The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-26
WANT TO RECLAIM
BIG WASTE STRIP
Chickahominy Swamp Lands
Named i'll Petition Filed in
Hcnrico Circuit Court.
GROUND is NOW WORTHLESS
Nearly 5000 Acres in Confines OF
Proposed Drainage District.
Up to Judge Scott.

Formal steps toward the rcclama-
ton OF thousands of acres Of marsh
land In tho Chickahominy Swamp
were taken yesterday when q petition
praying for tho establishment of n
drainage district was fled with Samuel
+. Waddill. clerk OF tho Hcnrico Cir
cult Court. The writ is returnable at
the next term of the court which VIII
convene the first Monday in January
viii be asked to appoint commissioners
to ascertain tho value of the property
sought by tho petitioners. and TO carry
out the other provisions OF tho state
law.
The petition was hlcd by W. w OLD.
Of Norfolk, attorney for the Chicka-
hominy Drainage Association. II
-rays that the drainage district be
laid off under the laws of the State and
that the land therein be drained In ac-
cordancc with that law. The proposed
district embraces lands surveyed about
two years ago by the United States
government under the direction OF
George w. Warren, government civil
engineer. II begins just west OF Alice,
near the head OF the swamp and ex-
tends to a point at the mouth OF tho
river below Providence Forge. dis
lance of about eighteen miles Tho
tract is about mile in width, and
contains nearly 5000 acres.
The Chickahominy Drainage Asso-
citation was formed shortly after Mr..
Warren's report was published. and
is made up largely of owners of land
in the Chickahominy Swamp. TIE fol-
lowing officers head the organization:
DR.. y. W. Starbuck. president: +. C.
lioenniger, vice-president; w. d.
Sydnor, secretary and treasurer. ana
w. w. Old, Norfolk. attorney.
Association Worked Hard.
Every effort has been made by tho
association TO get tho drainage work
done Many land owners could not
be persuaded that 1t would be of ma
terial advantage to them. but finally
the required three signed n petit
ton asking for the appointment of a
drainage commission.
The petition was filed under the pro-
visions OF Chapter l59, Acts of AS
sembly. 1912, which provides that the
court If it cntertains the prayer. shall
appoint disinterested drainage enEi-
reer and two resident frecholders OF
the county or counties in which the
lands are located as n board OF view
ers to examine the lands and to make
preliminary report. The board de-
LUIS "nctner IL proposed drainage is
practicable. whether 1t Will benefit the
public health or any public highway
or he conductive to the general well
fare Of the community. and whether
or not the lands to be benefited are
Included In the drainage district
Mr.. Warren in his report showed
that the Chickahominy swamp lands
could be drained ut an average cost OF
fio.SO an acre The work. while some
what costly. is not n very heavy propo-
sition and is susceptible of being
pushed with great viEor. It is esti-
mated that the work will be completed
within six months after il IS started
and that land now practically worth
less Will eventually be worth from $50
20 800 an acre
More than three ffths Of the prop
erty owners, whose grounds will be
affected, have signed the petition. The
district will he located in Henrico and
Hanover Counties