Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-30
A TRIO OF OPPORTUNITIES

a
Three spacious opportunities opened Georgia for
its industrial agricultural development scientific survey
the its soils and its lands may
be comparatively nominal Of the former two The
previously spoken explaining the governments offer
urging that it be accepted The third is likewise ch IN au
AS in the case the the soils the United States
department of agriculture make thorough investigation
of Georgia lands that either partly entirely under
water and to supply whereby this valuable but neg
cted territory be reclaimed The government Will carry ou
this work and will give dollars annually for its sup
port if the state itself will provide like SUM
With the single exception of Florida Georgia mas large
swamp area than any the Atlantic coast Its swamp
overflow comprises million seven hundred thousand
That four times the Rhode Island is equal to
the of all Connecticut
We thus sacrificing and needlessy So great expsnse
territory that could of enrichment for the
people These swamp and overflow lands are potentially more
Their soil is akin that of the country in whose eids
hee has hidden his long centuries of aqal To-Day
they worthless Tomorrow they may De mace 10
blossom and bear harvests of gold.
Before this work Of reclamation can be undertake
there must first be thorough survey OF the anu
liable plan Improvement must be worked out When TINS once
accomplished the districts that directly Interested can tnen
proceed with the task of drainage.
governments offer makes possible the first essential step
big enterprise From standpoint OF the states business
welfare Georgia well afford to appropriate i've Thousand do
for such purpose These swamp lands are now valued ana
taxed about sixty cents dollar per acre When tny are
reclaimed and made available as Farms they WIN DC
twenty-five svenve dollars acre. The increase TINS would
the states would repay it mlon fold on the
The scientific investigation of swamp lands in order
a country The people of that section should array
themselves sody behind this proposition and see that 1T is IN
dorsed at the forthcoming session of the Legislature
Georgia the only state in the south that has not already
this character of work The interests OF the people oe
mand that it longer be delayed
The survey the states water courses
awakened widespread public approval 1t is realized by
every all familiar with present conditions that until thor
ough and authentic of this kind is obtained there be
the states water In
cooperation geological department the
proposes available all the streams This
caaogued and published under the official stamp OF
record and ueeforegn capital the state and turn
power that going waste Furthermore 1T will
distinguish streams that be proftably exploited from
that be preserved and will thus furnish an nte
gent basis for conservation.
The proposed survey of the soils has aroused equal enthusiasm
record physical character and the chemical combinations
of the types soils will be invaluable the
progressive agriculture and will thousands OF dollars
added the farmers income.
propositionth drainage of the swamp lands
the sites and the of soils
open productive Georgia They promise more
boun crops and rapid increase in industrial growth
They keys held out by science for the unlock
ing wealth The state should hasten to accept
them all. tEt