The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-06-02
LAUNCH PLAN
TO RECLAIM
MANY ACRES
SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL CON-
GRESs FATHERS RECLAMATION
PROJECT OF GIGANTIC PRO-
PORTIONS.
special to The Journal

Washington, June IA gigantic
plan to reclaim 100000 acres of
swamp and overf1owed lands in the
United States that are now non pro-
ductive has been launched here by the
Southern Commercial Congress.
At the fourth annual convention Of
the Southern Commercial Congress
held in Nashville, Tenn, April $40. a
resolution introduced by John M.
Parker, of New Orleans. first presi-
dent of the Southern Commercial Con-
gress, was adopted as follows:
Whereas, there are in the United
States 5000, 000 acres of swamp and
overlooked lands that are not only
non productive, but a hindrance to
the general welfare and a menace to
the public health, and,
Whereas, practically all of this land
is held in private ownership and it is
necessary to have the consent and CO.
operation of the owners of this land in
order to inaugurate a complete system
OF drainage and reclamation, and.
Whereas. the reclamation of these
swamp and overlooked lands will be OF
great benefit to the owners thereof, to
the state in which the land is situated
and also to the federal government,
because of the Improvement in the
public health and in the construction
of public highways and in the in
crease Of the agricultural products of
the country, therefore be it resolved,
1. That AN educational campaign
be inaugurated to set forth to the peo-
pie of the United States, and especial
~ to the owners of swamp and over
flowed land, the economic value of re-
claiming these lands to make them ut
for agriculture.
2. That a commission be appointed
to simplify and standarize the drain
age laws of the several southern
states. A simple and direct method
of procedure applicable as far as pos
sible to all the states should be pre-
pared and it's adoption secured by the
legislatures of the several states.
3. That the Southern Commercial
Congress petitions the congress of the
United States to make a complete
survey of all the swamp and overflow
ed lands in the United States. and
work out plan for the drainage of
each individual project as a part of
a complete system; and that this plan
embrace an examination of the soil of
the swamps, showing its value from
an agricultural standpoint and it's
adaptability for the growth of profit
able crops.
4. That we urge and solicit the CO.
operation of all commercial organiza-
tions, railroads, banks and business
interests in general, located in these
states, in carrying out these prin-
ciples.
Senator Duncan U. Fletcher of
Florida, president of the Southern
Commercial Congress, has appointed
the following commission of leading
business men to set in motion the
plan for nationwide reclamation: ].
o. Wright, chairman, Tallahassee,
Fla; A. w. McKeand, Charleston. S.
c.; Joseph Hyde Pratt, Chapel Hill,
n. c.; Justin F. Deneschaud, New Or
leans, La; VIM. w. Old. Jr., Norfolk,
A. III. Purdue, Nashville. Tenn; A. A.
Stiles, Austin, Texas; Charles F. Bar
rett, Shawnee, Okla; Senator j. P.
Matthews, Oakland, Tenn.
Senator Fletcher has also appointed
a committee of representative men to
consider the problem of breaking up
large plantations and bodies of land
into small holdings This action was
taken following a resolution adopted
at the same convention of the con-
gress.
This committee includes L. c. Ir-
vine, Mobile, Ala, chairman Col.
Harvie Jordan. Atlanta, Ga: T. F.
Peck, state commissioner of agricul-
ture, Nashville, Tenn; e. J. Watson,
commissioner of agriculture of South
Carolina, Columbia. S. c.. George w.
Deem, Waycross. Ga.
Dr. c. ]. Owens, secretary treasurer
of the Southern Commercial Congress.
says that the appointment of these
committees and their problems are
two of the most important and far
reaching national plans ever under
taken in the United States.