The Washington herald., 1912-01-04
POTOMAC TO RISE
AS ONCE IT DID
Keep Eyes on Sycamore Bot
toms, Says "Tama jim"

af =.
Secretary Wilson has received special
report from the Drainage Division OF the
Department OF Agriculture on an inves-
tigation OF the possibilities and cost o.
draining the Sycamore Bottom lanos OF
the Potomac River. The territory sur
veyed covers an acreage Of 2soo acres
and is Of interest TO Washington, mas
much as, II the project is undertaken. Il
will be the FIRST large drainage project
in the vicinity. II Is estimated It wiz
cost s2sOoo TO carry the project to COM
pletion. The report. in psrt, follows;
1T will be seen from the estimates
OF the cost Of the drainage work Tor the
Sycamore Bottoms that this project Is
feasible. The neighborlng highlands IN
this vicinity are valued at from 800 70
500 per acre. - It has been pointed
out that there IL stili a possibility OF
great rise in the Potomac which might
overtop the canal and again food the
bottoms, as was the case in isss. This
flood Is the only one Of Its kind on rec
ord. The damage caused by such mood
IN one year would be slight when COM
pared with the great benefit Of COM
plete drainage system. . Land values
on the bottoms will be doubled or
trebled. crops will be grown on ground
that D now almost valueless. and healtn
conditions win be greatly improved
sTis = sflty Loan.
About three-fourths OF the Sycamore
Bottom land Is cleared and is either un-
der cultivation or IN pasture" says Farm
er Wilson. The remainder Of the area
Is timbered and too wet and swampy to
be cultivated, even II It were cleared
The soil Of the bottom land Is a brown,
silty loan and is classified by the Bureau
Of Soils, United States Department OF
Agriculture, as meadow II IL very
fertile soil. exceptingA along the foot Of
the bluffs. where It u mixed with con-
siderable quantities OF finely disintegrated
stone washed down from the rocky hills.
Practically all Of the higher land within
the district Is cultivated and very good
crops are made when the season II not
too wet.
''rhe absence Of good system of drain
age makes q good crop uncertain. Ex-
cessive rains would ruin a crop. In .
good season when all conditions are right
these bottoms are said TO produce much
more than the neighboring high land,
seVenty-five bushels OF corn or three tons
OF hay per acre being a common crop.
The swampy parts OF the bottoms lie
idle, and are not only worthless for agri-
cultural purposes. but are q menace TO
the health Of the people who live near
there.
They Are Progressive.
The land in question Is & tract about
six miles long and one mile wide at ltS
widest part. and tapers down almost to
a point at both ends. II comprises about
AIS acres, and Is located between Ed
wards Ferry and the mouth OF Seneca
Creek. on the north side OF the Chesa-
peaks and Ohio Canal. which Is built
along the north bank Of the Potomac
RtRer at that place. There are no rail-
roads near this district. Barnesville, on
the Baltimore ana Ohio Railroad, ten
miles TO the north. being the nearest
station. The roa Is. however. are macad-
amized and in excellent condition. and
this fact. together with the general WELL
kept appearance OF the farms and farm
buildings, indicates that the people living
in this vicinity are progressive and SCI
entific farmers and are generally pros
porous. The absence OF railroads does
not detract from the land value. for the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Is stiil In
operation. and a great amount OF traffic
is still carried on up and down this
route"