The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-21
IMPETUS IS GIVEN
DRAINAGE MOVE
ASSOCIATION FORMED TO DRAIN
AND IRRIGATE THE CHICKA-
H0MINY REGION.
Mr.. OLD MAKES ADDRESS
OFFICERS OF LOCAL ORGANIZE
TgON ELECTED AND DELE
GATES TO NORFOLK MEET
ING CHOSEN,

With enthusiasm and a spirit of OPP
timism. property owners. farmers and
res1oents from all sections OF the coun-
try contiguous to the Chickahominy
river gathered in the public hall AT
Highland Springs Saturday morning
and organized the ChickahominS
Drainage Association, to be a local
branch of the Drainage Association ol
Virginia, thereby giving great i'm
petus to the movement to improve
that section Of the State by drainage
and irrigation.
The following officers were elect
ed br. -. W. Starbuck, president.
X. w. Tanner, president: w. j,
Strain, secretary. and Richard Horn,
treasurer. Delegates to the meeting
of the Drainage Association of Vir-
ginia to be held at Norfolk next
month were also elected. They are
w, j. Strain. Gus Boehm and r.. w.
Tanner.
Address of MIR. Old.
The principal address WAS made by
William w. old, Jr., of Norfolk. sec
ond vice president of the Drainage
Association of Virginia. He was fol-
lowed by Chief Clerk &. A. Miller, OF
the Department OF Agriculture. and
DR.. ID. w. Starbuck. first vice-p resi-
dent of the Drainage Association or
Virginia.
Mr.. old gave "a lengthy address, de-
scribing drainage methods in Holland
and in various States in this country.
devoting much of his time to the law
haustive account of the drainage work
in North Carolina. In part, he spoke
as follows:
The conservation and improvement
of the soil and the reclamation OF
waste lands are all important aues-
tons confronting the people of this
Commonwealth. Years ago 1t was not
necessary to look SO closely after the
preservation of the soil, for there
were then vast tracts of new land
still to be purchased at small prices.
When a farmer had worn OUT one
farm. he would quietly fold his tent.
pack up his household goods. and
move into some new and more fertile
region. Conditions have now chang
ed and, therefore. we are confront
ed with the problem of the reclama-
ton of the soil, both from private
and public standpoint.
This great movement has been grad
ually growing in momentum; and the
records of the States of Missouri and
North Carolina cannot but persuade
us that IL would be to the credit and
material welfare of our beloved State
for her citizens to fall into line" and
be inspired by the spirit of progress.
AS late as the sixties and seventies.
large tracts of land In Southeast Mis-
souri, sold for few cents an acre;
one such body, containing more than
10000 acres. located in Stoddard coun-
ty. having been sold in 1863 for sea-
20. This same land has been re-
claimed, and is worth. to-day. in the
eighborhood Of $4,000. 10000.
Dunklin county, in that State, has
1f3-tni1es- drainage -ditcheS,-aRa
the drainage districts have a total of
123,S04 acres. The average prices
of land, before being drained. ranged
from $1,000 to $1,000 per acre: now
they run from $4,000 to $1,000.
The Pemiscot land owners reclaim ed
16s,64o acres. valued. before drain
age. at from S1.25 to $1,000 per acre;
new worth $500 to $500 per acre.
In Scott county. 1896 acres have
been reclaimed. worth, before recla-
nation, $500 per acre; now ranging
from $500 to $4,000 per acre.
These are only few instances, but
they show the trend OF sentiment and
the progressive spirit of the people of
that State.
Carolina answers in no uncertain
tones to the question What have you
done towards the reclamation of your
waste lands"
Affects All Classes.
Sanitary drainage is a matter that
affects in some.,way. more or less d.
rectly, the health and physical well
being Of every citizen: and there are
few communities where general health
conditions could not be improved by
careful attention to the proper drain
age of the vicinity, or to the removaI
of the standing surface water. This,
or itself, needs no argument to any
sensible man; but / can state 1T as a
safe proposition that mo mosquitoes
would mean no malaria" and when
you find small stagnant pools and
swampy areas. there You wifi be both
cred by the buzz and bite OF that small!
though vigorous insect, ever ready to
give you kiss of betrayal
IL has been stated that the far
famed mosquitoes of New Jersey are
actually In danger of becoming ex-
unct because their breeding places
have been destroyed by proper drain
age. If in New Jersey, why not In
Virginia? The public health of com
munity cannot but be benefited by
w
lands. and l say this with emphasis
without further argument, and with
no fear OF contradiction.
or course. IL the lands increase in
value. that IL itself will mean add.
tional wealth TO our State, and an.
other inducement Is provided for the
undertaking Of such enterprises
Fully realizing that Virginia stood
In need of such drainage laws. and
wiM the knowledge that other State.
had made progress in this movement
bill was introduced in the General
Assembly Of Virginia OF 1910 by Sen
ator John A. Lesner, of Norfolk coun-
ty. which bill. after certain amend
ments, passed both houses unanimous
ly, and was approved by the COVER
nor on March II. 1910.
Senator Lesner had the hearty. ea-
operation OF the members of the Gen
eral Assembly, especially of Delegates
Baum, OF Princess Anne county, and
Sylvester. of Norfolk county. and Sen
ator Gayle. OF Buckingham; and the
Lesner drainage bill win ever rebound
to the credit OF its patron who, In
after years. will be proud Of his sue
cessful efforts in this line of progress
Improvement and material develop
ment.
Mr.. Old gave a full review of the
Virgins statute and told what had
been done In North Carolina.