The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-19
Moore in his poem The LAX. OF the

Moore in his poem The LAX. OF the
Dismal swamp
Through this swamp run the Dismal
Swamp Canal. projected by George
Washington himself chartered by the
states OF Virginia ana North Carolina
In 1857, and finally completed in 1926.
and the A!bermarle and Oh .supeake
cahal constituting the inland water
way between Chesapeake Bay and tho
sounds of North Carolina a number of
'iiail rivers also have their rise there.
"a Nah TINS swamp be drained? Tha,
question mas been asked thousands nj
times. but without receiyinr !. d'.n,r y.
answer either IN the affirmative n
negative. The answer, however. win
soon he Forthcoming. i petition for
'he establishment OF Il drainage dis
'Fict Is now being circulated, the land
comprised within this district lvin1,
"'rectI| east of Lake Drum,nJud ana
bordering on the Dismal Swami Canal
Tor distance Of about seven mics.
me preliminary survey has stood The
test; may the result b, as desired.
1IistoricnI Chicknhominy.
VIII not the mere naming Of tho
chickamohiny River recall to the minds
OF the veterans of the Civil War tho
many battles fought along its banks
ana In us immediate vicinity? They
VIII. in all probility, relnembe:
the swamps and hogs above aud
below the Mcchanlcsville Turnpille
ana Inc memories connected there
WIN are no doubt. otherwise
'lah pleasant The watershed
Of this river lying between the Pa
River mr. Il
James River on the southwest, is COM
posed OF marrow strip about Sixty
miles In length. eight miles in width.
ana with an area OF approximately
"oS,Ooo acres. The land owners in this
locality are already at work, and the
preliminary survey has bceu made
With the cleaning out and straighten-
Ing OF the channel of the river, the
removal thcrcfrom of the trees. vines
and brush. and tho cutting Of lateral
bitches sufficient to drain the land Dor
derng thereon. We Will witness the
dawn of new era in Development
Not only will the improvements be
most beneficial and profitable, but VIC
can hope 10 nevermorc hear the buzz
OF the mosquito in the neiGhborhood
of the Chickahomlny. Ior have inject
ed into our system the marlarial para
sites 80 prevalent in that region
An Optimistic View.
'In the limited time and space al
lowed me important phases OF this
work cannot now be discussed. Other
lowIands. especially those in the
neighborhood Of Fredericksburg. must
fail OF comment; suffice It to say, how
ever. that tho field is large, the laws
and procedure ample and simple. and
the landowners. progressive and en-
thusiastic.
THE United States Department OF
Agriculture always stands ready to
give its aid and advice. and the many
courtesies and material assistance al
ready shown and rendered by It's ef-
fcient engineers Will ever be duly ap-
preciated.
1.-THE Governor OF Virginia has piac-
ed his stamp of approval on this work,
the General Assembly OF Virginia has
adopted wise and comprehensive legis-
lation with regard thereto. and Vir-
Einia, ever conservative. ever ambiti-
Gus. and by and with the cooperation
of those citizens interested in, her flu
ture welfare, viii ere long take her
place in tho front rank in this great
enterprise. which. even from ages past
has proved beneficial to all mankind"