The Coolidge examiner., 1934-11-30
p0NT|NE =
MARSHES ~
TRANSFORNED.t!|.I
Pontine Marsh Beets.


that once had been well cultivated
and livened with villas and cities
again became a swampy and DESC
late waste.
Popes Tried to Redeem II.
Several attempts to redeem the
land are recorded; kings and popes
tried and failed. But the first with
a modern turn OF mind to accom-
plish something effective was Leo Y.
That great pope (1513-152D de-
clared the draining OF the region
was a work of public utility and
therefore appropriation was a JUS
titled procedure. He granted the
enterprise to his nephew. Glullano
del MedIci, who made a good busl-
ness OF 1t.
Gluliano would invite the owners
of the land, private persons or COM
munltles, 10 go into partnership
with him in the enterprise. The
owners, fearing large expenses.
would refuse; whereupon Giuliano
would appropriate for a song.
Two further attempts are worthy
OF record. One was that of Sixtus
V, who. in 15SG-15So. had the old
water channel, the Flumen AntIquum,
enlarged into a broad canal that In
hies hnnnr Cfefn
centuries later Plus vi called the
hydraulic engineer. Gaetano Rap
plnl, TO avail himself OF the mod
ern technique for definitely resolv-
Ing the problem. The old Appian
Way, submerged for a thousand
years. was given back to traffic,
and along II great canal was ex-
cavated that took the name OF Linea
Pia.
The pope. naturally much pleased
with his accomplishment, had
tiny obelisk erected near Tore Tre
PontI, on which are engraved the
words: "OLIM PONTINA PALUS-
NUNC AGER PONTINUS" (Once
the PontIne marshes-Now the Pom
tine ields.)
Not many years later an earth
quake gave a bad twist to the ODE
lisk, and malaria drove away the
people who had attempted to settle
the land; also. the Benedictine
monks. for whom the pope had built
nice convent at Torro Ire Ponti,
had TO leave or died. The traveller
could drive along the restored APP
plan Way, but in winter. on both
sides of the road, sheets OF water
extended for miles. This was the
paradise of sea gulls, ducks, and
geese, and of the Roman hunters
who stalked the wild fowl while
wading behind innocent-looking old
horses.
Prampolini's Great Work.
Now an end has been put to all
this. When the land owners were
called by the government to unite
In a consortium for planning and
carrying out the final hydraulic
drainage of the region. the govern
ment agreed to contribute to the
huge expense the large share OF
S71a per cent.
The actual work of road build
ing and canal digging began in 1926
under Senator Prampolinis direc-
tion.
In the meanwhile, an effective
organization was created, with
the assistance of the Rockefeller
foundation, to fight the malaria, be-
cause, unless this enemy had been
destroyed, it would not have been
possible 10 conquer the land.
The first and most important ex-
perimental center was created in
the old Caetani castle of Sermon
eta. When the work was started,
statistics showed that 90 per cent
Of the population were infected
with the disease and that virtually
no infant reached its first year with
out an attack Of fever. Yellow lit
tie faces and sunken eyes stared
at you in the medieval streets. Now
new infections are practically I'M
known and pink and white little
cherubs greet you.
After driving away the water and
the malaria, the next step was 10
populate and transform the land.
The government issued orders that
by the year 1895, for the anniver-
sary of the march on Rome, every
acre Of arabic land, excepting
woods, lakes, and certain tracts Of
lowland awaiting special work,
should be colOnized.
The government has offered finan-
cial assistance to the lapd owners
in building, on every 30SS SSacres OF
land. a house with stables, pig and
chicken pens, and a baking oven.
Money is loaned at 215 per cent in
terest. II the owner refuses, his
land is appropriated and the war
veterans organization undertakes
the work.
Everybody works; even little chill
dren eight years old, when free from
school, watch the sheep Craze along
the ditches.