cost.
"This ditch would be about eleven
miles long. from 90 Ia % feet wide
and from six TO six and one-half feet
deep and, including clearing right OF
way can be dug for $4,000 per mile.
continued the engineer. The seven
small bridges encountered probably
co,.r.l n. .,lonal for ii of0
''The cost, therefore. for caring for
the drainage from the whole water
shed will be small. probably not over
S. GER acre for the land benefited.
"This plan Is safe. Il is legal. It Is
inexpensive. it will interest all the
people In the watershed. not merely
those above North Newport News: II
will tend to improve the present
channels OF Southwest Branch by IN
crea sing the tidal sconr. II will be in
line with the possible future develop
ment OF back-door entrance TO New
port News for the small boats that
now are Obliged TO pass around out
side in coming down the bay to Nor
folk. II will intersect no steam or cleo
trio railways, II will aid the shellfish
industry of Southwest Branch and
Back river by bringing down more Of
the food upon which shellfish feed.
Menace to Health.
The shortening. widening. deepen
ing and Strengthening of the present
New Market creek is unhesitatingiy
recommended. therefore. as the best.
most satisfactory and least expensive
solution Of the problem before you.
Allowed to remain. this large area Of
wet. unproductive land is hindrance
to vorr development. o menace to
health. an incubator fer the mosquito
>est. ana the almost complete annihi-
alton OF otherwise great agricultural
1ssets.