The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-22
Chickahominy Farmers Organize
Tor Reclamation OF Swamp
Land
COST WILL BE NOTHING
Expenses May BE Paid With
One Years Good Corn
Crop.

Of Agriculture. and Dr. u. w star
buck. of Ilenrico. the property owners
along the Chickahominy River and in
It's vicinity yesterday formed an or
sanitation TO be known as tho Chick
ahominy Drainage Association Tho
meeting was held in tho schoo,housr
ut Highland Springs
y complete organization was formed
as follows: DIR. y. W. Starhuck. pres
ident: Il. w. Tanner. vicc-prcsdcnt
w. j. Strain, secretary. and Richard
Horn. treasurer.
determination 10 have the Chicka-
hominy swamp lands drained AMI
madc productive was cvinccd by every
one present. and hearty indorse mcnt
was given the proposition to have a
drainage district established The ac-
tive sympathy of all the property
owners will he invoked, and a meet
iiiS VIII be held later to inaugurato
formal movement for the establish
nent of drainage district by court
order under tho new law.
NationnI .tId TOO Slow.
There was some discussion of Sc
curing Federal help in addition to
the engineering work, which will be
furnished free hy The National Dr.
partmcn, of Agriculture. Pres,dcnt
Starbuck, however, does not believe
mere should be q wait for this. Be
fore We could get such u bill through. =
he said, I'VE could be raising enormous
crops OF corn on this rich land OF
ours"
II was generally felt that the cost
OF reclamation could be borne out Of
inc proceeds from the land, without
any expense whatever on the part OF
tho property owners
Mr.. Miller discussed drainage from
tue practical viewpoint OF the farmer.
lie said that portion of the Chicta-
hominy lands which lie near Richmond.
II properly drained, would be among,
the most valuable in Virginia Not
only would they he available Tor gen
erai crops hut would he especially
adapted for trucking. In few wears
these lands, now worthless. he prc.
dlctcd. would he worth around 5000 an
acre, because OF their ncarncss 10 the
markets and their productive value.
Immense Profits.
AS 10 the cost of drainage. MIR. Mil.
Ter pointed out that it could be paid
from the profits from one good corn
crop. 1t might entail "A cost of aa
much as $40 an acre, but this would be
paid in ten years. so much a year.
ieSicd as arc taxes. While lie believes
mat the purchase of poor land nj $40
an acre in this section is a good I'm /.
Ncstnent, yet lie believed much bet :
ter one would be the drainage OF
swamp property at the same cost Tho
reclaimed land would he worth 500 an
acre as soon as the work WAS done.
while time nnd money are required 20
mako rich land out of poor, with the
aid of cowpcas and progressive farm
Ing
The formation OF u drainage district
unier the law, Mr.. Miller said was an
excellent solution Of tho problem Tho
combined efforts and CO. operation oil
all property owners in II section ~
necessary TO make drainage success ful
With the farmers OF the Chicka-
hominy leading the van, he thought il
would be but short time before those
Oh nearby counties would follow suit.
Explains Law.
The practical operations Of tho yir
Sinia law were explained 10y MIR. Old.
lie told how the rights OF every prop,
crty owner are fully protected. and
gave In detail the steps necessary TO
secure reclamation Of overlooked lands
Mr.. Old said in part:
Ms late as the sixties and seventies,
large tracts OF land in Southeast Mis-
souri sold Tor few cents an aero,
ono such body. containing moro than
$4,000 acres. located IN Stoddnrd conn.
y. having been sold In 1869 for SJ63.-
20. RMS same land has been re-
ella imed' and is worth to-day in the
ncighhorhood Of S6,o00.000
"punklin county. in that State has
ie3 miles OF drainage bitches, and
the drainage districts have total Of
l2S,s04 acres. The average prices Of
land. before being drained, ranged
from SIC 10 500 per acre: now tbcv
run from $40 TO $50.
The pcmiscot landowners rc-
claimed i69.6io acres. valued before
drainage. at from si.25 TO SIN nor
acre now worth sa5 to S75 per acre
In Scott county. Gi.965 acres nav,
been reclaimed, worth. before rccla.
nation. s. per acre: now ranging from
$50 To 500 per acre.
These are only u few instances I'm,
they show the trend OF sentiment, mi
The progressive Spirit OF The nconlc ~
tfnt State.
And our neighborinc STATE 6f Sor,h