The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-17
BANK STATEMENT.
PART DRAINAGE PLAYS
IN MODERN FARMING

IN M(OERN FARM|N6
tContinued from First Pags,)
ing operations on drained land. A
loose porous soil Is more easily work.
ed than wet sticky soil Doing
away with sioughs and wet areas
permits the division Of lands in regu-
lar and hence advsntageously Guilt
waited fields. Upon many farms, there
are cultivated fields, portions OF which
are too wet to be productive. These
wet portions receive as much care,
as much labor, as much seed as the
balance. but yield little In return.
Seventh. And finally the health
and general welfare are promoted by
land drainage. Where lands have
been put into good productive condi-
ton through drainage. 1t has never
failed TO lessen the malariai and other
fevers and TO appreciably abate the
mosquito nuisance, and in some of the
States considerable money has been
expended in drainage solely for the
latter reason.
We have now seen what drainage
seeks to accomplish, and some of its
more important benefits have been
pointed out.
How are these desira bic ends to be
realized? e.N.s.".s.-,-
From the very nature OF the prob
lem II is not often that any extensive
drainage project can he accomplished
without cooperation among land
owners, II farmer can secure a
natural outlet for his drains in his
own lands, he Is Independent, but as
| more commonly Is the case, lands are
held in comparatively small parcels
0r,a h
| in securing an outlet, so that the i'm
| provement partakes OF the nature OF
public Improvement and 1t has been
| so recognized in the law enacted In
| this State. March IT, 1910. All pro-
cedure must be in conformity to law
and the provisions and operations OF
| the Virginia drainage act should be
studied and understood by all who
have any interest In drainage. CO.
operation among owners and assess
| nent OF costs according and In pro-
| portion TO the BENEFITS received are
| perhaps the dominant features of the
| act.
| 1t must not be thought that drain
age is panacea for the farmer,
! FOR 1t is not. II is straightforward
business proposition. There is moth
Ing devious or experimental about It.
! If the land 10 be reclaimed has in
herent fertility, IL the works are
wisely and judiciously planned,
| thoroughly executed and well main
tanned success will follow and the
| investment will be sound one.
| 1t needs no statement of mine to
to prove that land drainage under IA
vorable auspices pays a handsome re-
turn on the investment.
| Do not go into a drainage pro-
ject, whether large or small. in halt
! hearted way. If you contemplate try
ing u little drainage work and &c
into it in superficial sort OF way
| 'Just TO see what will happen 1t were
better that YOU never began. and
kept your money in the bank.
| Farming has ceased to be an occu-
patton. II is a business. The far
mer must pu. into his business as
much careful Investigation. wise plan
| ming and thorough executing as does
| the textile manufacturer or the trans
/ portatton manager into his business
| 1t Is serious mistake to under
| take any drainage project without
consulting a civil or hydraulic en-
| gineer II you were to erect an Inn
portant building, you would employ
! an architect II you were burning
with fever. YOU would call in o
| doctor. If your watch needed re-
pairs, you would take 1t to a jeweler
| Why not entrust the laying out and
building Of your drainage system to
some one who is versed In that line
who Is familiar with hydraulic mat
ters? That man Is the drainage en-
! gineer.
| Every project should be surveyed
and levels run To determine the LAY
OF the land" The land actually drain
ed AS we'll Ms the area which contri-
butes drainage from outside must be
considered. and determined. The. Pro.
per size and grade OF bitches or tile
lines must be calculated. The bes,
and rost feasible .'Iay out" for the
SYST must be decided upon. and
It's cost estimated, 1t should be staked
out in the field by an engineer and
| built to establish lines and grades In
| n thorough and workmanlike manner
| Continue the engineers services dur
| ing the period Of construction. ar.
| have him tie in.or reference all pipes,
conduits or other structures which
| are below ground that they may read
| lily be found at any future time should
| occasion require. Look 10 the en-
| gineer for thorough work in every
| detail. He will exact nothing more
| nor nothing less from the contractor
| or whoever may be doing tho con-
| struction work. The best and most
| astute business men OF whom I have
knowledge, have been men who APP
| preciated the services OF the exper-
fenced engineer. have paid him for
| those services and held him rsspon-
sible for results
There is comparatively little which
can be given you within the limits
OF talk like this which will greatly
q w Y, III the ~ nj, M ~ l.