Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-05-31
TO RECLAIM
LARGE ACRES
OF Low Land
such IS A RECENT PLAN
Ut the Southern Commercial
Congress

Washington, D. c., MAY 3O.-A gi-
gantic plan to reclaim $4,000, 900 acres
# swamp and over-fiowed lands in the
United States that are now unproduc-
tive, has been launched by the South
ern Commercial Congress.
At the great Fourth Annual Conven-
ton of the Southern Commercial Con-
gress held in Nashville, Tenn, Aril s.
10, a resolution Introduced by John NJ.
Parker, of New Orleans, La, first
PRESIDENT of the Southern Commercial
Congress, was adopted as follows:
Whereas, there are in the United
States S0,000,000 acres of swamp and
tverfowed lands that are not only
non-productive, but a hinderance to
the general welfare and a meance 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 complete sys-
TEN 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 sit
uated, and also to the Federal Govern
ment, because of the Improvement in
the public health, and in the con-
struction of public highways, and in
the increase in the agricultural pro,
ducts of the country,
Therefore be it resolved,
THAT an educational campaign
be inaugurated to set forth to the
people of the United States, and espec-
tally to the owners of swamp and ov-
erfowed land, the economical value of
reClaiming these lands to make them
NJ lOr agriculture.
2.-That a commission be appointed
to simplify and standardize 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 its adoption secured by the
of the several states.
3.-That the Southern Commercial
Congress petition the Congress of the
United States to make complete sur
vey of all the swamp and overlooked
lands in the United States, and work
out plan for draining each individ-
ual project as a part of a complete
system; and that this plan embrace
an examination of the soil of the
swamps, showing it's value from an
agricultural standpoint and its adapt
ability for the growth of profitable
crops.
4.-Ihat we urge and solicit the CO.
operation of all commercial organize
tons, railroads, banks, and business
interests in general, located in these
states, in carrying out these princi
pies.
Senator Duncan U. Fletcher, of Flor
ida, President of the Southern Com
Congress, appointed the fol-
lowing commission of leading busi-
ness men of the South to set in mo-
ton the Ian for nationwide reclaim
nation: J. 0. Wright, chairman. Tai
Fla; A. W. McKeand, Charl-
eston, S. c.; Joseh Hyde Pratt Chapel
Hill. n. c.; Justin F. Denechaud, New
Orleans, La; VIM. w. Old, Jr Nor
folk, Va; w. D. Clark, Clarksville,
Miss; A. H. Purdue, Nashville, Tenn;
A. A. Stiles, Austin, Texas; Charles
F. Barrett, Shawnee, Okla; and SEN
ator ]. P. Matthews, Oakland, Tenn.
Mr.. Wright will soon call a meeting
of the committee to start the move
ment.