Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-22
MILLIONS OF ACRES OF sWAMpe
AND MARSHES SUBJECT TO
DRAINAGE.
RECLAMATION WOULD AID
IN LIVING COST SOLUTION
Only Beginning Made in Bringing
Fertile But Wet Soil Under cultiva.
ton, According to Department OF
AgrcuIturs-immenss Possibilities
Sssn.
Especial Correspondence.l

Washington, Aug. 22-The cost tot
living question and the question OF
better sanitation are closely wrapped
up with the question Of what to do
with the marsh and swamp lands Of
the United States, according to the
department OF agriculture. Secretary
Wilson has recently caused to be pub
lished a bulletin dealing with the sub
ject. prepared by Jay A. Bonsteel, a
scientist in the soil survey. Accord
ing to this, 1t is probable that there Is
within the eastern part Of the country
alone 100000 acres Of the dineren1
classes OF undrained land which are
permanently wet This says nothing
OF enormous areas Of such land IN the
middle west and southwest and IN the
Pacific coast country.
Only . Small Beginning.
While extensive areas OF marsh ana
swamp in the central prairie states
have long been drained and utilized
for agriculture and constitute some OF
the most fertile soil for the production
OF corn, oats and wheat, there has peen
only small beginning made toward
the reclamation Of the vast area OF un-
drained land in thi. country only
small areas OF marsh or swamp nave
been reclaim in the majority OF the
eastern states. It has been 1ouno'
however, particularly IN the mlooie
Atlantic states. that such reclaimed
land constitutes excellent soil Tor the
production Of corn. cotton and nay. a
few areas OF tidal marsh along tne
lower portions OF the chief rivers
emptv,ng into the Atlantic are also
embarked and drained for the produc'
ton OF a high quality Of rice In gen.
eral, the swamp or marsh soil IS founo
we'll charged with organic matter ana
this makes it valuable for agricultural
purposes when drained.
Large Possibilities Seen.
The department OF agriculture sees
large possibilities in the retaining OF
much on the land that is now regarded
a. worthless. Cost Of reclaiming ana
draining is a difficulty which the de-
partment recognizes. At the Same t'n".'
once this land is recla aimed, especiaiiS
in regions where IT Is accessio,e :"
markets. the returns on It are large.
Acreage returns OF $3.50 or even 80"
NAV be secured from the production Q.
fruits uron reclaimed tidal marsn.
,rhn,,x.na. Of acres OF unclaimed and
undra.red tidal marsh exist along the
coast line Of the eastern paf' "
1-n,ted states which are unoccupleo
for any agricultural PURPOSE :,
which are menace to heaith.
these be reclaimed, immense suppii.s
Of vegetables aard OF various asri
cultural products coudl De sro"n
which would fnd good market :"
such large cities as Ne" YORK, nos.o'.
Philadelphia and Baltimore. nat IN.
department calls tidal marsh Is ."e
marsh overlooked with water OF
SALTY or brackish character oacKeo up
in the lower parts Of streams Fuhh''e
into the sea.
suitable For Rice.
AS an indication or what can oe
done with swamp lands. the depart
,nent says the finest quality or rice Is
being produced UPON al!uvial s"amps
OF the south Atlantic coast. Inc y1elos
are from forty to sixty-hve nusheIs
nor acre. With increase In the price
~ rice and growing demand, the de-
pnrtment predicts that hundreds OF
thousands OF acres OF excellent rice
land in the Carolinas and Georgia VIII
be utilized.
II ia the view Of the department that
the swamp regions Of the Interior, IN
the upland regions, will be reclaimed
nv drainage first, because less expen-
siye. Then. as better methods OF drain
are develop, and demand becomes
erea ter for land, the immense areas OF
marsh along the coast Of the Atlantic
and gulf will be converted into land
that will be found highly valuable for
agriculture.