Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-02


The forthcoming annual convention of the
Georgia Drainage Association derives peculiar in
terest from the fact that it will be held at Mon
in Walton county, the center of district in
which the value of reclaimng wet lands has been
demonstrated in golden results. There will be
many able speakers i'll the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
publcists apd men of affairs-but of them
could portray the importance of drainage con-
vincingly what actually has been done, and is
being done, in Gwinnett and Walton counties
The productive power of that territory has been
increased intellectually, its land values have been
multiplied and over again, its business
well agricultural interests have been recreated
and its heaIthfulnesss has been uphuilt beyond
reckoning-all a result of its peoples enterprise
in establishing an efficient drainage system. An
idea of what has been accomplished there, and
of what be accomplished in other parts OF
Georgia by application of the same principles
and methods. is suggested in interview, re-
Gently published in The Journal with Mr.. Thomas
Pate of Gwinnett county, a prime mover in the
organization of the Big Haynes Creek drainage
district:
When drainage district organ
ized" he said, Il estimated the value of lands
included at $40 an acre. As matter of fact
most of them absolutely worthless Since
the canal has been dug, land in this district
which actually sold before for IS and acre.
has been sold for $1OO an acre and many of
the lands cannot be bought for that figure
now.
THE reclaimed lands produce from so to
100 bushels of corn an acre and about 80
bushels of oats an acre. On the els acres of
drained land in the Big Haynes district-all
of which however, is not in cultivation, there
raised last year $4,000 bushels of corn,
which, if sold at the market price, would have
brought $4,000. or enough money to pay for
the oroginal cost of draining the Big Haynes
Our drainage has cost about $25 acre.
Add $40 an acre for original land value and
then subtract from S1OO an acre and you
have 500 an acre which has been added to the
value of the lands here at the expenditure of
$50 an acre"
In Walton county, near Monroe, another strik-
ing example is presented by the Jacks Creek drain
age work which was begun last December and is
now nearing completion. This area comprises
eight hundred and seventy acres which formerly
of little value but which now are be-
ing transformed into farm sites of unusual promise
and fertility The process of reclamation will cost
only about twenty-five dollars acre. In the
county still another drainage district is being
ganized to reclaim two thousand of
land along-the Alcovey river.
Every dollar which the citizens of this terri
tory are investing in drainage enterprises will
yield rich and enduring returns, not only through
enhancement of land values and continually in
creasing harvests but also in the eradication of
malaria the general betterment of health and the
general advancement of human as we'll as economic
interests. What these counties have done, every
section of Georgia having swamp overlooked
lands can do. Under a law enacted by the Legis-
lature some years ago. the task of organizing a
drainage district and carrying forward drainage
improvements is simple and comparatively mex
pensive. The legal requirements. briefly
med up by Journal staff correspondent, are as
follows:
"A majority of the land owners in a dis
trict sign drainage petition. This is filed
with the county commissioners ordinary.
A board of reviewers is named and prelim-
mary survey made A board of drainage COM
missioners then is chosen for the district and a
permanent survey made. The lands affected
then become liable for the drainage debt which
may be paid off by the issuance of bonds or
otherwise"
In the long run the increase in land value and
productivity will yield far than enough to
pay for the drainage COST that such improve
ments may be secured without appreciable burden
to the beneiciaries the community. With the
exception of Florida, Georgia has larger area of
swamp and wet lands than any State on the At
lantic coast No more useful work be under
taken than the reclamation of these millions of
now worthless but potentially valuable acres. The
Drainage Association which meets at Monroe this
week May { and g. is devoted earnestly and eff
GENTLY to this important cause. It's approaching
convention promises to be exceptionally rich in
inspiration and results.