The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-12-17

AAoAi "AsAth tnSiA DouS, with approx
al of the court, board of drainage
commissioners three.
IL. The Board of Drainage Com
missioners, after serving notice for
80 days, issue bonds. During this 80
days notice any owner can pay his
assessment and have his lands re-
leased.
II. The Board of Drainage Com
missioners advertises and lets con-
tract, appoints superintendent of con-
struction, and pays all bills against
the district
IS. Beard of Drainage Commits
sioners holds office until all indebt-
edness is paid unless removed for
good cause.
The constitutionality of the Drain
age Law has been thoroughly tested
through the highest courts and has
been pronounced "okeh."
First District Organized is Success.
The first district to be organized
under the law is the Haynes Greek
district, Gwinnett County. The
construction of this ditch attracted
thousands from all parts of north
Georgia. Visiting representatives
from each section went home and
started agitation for the reclamation
of lands in which they were inter
ested. Over 10000 acres of very
fertile wet and overlooked bottoms
which for many years have not only
been productive but menace to
the health of the community as well,
have been added to our farms and are
today producing an average of so to
100 bushels of corn, no fertilizer Of
any kind being required or used.
The cost for these drainage outlets
has varied from an average Of SIC
per acre in some districts to as high
as $65 per acre in others, dependent
upon the width of the, valley lands
might also add that the higher aver
age cost represents contracts let at
the peak of high prices. The cost
for these improvements should be
very much less within the next twelve
months. Does it pay?
Some Mistakes to Avoid.
1t is true that mistakes have been
made and they should be avoided by
others organizing districts.
l. In order to make the bonds
salable, employ competent and
alert attorney to draw up the petit
ton and guard against any mistake
in the several successive steps lead
ing to the sale of the bonds.
2. Follow the law when it says
employ competent civil and drain
age engineer" for thugh all engi-
neers are surveyors, all surveyors are
not engineers. There has been ten
dency on the part of few districts
to employ as their engineers men not
qualified by law or in fact, for this
position. Disappointment and dis
satisfaction is bound to result from
such a practice.
8. Too many districts have en-
ployed, as superintendent of con-
struction, men wholly incapable OF
giving the service required The en-
gineer is the logical man to supervise
construction and take up estimates.
Many thoughtfully designed improve
ments have been poorly constructed
due to the superintendent of con-
struction in charge.
Life of Open Ditch Improvement
Dependent on Control of Water
on Hills Lands
Now word as to terracing, since
the control of water on the rolling
lands has such an important bearing
on the success of stream improve
ments in the valleys. l will go fur
Their and say that the life of every
open ditch improvement in the val
legs of north Georgia is WHOLLY de-
pendent upon the proper control of
the water on the rolling lands drain
ing to these valleys. We must keep
the soil on the hills if we are to keep
our extensive drainage Improvements
open. The slope or fall in these i'm
provenments is not sufficient to pre-
vent the deposition of some silt and
sand brought down from the hills at
each excessive rain. The control of
the water on the rolling lands has
other very important effects on the
streams in the valleys, but they will
be passed over at this time because
wish to impress upon you the effect
on the rolling land more especially.
AS l have gone about over north
Georgia more and more have l been
irnnressed with the utter lack of pro-