The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-19
RECLAIM SWAMPS
 OF UNITED STATES Selection of President Is
 Difficult INTEREST OF SOUTH
The Organization Choice Will Be Watched as Significant-Move- ment Has Support of Irriga-
 tiOnists of West and South


 Chicago. December 1s.-The most inn mediate task of national significance confronting the recently organized Ma tional Drainage congress is the selec- ton of president. The reclamation of 75, ,000,O 900 acres of swamp lands is a gigantic project; from what section of the country will he come who shall head the organization which shall urge the matter upon Congress and the na- tion?
 When the congress was organized and held it's first session in Chicago during the nineteenth National Irri- gation congress, the office of president was left unified. Edmund T. Perkins of Chicago, president of the Ameri- can Reclamation federation, and chair man of the organization meeting. was offered the presidency but he declined, stating that the congress needed in that place a man of national repu- tation, independent of any and all bus mess considerations, unhampered by politics or business necessities. Mir Perkins was elected first vice president and is the acting president of the con gross.
 l Col. E. J. Watson, commissioner of agriculture, commerce and industries of South Carolina was also nominated for the presidency, but he asked that his name be withdrawn for the same req son mentioned by MT. Perkins and be- cause his duties as state official of South Carolina would not allow him | the position. Colonel Watson was named as second vice president. l Others suggested to the executive committee as presidential possibilities were Senator F. M Simmons of North Carolina, John M. Parker of New Orr leans, Edward Wisner of New Orleans, Pearl Wight of New Orleans, George Maxwell of the Pittsburg flood con- mission. Senator Williams of Missis- sipp. Speaker Champ Clark of Mis- souri, etc.
 In view of the fact that most of the 1 75000,0 900 swamp and overflow acres are located in the south it was gen erally thought a southern man should be the first president of the congress.
 But the organization is not sectional and every state, territory and insular position will have a representative on the executive committed The present lows: Alabama Reuben F Kolb, com missioner of agriculture; Arkansas, S. E. Simonson of Luxona; Arizona, A. B. Fowler of Phoenix, president of the nineteenth National Irrigation con- gress. California, Prof. A. R. Sprague lof the University of California; Flor ida, J. D. Rooney of Jacksonville: Illinois, Frank B. Knight of Chicago Iowa, Ed L. Roth; Louisiana, J. w Hymans of New Orleans; Minnesota Prof. John T. Stewart of the Univer- sity of Minnesota Farm; Michigan, Ad- rian Otte of Grand Rapids; Missouri John H. Nolen, state commissioner of drainage; Mississippi, L. l.. Lawrence of Laurel; South Carolina, Reid Whit l ford of Charleston; South Dakota, sam uel H. Lea, state engineer; Pierre; Ten nessee. L. B. Bellah of Nashville; and Texas, George E. Barstow of Barstow | The drainage question as related to the public health will be given a prom | gress and the federal congress will be urged to create a national coinmis- 1 sion to make surveys, estimates of cost and work out a comprehensive plan of | dairage in cooperation with the vari- ouS states. Because of the fact that the swamp areas are breeding places | for disease, and their reclamation is as much matter of public health as of agricultural gain, MT. Knight and Colonel Watson suggested Col. Will liam C. Gorgas, U. S. A., in charge of sanitation in the canal zone, for third vice president, subject to this accept ance and the approval of the Secretary of War. Colonel Gorgas' advice and counsels, 1t was stated would be in- valuable in working out the drainage l tasks His decision is not yet known. | The nineteenth Irrigation congress, at is session in Chicago, adopted a resolution calling upon the federal Con- gress to appoint national drainage commission. President Fowler of that congress stated that the drainage move ment would have his support and the support of all irrigation men and pat r1otic citizens. Professor Sprague of California made similar statements.
 An effort will be made to prevail upon the present federal Congress to take action. The constituents of con gressmen and senators will be asked l by the drainage congress to write to | their representatives uring such &C., | tion
 1 The third National Drainage congress will be held in Charleston, S. C., in Jan uary, or February, 1913, concurrent with the holding of the national corn show at Columbia in that state.