The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-11
DRAINAGE PROJECT
MEANS MUCH HERE
Reclamation of OverfIo,,,ed
Lands Would Add to Wealth
and Health of CITY.

Attention to the vast importance
Richnond OF proper drainage OF the
Chicka hominy district is directed by
Gharies a. Miller. OF the Depa rtment
OF Agriculture and secretary OF tba
virginia Drainage Associa ton. MIR
Mliler said yesterday: "''I
The fact that the nationn !
Mcnt VIII make Il survey OF tho r,bicL n
ahominy River district for the n,rnosa
OF outlining and determining the cost
ol rcciaiming this area OF Idle and non
productive swamp land makes II nm
Undertaking Of more than ordinary in
terest to Richmond. II this work ~
reclnnatlon Is carried through sue
dessiuis ; az richmond Will have at her
ooor 1000 acres of the most fertile
ran ,and IN virginia. which will not only
hcip iced her fast growing population.
nut add Immensely TO her wealth.
II Is we'll known fact that rich
iarn lands In the midst OF, surround
ing and backing UP q city. is a strong
asset adding to her Influence and III.
portancc. while the pecuniarv and
business side OF this undertaking
means much to the city and 10 the
o~nerH and residents along this slolb-
iul stream The health CT tho civ ns
we'll as the people Immediately con
ccrned. Is consideration worth many
times over the expense necessary 10
drain the Chickahominy swamps
Like Ncw Railroad.
~ sreat deal has been said lately
ABOUT a new railroad which would nut
Richmond In touch with and seci,re
the business and trade OF a hlrhiv
prosperous section OF the State iust
cast OF us. This undertaking should
succeed. and The business men ana
Chamber OF Commerce are TO be com
mendod for the spirit and enterprise
they have shown and the ENCOURAGE
mcnt they have given TO this move
mont. Opening and developing tho
.chickahominy and the building OF this
road are anaioEous--they are both
feeders to Richmond; they both bring
the products of the soil
I3"Twenty- thousand acres Of land
naturally fertile but Idle, nlled with
hunus and plant food. and lacking
only proper drainage. which Is prac-
tical and feasible and made ready for
the plow and reaper and it's haryests
10 feed multitude. is n project that
should appeal To every public spirited Fl
citizen within reach Of this movement
~ great deal OF this land, which. in
Its present condition. ls not worth the
taxes that many have to pay for the
right OF ownership. will. when this
work is done. have farm and trucking
lands worth from 500 to $500 an acre,
with nice little quiet, healthful and
peaceful stream flowing on 10 the sea.
with well-defined current. grassy
banks. winding It's way through beau
tifui lowgrounds. fertile soil and
yielding bountiful crops
District Is Formed.
Those who have taken such an ac-
tive interest in this drainage project
have formed tcmeorary drainage dis
trict In the vicinity of Cedar Fork. c.
G.. Elliott of the division OF drainage
Investigations, sent member OF his
force several weeks ago to look over
the field and report. AS n result OF
this report MIR. Elliott will send en-
gineers to begin surveys within the
next week or ten days. ms has already
been announced In The TimesDis
patch.
"It rs very important TO state. how
ever. that the department at Wash
ington has thought 1t impracticable I'd
undertake the work II only one Sec
tlon OF the Chickahominy is TO he
drained or Is Interested In the move
ment, as to do this would make the
work very much more expensive thnn
If the whole route and river Ia In
Guided in the one survey. So Il now
behooves farmers and land owners to
unite in this great work. Now Is the
as all the people along this lazy stream
have the opportunity of their lives.
and are to he congratulated In In
terestinE the national government.
which has Il very limited fund for this
purpose. while every State In the coun
try is begging for assistance"
tsIft s-.}