Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-09-30
8, 900, 900 AcreS Of Land,
Unframed in Georgia,
Hold Enormous Uealth

Reclamation of the eight million
acres OF Georgia soil. by modern
drainage methods, will do more to
enhance the states riches, in mon
ey, health and population, than any
other single achievement, is the
opinion of Judge Newt A. Morris
of Marietta, vice president Of the
National Drainage congress. which
holds its annual meeting in Allan
ia November 1912.
Judge Morris has compiled q set
Of statistics, from figures of the
United States department of agri-
culture and the geological survey
of Georgia, showing the number OF
acres in each county which may be
turned from non-productive waste
lands into fertile. valuable soil.
He says of the eight million
acres, seven and a half millions can
half million acres were sea marshes
and that it would, be impracticable
to build immense sea walls and re-
claim this land. although, he says
that by the construction of sea-walls
and proper drainage canals, this
land could also be turned into pro-
ducing soil. rather than wasting
year after year.
Judge Morris has had much ex.
perience in drainage work in Geor-
gia, and he has also studied the
drainage statistics of Georgia and
that, he has found the health. popu-
lation and wealth of any state, has
always increased as a direct result
of drainage work
Drainage and Health
Draining of land, partly OF
periodically flooded, has a wonder
full effect on the health of the
amined the death records of Indiana
Iowa, and Illinois, as of 1880, be-
fore drainage work was commenced
in any of these states, and l found
that five per cent of the deaths were
due to malarial and typhoid fever.
Then I examined them as of
twenty years later. after a number
through, and I found that the deaths
caused by malaria and typhoid few
er had decreased to less than one
per cent.
at took the statistics of South
Carolina. Georgia and. Florida, as of
been undertaken. and I found that
five per cent of all deaths in these
states had been caused by typhoid,
malarial and other forms of fever.
Twenty years later, the statistics of
these states, with still no drainage
the death rate of people dying from
typhoid and malarial fever had in
creased to 6 per cent.
From these comparisons, it is
readily shown that the health con-
ditions are greatly bettered by
drainage work. and now that Geor-
gia, Florida and South Carolina have
undertaken a number of drainage
projects, the rate of death caused
by malaria and typhoid fever will
undoubtedly show an annual de-
crease"
Judge Morris said that in clean
ing up land by drainage, mosquito
tude of other animal pests, which
do nothing but detriment to crops,
are automatically destroyed.
AS to the enhancing in value of
land after it had been drained, the
judge said that the normal increase
$500 an acre. He cited as a con-
crete case of how land increases in
value after it has been drained, an
accomplishment on a tract of land
he owned in Cobb county.
Big Profits in Drainage
the judge continued. land it had
produced absolutely nothing of mar
ketable value in twenty-five years.
organized a drainage district, and
at cost of $4,000, reclaimed that
land.
1.-THE first season I produced on
the reclaimed land a total Of $10,-
the second crop was harvested.
sold it for $4,000, clear profit of
over thirty thousand dollars, in
three years.
Il had a hard time convincing
people owning adjoining tracts of
be put through, but I succeeded,
practically every acre of territory
in Cobb county. which has been
valueless for countless years, has
been reclaimed, or is in the pro-
cess of being drained, and is bring
ing in a golden return each year to
it's owners" d.
Judge Morris said that Georgia
was tasty becoming educated to
the Importance of drainage work,
and that a number of counties were
organizing drainage districts. and
proceeding to clear land in their
work which was being done in Cobb
and Walton counties. In Walton
county, he said, land owners of part
ly inundated land were having it
drained, and putting it to work,
bringing in thousands of dollars
more revenue each year.
The cost of drainage work, and
the time it takes, is very small,
according to the judge. He also said
it was very simple, and that all
that was necessary was for the
and to be properly surveyed, and
the creek or stream which drained
It properly deepened and straight
q w c