The Emmett index., 1912-03-07
SWAMP LAND DRAIN
AGE PROJECT
Reclamation of Emmett Low
lands Being Considered
by Capitalists

The reclamation of the swamp
lands lying between Emmett and
FaIk is being carefully considered
by a number of Iowa people, who
are engaged in draining large
bodies of land in the Middle states,
and if these gentlemen are assured
of cooperation by the owners
of the land, there are bright pros
poets of the project being taken
up and put through.
Last weeks Index contained a
short item to the effect that A.
J. Lilly, a prominent drainage COM
tractor of Iowa, was in town with
the object OF making a thorough
investigation of the water logged
lands in this section and determin-
ing the feasibility of constructing
a drainage canal extending from
Freezeout to Falks. Mr.. Libby
came here at the solicitation of F.
A. DeClark. He is making a most
acter of the soil. He is secur
ing the opinions of government
experts and specialists of the state
university as to the practicable
ity of washing the alkali out of
the soil after drainage has been
attained and restoring the land to
productiyeness. The Investigations
are being conducted in a care
full, methodic manner, and when
completed will be submitted by
Mr.. Lilly to his associates for their
decision
The success of this immense en-
terprise depends to a large extent
upon the co-operatioH and assist
ance of the land owners in the
valley. Mr.. Lilly has aready found
a disposition on the part of some
to put an exorbitant value upon
their lands as soon as his plans
became noised about. The result of
such action on the part of many
is liable to have the effect of caus'
ing these gentlemen to abandon
their plans so far as Emmett is
concerned.
The value to this valley of
such an undertaking is so great .
that the actual figuers would al
most dazzle the imagination. A /
recent circular issued by the Nat
tional Copper Bank of Salt Lake
City contains an interesting article
on "Alkali Lands" and treats large
ly of the value of drainage in over
coming this condition. 1t also
gives AN idea of the enhanced val
ue given to the land when reclaim
ed The article follows:
I'VE turn to the subject of alkali
lands for two reasons. The first
is that they are among the surest
and most profitable of our undevelo
ed resources; the second is that
the public's information on the sub
ject is so very vague that it is /
inclined to avoid the alkai lands
and to doubt their real value. Two t
of the most-asked questions we |
hear from eastern homeseekers and {
even from Utahans are, Can the {
increase of alkali be prevented from {
passing the point where it is va,. |
liable to the farmer?" and ''Can i
excessively alkaline land be reclaim
ed?" The answer to both is Yes, i
by means of drainage, but in order l
that the reasons for such an an L
swer may be thoroughly understood, a
it is necessary to explain briefly t
the origin and character of "alkali' D
Now, all soils have, in the first l
instance, been formed by the wealth h
ering of the rocks, that is, by S
erosion of rain and streams and a
he disintegration due to changes h
n the temperature and moisture O
content of the air This process il
goes on in the same way after the d
,oil is formed as before, and soil f
grains are continually being still t
urther broken down by both ply "
'lcal ana chelnlcal action. Many salts IL
oluble in water are thus liberated, q
md in humid climates are carried Il
~ the rains downward and away in @
o the country drainage. In an
rid climate the rainfall may be W
to do this, with the b.
esult that as the salts are formed CT
hey are allowed to accumulate in al
he soil, together with those plant 81
oods whose presence makes the k
,estern soils so rich. This accumula N
ion tends always to approach the n,
urface for the reason that there at
5 a high degree of evaporation in "
uch climate. The moisture gl
'hieh has soaked into the soil is fl
being drawn to the I'll