Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-21
DRAINAGE QUESTION
IS IMPORTANT NOW
Editor Of The Journal:

columns in faver oe Tie exclamation
of overflow and swamp lands in the
south. 1t cannot be disputed that
vast benefits always accrue from the
drainage Of such lands and that
nothing is more essential to the
prosperity and development of the
south, especially along agricultural
lines, than the proper drainage OF
the millions of acres of swamp and
wet lands in the south. The fact
that thousands Of acres of land in
Missouri, which before drainage We're
worth not more than $3.50 an acre
now average 500 an acre, shows
the vital part drainage plays in agri.
cultural development. AS The
Journal points out, 1,170,000 acres
of land in Missouri was worth only
about $1,5oO,000 before drained, but
Is valued at about $150,000,000 now,
and the food producing capacity OF
this reclaimed acreage amounts to
probably $100,000,000 dollars. There
are at least 100000 acres of
swamp and vast Glands in the south
which, if reclaimed, would be worth
500 to $500 an acre and would
produce annually from two and a
half to five billion dollars worth OF
foodstuffs. No state should be more
vitality interested in drainage than
Georgia as in this state there are
at least 100000 acres of swamp
lands that need drainage and $4,000
farms report need of drainage. II
this land was properly drained mil
lions of dollars would be added to
the wealth of the state, health con-
ditions vastly improved in the%sec
lions where the waste lands are,
and great strides would be made in
agricultural development.
Successful reclamation in Georgia
is a question that the whole state
is peculiarly and vitality interested
in. It appeals to all classes of citi-
zens, farmers, merchants, business
and professional men and others,
because it is one of the greatest
factors in the states material pros
perity and development along every
line of industry. Urgent and in
sistent applications are being con-
stantly received from all counties in
the state by the federal and state
geological surveys for help in con-
sumnating important reclamation
projects and within recent years
such progress and growth have been
experienced by the Georgia Drain
age Congress, one of the most pro-
gressive organizations in the union,
which has a membership Of pro-
gressive and .pubEc-spirited men, in
terested in reclamation work, that
district organizations have been per-
fected in many sections of the state
and prospects are bright for the
organization of others in. the near
future. The drainage question is of
peculiar and vital interest not only
to the people of South Georgia,
where there are millions Of acres of
swamp and overflow lands, but to
those of North Georgia where there
are many thousands of acres of
overflow lands along the banks of
many rivers and other large
streams.
That the question of drainage af-
fects the public welfare is strikingly
attested by the fact that in many
sections farmers, merchants and 9TH
err citizens have combined for the
purpose of carrying on reclamation
work in their immediate vicinity,
and in a majority of cases their
work has been highly successful.
The state government is under obli-
cations to aid in such constructive
work on the part of it's citizens, for
by such work the prosperity and
greatness of the state is consider
ably quickened and promoted. The
whole state, not only because of
the millions of dollars that it would
add to the states wealth but also
because it would better conditions of
health in htose sections where the
swamp lands exist. According to
statistics, the death rate from ma
laria has been greatly reduced in
those states where reclamation work
has been extensively carried for
ward. 1t is certainly time that the
state government was contributing
an ample share, both financially and
in other ways, to the carrying for
ward Of reclamation projects in this
state and there is no question but
that all the people of the state real
ize the significance of the drainage
movement to them, feel that every
thing possible ought to be done to.
ward retaining the thousands Of
acres Of swamp and overflow lands
now lying idle and would cheerfully
cooperate in the success of such
work. Notwithstanding the nation
wide Importance and significance of
the drainage question and it's pecu-
liar relation to the countrys mate
rial growth and development, the
national government has never fl
mar ALLY or in other ways largely
assisted the individual states in re-
claiming their waste overflow lands
and, no doubt, all classes of citizens
enthusiastically endorse the con-
tribution of efforts by the gov
eminent in behalf Of the furtherance
of reclamation projects in all the
states Of the union.
There never was time when the
drainage of the thousands Of swamp
and waste lands in the state was
more necessary than now. Since
the appearance of the boil weevil,
great strides have been made in di-
versified farming and this means
that the state will experience in the
next few years great progress along
agricultural lines. The development
and exploitation Of the states agri-
| cultural resources will attract thou
sands Of desirable homeseekers here
and there will be an increasing de-
mand for land. The problem would
be greatly solved by reclamation of
the waste lands Of the state
Schooner Burns