Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-17

every acre of land drained and put I'M
der cultivation.
In addition to the increased money
value to the state in the form of taxes,
the reclamation of these lands will add
greatly to the health OF the section
wherever drainage is carried on. 1t is a
well known fact rectnly demonstrated
by the medical profession, that mala-
rial diseases so prevalent in swamp
lands, are due to the bite of certain
species of mosquitoes which almost in-
variably abound in greater or less num-
bers in such places. The drainage Of
swamp lands destroys the breeding
places of these insects and as a re-
suit malarial diseases disappear. The
census Of 1870 gave the number of deaths
from malaria In Indiana. Illinois and
Iowa for the preceding year as 52.5 per
1000 of the total, while the census of
1eSO, when large areas of land had been
drained. the death rate, due to mala-
ma, was only S.6 per 1000. For the
east coast lands of Georgia, South Car
DINA and Florida, the death rate from
malaria in 1870 was 66.2 per 1000 and in
the same states in 1890 the rate was 81
per 1000 These figures show that ma
larial conditions did not materially
change in the three last named states
during the two decades which is ac-
counted for, in a large measure. by the
lack of drainage Improvement. The facts
brought out IN the comparison of these
two groups of states in one of which
drainage had been carried on to large
extent and in the other but little or no
drainage was attempted demonstrates
conclusively that malaria depends large
ly on swamp conditions. which can be
removed by drainage,
DRAINAGE LAWS
With the exception of Georgia and
Alabama, all OF the southern states have
now enacted drainage laws, and within
the last two or three years many hun
dred thousand acres Of southern. swamp
and overflow lands have been drained
and put IN cultivation. The essential
features of all of these laws are prac-
aicaIy the same and may be stated as
follows. sffa ,t s4sf
"a The administration. of the law Is
entrusted to the county commissioners.
CD The commissioners are authorized
to receive and act upon the petitions for
a drainage district. filed by the required
number of land owners.
(S) The commissioners order an exami-
nation and survey of the proposed
drainage district after which, they may
grant or dismiss the petition.
ca II granted, the commissioners cause
plans and estimates of the work to be
made and levy. an assessment on the
lanus of the drainage district to. pay the
cost of same. "a
6) Objection of land owners may be
heard and considered by the, commission
ers and an opportunity of appealing from
the decision of the commissioners to
the court is provided for.
90 The commissioners give direction to
the construction of the work.
Cd Payment for the work may be
made either from the sale OF bonds of
the drainage district or from a special
drainage tax.
1t will be noticed that. in accord
ance with the essential principals Of
drainage laws as above pointed out,
when drainage district is formed 1t
becomes corporation with the power
to drain it's land. The expense of such
improvement is paid for by the land
owners OF the district. each individual
assessment being ia proportion to the
benefit derived from the drainage sys-
tenn constructed.
A drainage bill embodying all Of the
essential features above given was in
PRODUCED at the last session of the Geor-
gia legislature by Senator L. r. Akin.
of Brunswick: but owing to the press
of business In the house. 1t did not
reach its third reading and failed to
become law. The Akin drainage bill
is practically the same as the North
Carolina law and contains all OF the
best features of an up-to-date drainage
law.