The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-09
DRAINAGE HELPS
PUBLIC AEALT 4

Sanitation as Well as Material
Prosperity Comes From
Reclamation.
Enthusiasm for the cause OF re-
clamation. from the standpoints OF
health and Of commercial prosperity,
was shown at the annual meeting OF
the virginia Drainage Association held
yesterday At noon In the hall Of the
House Of Delegates. It was made
evident that the movement has but just
begun
All the officers were reelected. ~
follows: Roosevelt Page. Of Hanover.
president: DR.. d. W. Starbuck. Of Hen.
rico. e-president: william w. Old.
Jr.. OF Norfolk, vice-president: Charles
A. Miller, Of Richmond. secretary: A.
A. Wendell. Of Norfolk County. treas
urer. Executive Committee: James
G. Ttnsley. Of Henrico: J. B. Bradley.
OF Hanover: R r. Randolph. OF More
folk County: c. a. Baum OF Princess
Anne; Joseph r. Ives, Of Norfolk city:
w. n. Weiss. OF Greenesville: James
Bellwood. Of Chesterfield: W. T. Rudd.
of Powhatan: l. M. Nance. OF Neck
lenourg; II v. BollinEer, OF Amelia
PresaAe1t's Address.
President Roosevelt Page in his an
nual address spoke as follows: There
is q maxim OF the common law: Water
runs and should run This IL the
basis OF this association. and upon II
rest many Of the elements which 60 to
make up the enjoyment OF life. After
good character. good health Is perhaps
the eest OF Gods gifts. and nothing
can add more to the healthfulness OF
many communities than the drainage
OF the lands which harbor the untold
ills using the common name OF ma
laria.
THE draining Of the Pontine
marshes BY the Roman government
ranks with the roads they built and
laws they passed. In our own coun-
try the question has Of late begun 70
receive the interest II deserves, and
though the question Of health may by
some be deemed secondary to the COM
mercial value OF the reclaimed area.
that question Is one that will always
appeal to the citizens Of any communi-
ty interested In its welfare
Gsvesnnent HELPS.
"Our law has been SO considerable OF
the conditions in Virginia as to pre-
scribe In detail the manner In which
any community may proceed for the
betterment Of its conditions, and In
the past years the department OF the
Federal government having duties and
equipment related to this works has
rendered assistance in the surveying
and plating OF certain areas OF re-
claimed swamp and marsh land-not-
ably in the Chickahominy and parts OF
the Dismal Swamp section"
Mr.. Page then explained the work
ing of the statute
George n Warren. drainage engineer
for the Department Of Agriculture.
who directed the recent survey OF the
overlooked lands Of the Chickahominy.
made an address which was received
with pleasure by all 4 motion was
adopter thanking him. and asking that
the. speech be published. II will also
be produced in the bulletins OF the De-
partment Of Agriculture.
Capital Ready to HeID.
Vsce-President Old called the atten-
ton of the meeting to the remarkable
where more than nifty drainage dis
tricts have already been established
under q law similar to the Virginia
statute. He impressed his hearers that
the time mas arrived Tor virginia 10
take q forward step in this line OF
progress, improvement and material
development Plenty OF capital, said
Colonel Old, 10 now ready 20 undertake
drainage, with the fun realization that
the pubic health win be benefited.
roads improved, and large areas re-
claimed that are now both impossible
and tnaecessable. the whole meaning
additional wealth to the State and
good profits to those whose energy
and capital Save made the same prac-
ticable. He added that the law Is
ample, ali Interests being protected,
and that the bonds Issued by drainage
districts IN North Carolina are now
selling above par.
Short addresses were also made by
vice-Pfesident Starbuck, the prime
mover in the Chickahom4ny District,
and Treasurer Wendell The latter Is
leader Of the movement in Pleasant
Grove District Of Norfolk County.
where Q petition has been signed and
is ready 20 he filed Secretary Charles
4. Miller spoke briefly
Governor Mann Will address the
meeting Of the Chickahosntny Drain
age Association. which Will be held
this morning az II o'c}ock IT Murphy's
Hotel II " hoped TO launch move
for reclamation at THIS time.