The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-28

the sandy lonms OF the adjacent up
lands. Considerable areas OF these bot
toms In tho vicinity of Richmond and
It's suburbs were formerly cleared and
in cultivation, but the uncertainty OF
crops and the knowledge that in n wet
season failure was inevitable. has led
to gradual Abandonment of the land
save for what rough stuff or pasturage
can be obtained.
In the lower bottom the subsoil is
distinguished by larger percentages
OF silt and clay. which give TO 1t a
srayish or blush shade. The top soil.
especially in the low. wet situations.
contains more organic matter. the re-
mains OF luxuriant vegetable growth
which has overspread most of the bot
tom. 1t is chocolate colored, Silly
clay rather than muck soil. and with
few exceptions the bottom is devoid OF
any OF tho deep spongy mucky or
peaty areas which are commonly asso-
ciated with typical swamp land. The
forest growth, estimated to cover
three fourths OF the lowland. is prin-
cipally sweet gum. poplar maple. birch.
beech. oak and below Rcxbury. cypress
and tupelo gum. The merchanta Bile
timber is confined largely to the lower
bottoms and whore the large trees ara
not so close as 10 create a dense shade
there is a thick growth of vines and
underbrush. The native vegetation in
dicates great fertility of soil. At one
time or another much OF the lowland
has been cut over. part Of 1t now being
in sprout and tho other portions in
wood that would apparently cut TWEEN
ty-nve TO thirty cords to the acre.
. ~
toms are now farmed TO any consider
able extent. and statistics OF crop
yields are therefore difficult to obtain.
|, is stated by landowners and others
who have been familiar with conditions
for many years that from nifty to seven
ty-flve bushels of corn per acre were
common yields In the upper bottoms
and that loo bushels per acre were not
unusual in the best portions of tho
lower bottoms. also that fine stands of
timothy and other English grasses
have been obtained even To the banks
OF the river The old corn rows are
still 10 be seen in various parts OF
the valley. even in the heavy woods of
the lower bottoms ana here now there
are trees two or more feet In diameter.
Land NnIu.s.
Including railroad risnt-of-w thu
S92 acres comprised within the sur
GELS held under l+5 different owner
ships. The parcels average. therefore
slightly under 100 acres each. and for
the most part are held In conviction
win adjacent upland farms. In the
vicinity OF Richmond the lands are oc-
cnpied largely by dairymen. and land
values are higher than at points moro
remote from tho city.
tract OF about $50 acres, Of which
Ia cit tod
ilunslett. is stated to have sold recent
ly for $50 per acre. farm of $50
acres. OF which l15 acres are lowland.
near the Creighton Road has an as
eesscd valuation. including buildings
OF $3.50. but sold In November. 1909
for $1,000, or about s32 per acre.
farm Of zoe acres near Highland
Springs. of which li7 acres are low
land is assessed for s3.s24. y farm :
iTS acres one mile above Grapevin \
Bridge. Of which hfty-thrce acres are
lowland. has an assessed valuation %
81, 500. but sold In December. 1911 for
$1,000 or about 500 per acre. a farm
OF 1872 acres near the Southern Rail.
way. OF which eighty-seven acres are
lowiand, is assessed for Sl.5oo 4 farm
OF about 500 acres. near Bottoms
Bridge OF which 155 acres are low
land. was purchased for 1900 in
January. 1882. 1t is now assessed at
$4,000 1t should be understood that
generally assessed valuations are con-
siderably below market value. Few
transfers OF the bottom lands alone
lave been made, but from the figures
siven and from other sources OF in
formation II is believed that the pres
ent valucs will range from IS to 500
per acre depending upon location and
elevation with an average value of
about SIS per acre.
The agricultural operate are gen
cral rather than specialized. the truck
Ing industry near Atlee and the dairy
Ing Industry in the vicinity OF Rich
Wond being the most conspicuous The
milk is hauled to the Richmond mar
ket. and at tho present schedule OF
prices nets the farmer II IL cents per
gallon in tho summer. and 10 l2 cents
per gallon in the winter the retail
prices ranging from S TO 10 cents per
quart.
nc survey was begun May %. 1911.
ana completed september so following
1t was conducted by the writer. aided
10y Assistant Drainage Engineers New
with an average force of eight men,
comprising rodmen. axemen. teamster
and cook
camp sites were selected at Alice
Highland Springs and t.oxbury and tho
field work executed from these points
as bases. Knowing something of the
sickness and death among Northern
soldiers who drank OF She Chickahom
my River water during the war. effort
WAS made to protect the health o. tho
party by selecting proper food and
drinking water, and by taking other
sanitary precautions. Although tho
summer was opc OF exceptionally nigh
temperatures, the health Of the men
remained good throughout. but i'm
mediately following the completion o,
the survey one case IF typhoid fever
OF considerable severity developed.
The total cost OF the field work was
S2t95.39. To this must be added 81.
1925 expended for Office work in pre-.
pairing plans. estimate and report max
Ing Sa.675.65 as the total engineering