Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-30
Retaining Billions.

Well-advanced plans for the reclamation of
some twenty-five thousand acres of swamp land in
Lowndes county, Alabama, are announced by cor
respondent of the Manufacturers Record, who adds
that las this is already very important cotton,
corn and general produce farming section, we'll
as the second largest cattle and hOg-producing
county of Alabama the enterprise takes on
semblance of national Importance"
Every successful project of this kind is of
tional importance because of it's contribution to
the country's wealth and power The South has
approximately fifty million of wet lands which
in their present condition virtually useless and
in numerous instances a menace to health, but
which if properly drained would provide farm sites
of unsurpassed fertility. These lands now
worth only few dollars acre-not more than
ten dollars at the most liberal estimate. But sup
pose these fifty million were drained. They
would sell for at least hundred dollars an acre,
and would yield harvests of Incompatible richness.
Thus in land values alone this swamp area would
increase from five hundred million to five billion
dollars, much the maximum of the colossal
Liberty loan. The consequent benefits would be
no less marked for the community and the State
than for the individual land owners. The aug
mented tax returns would be enough to reimburse
the State and county, If they bore entire
cost of the reclamation projects, while the gains
for the community's health and prosperity would
be really incalculable.
Georgia has the largest of swamp and
overlooked lands in any State on the Atlantic
coast, with the single exception of Florida and
Florida is retaining her swamp lands at truly
Herculean pace. One-seventeenth of Georgias
tire territory consists Of land which must be drain
ed before it can be used. But far from being
liability this will prove priceless asset If recama-
ton is brought duly into service The valley of
the Nile itself the fertility which the
ages have packed into this swampy soil and which
drainage will make easily available. While vast
expanses like the Okefenokee present formidable
engineering problems there thousands upon
thousands of acres which be drained at cost
comparatively trivial beside the profitable results
which certain to follow In fact, few expend-
itures of public money yield such rich and speedy
returns a do those for the reclamation of swamp
or overflow lands. Under the Georgia law authoriz-
ing the formation Of drainage districts and the is
suance of drainage bonds, these improvements
be made without burdening the taxpayers and prop
erty owners; for it invariably happens, if such
terprises rightly conducted, that the products
of the reclaimed land than suffice to dispose
of the bond Indebtedness Thanks to the educa-
tional work Of the State Geological Survey and the
stimulating influence of the Georgia Drainage Asso-
citation, the task of retaining swamp area is
moving steadily forward In the last few years
many thousands of acres have been converted from
mountaineering boys to mines of agricultural
gold. AS this withdrawing movement spreads
from district to district, the States prosperity will
apaee and its contribution to the nations
strength continually increase It may truly be said
that drainage projects like that maturing in
Lowndes county, Alabama, Of national impor-
lance. By every possible they should be en-
couraged for all that they mean to the DEVELOPMENT
of the South and the enrichment of America.