St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1921-10-15
Mr.. Briggs Uses the Infor-
nation Of a Home Man
Who Has Seen It
DRAINED LANDS
MADE THEM RICH
Not as Rich as Mississippi
Valley Lands, But It
Made Farmers Rich
(By A. Z. Briggs)
MIR. DaVid's Report.


Seeing is believing 1t is not
hard to convince a man OF the ad
vantages from drainage who has
seen its benefits to a prosperous COM
munity. 1t is not possible for ali
OF us to go travelling to find out the
good things in the world which We
can prolitaDly use. Indeed, one can
learn much more quickly by reading
and study than by travel, and if be-
sides we can tank with those who
have travelled we may learn much
vantage to learn from persons whom
we know intimately what they have
seen and heard in their travels
A farming community which is
decidedly worth knowing about is
the north central and northwestern
part Of the State OF New York, whic:,
is second only to California in fruit
production. 1t has very interest
ing history connected with drainage.
We have seen the wonderful orchards
and vineyards Of that country, and
we are glad to have the privilege OF
adding to our own testimony that or
prosperous and native citizen CT
this parish who has just returned
from a visit to the Great Lakes
region of New York State.
But first let us tell the interesting
bit Of history concerning the de-
yelopment OF that country. About
the time the Erie Canal was COM
pleted across the State OF New York,
John Johnson, an enterprising farm
er, VINO lived near the town of Ge-
neva laid the first tile drainage sys-
tenn in the United States. That was
in the year 1885. 1t worked Won
ders on that farm, and at once be-
came famous, SO that gradually farm :.
ers all over that part OF New York
bordering on the lakes began TO
drain their lands. John johnson did
his work so we'll that the drains he
constructed at that early date are
still in active operation and his far,-l
is widely known for it's productive
ness.
Following the Civil War, the rich
lands of the north central Mississippi
Valley began to compete with the
farms Of northeast United States
with the result generally that east
ern farm vert everywhere aban-
doned John Johnson's country was
one or the very few exceptions.
Although the lands Of the lake reg
ion of New York are not so rich as
those of the Mississippi Valley,
drainage has enabled them not only
to hold their own, but their farmers
have become rich and prosperous.
What has made that part Of New
Yorkgreat is not natural advantages,
but enterprises and thrift. To john
Johnson is due most OF the credit.
But some OF it is also due to neigh
boring farmers who, when they saw
the advantages OF drainage. were
ready to believe, and go and 90
likewise.
Mr.. C. A. David has just returned
from a visit to that country when
was the girlhood home OF his Wife
/ suppose nearly everyone in the par
ish knows Mr.. David, for he was
born here, in fact on the very lot
in Vaudeville where he has built his
drygoods store which is one of the
few in the parish that in up-to-date
quality and neatness of arrangement
bears comparison with the best III
the city. His friends are proud TO
speak of him as homemade and
self-made product of the parish, 50
! take pleasure in presenting his re-
port on the great fruit and farming
district of New York as indication
of what St. Tammany parish will ne
when drainage has the opportunity
to do for us what it has done for
that country.
Mr.. David got to see lot of the
country, for Mrs David's relatives
about Lockport have shared in the
general prosperity, and he had at his
daily disposal eight big automobiles
Now, il we had not seen that coul1
try for ourselves, notwithstanding
tCuntiEued on page Z,