The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-13

making it one OF the most fertile sec
tons Of Virginia.
Public Should Participate.
The public should come up as one
man ready to encourage and join the
drainage chief In this sat under
taking. because Of its twoiold on1eot, \
health and production. 1t will be seen
by this presentation OF the subject
that every one within the bounds and
who would be benefited by this splen-
did work, and this includes Rich
mond. are necessary to make the pro-
1ect Il success. 1t Is the public get
ting behind this work that will re-
suit In the draining and the recla-
nation OF the lands along the Chick
ahominy swamps from end to end.
1t Is hardly neces y TO do moro
than mention the ae. cultural phase
of this question. For ages the swamp
and low lands of Virginia. which
would be benefited by drainage, have
been receiving the mineral and vege-
| table matter. the food that plants re-
quire, from the surrounding forests
and upiands. This Is particularly
true as to the farming lands which
has sustained such heavy losses OF
| hufnus and fertility on this account.
Z
and swamps means that though the
processes OF crop production OF these
cttcally inexhaustable low grounds,
| the fertility could be carried back to
the hills in the shape OF manure and
feeding the farm animals the rough
ago on the sods of these neglected
and abused highlands, viii eonalixs
and make the entire farm an rich az
1t was in the beginning.
Can Drain Cinckafomlny.
Mr.. Elliott's preliminary inyestiga
/ ton warrants him In saying that
draining the Chickahomtny Is entire
~ practicable and feasible. The aues-
ton that naturally arises. what viii
be the cost OF this work. who Will
pay for 1t and upon what terms and
what is necessary to be done 10 Sc
cure these benefits.
Helped by Legislature
At the last session OF the Legislature
an act was passed having for its OBJ
joct the draining of wet. swamp and
overflow lands of the State. and for
changing the currents of streams. dig
cling bitches and cAnaia Tho law n
very thorough and outlines fully ev,
cry detail and ever step to be taken
is clearly net out and defined. and II
might be we'll to say In this conneo-
ton that the national EereFam~nt
iOt be eNHGCAeO TO KGnGSr very
much aid In the general reclamation
scheme of Virginia lands, az IL In an
Il educational work. and tie DRAMAS ~
investigation office purposes 10 SHOW
ny this work just what can he done.
Drainage proper we must do oursel YES
and thia Ii tho purpose Of the law 20
EfNe any district or section of Viz
gtnia the right and tho opportunity
TO drain their lands independently
Nc date -
twelve pages OF ordinary reading mat
ter.
How the Inv Operates
Whenever a petition signed by q
majority OF the resident land owner.
In proposed drainage district or by
the owners of ,thrce-fiftha OF all this
lands which Will be affected by the
proposed improvements shall be filed
in the ONCE OF the clerk OF the Circuit
Court. setting forth the area
the starting point. route and
terminus and lateral branches. ther
the court shall appoint a comprten,
and disinrerested drainage enginee1
and two resident fres-holders wher,
land Is located, who are to ba known
as board of viewers. to examine tn.
land and mako q preliminary report
The engineer TO receive such a salar,
as may be agreed upon. and the view
ers. other than the engineer, shall
receive three dollars day. Ate,
the board OF reviewers Is made, ant
and ii la acceptsb BILE to the court. such
recommendations are required to hs
published in the newspapers for TIVE
weeks. Under this act land can be
condemned: In fact every obstacle
removed that might hinder retard o,
prevent successful drainage by tfre
| "a rOn6af,1 n q ton IN II
upon payment Of such. charges as ma,
have been assessed for damages
Classification OF land. according IL
benefits Ia provided for. In case OF
drainage the degree OF wetness of the
land, the proximity to tho ditch and
the fertility Of the soil are all weigh.
ed in determining the amount each
farmer shall ba required to pay pei
The land benefited shall be sepa.
rated into Ave classes. A, B. c, d. e
\ the holdings OF gry land owner neet
not necessarily all be In one class
but the number In each shall be as.
certained. The A class to be the heav.
lest charge and scaled down to tn,
Z class, the lowest assessment this
viii form the basis OF arriving a.
assessments. Then the next step Is fol-
the hoard OF reviewers to make full
report of the cQse to the court. and
this is again advertised in the news
papers II In the opinion OF the cour'
1.-THE benefits at this stage OF procedure
does not justify the work. the tudSs
can dismiss the proceedings at the
expense 81, the petitioners: otherwi~s
the court shall confirm the report oi
the viewers. Section II provides thai
a permanent board uf drainage com
rnissioners shall be named, composed
OF three personA and they shall Ap-