1190 New York State Agricultural Society 



embark through its Conservation Commission in connection with 

 that sort of work where public health alone will ])e affected, and 

 which would permit the state to lend its credit or moral assistance 

 for the benefit of agricultural resources and true conservation — 

 I think it would be a meritorious act of the legislature. 



Prof. Fippin: It seems to me the statements that have been 

 made here illustrate very well the fact that what we need more 

 than anything else is more education. The statement that they did 

 not know what they had to do is an indication that our laws are 

 not understood. It is certainly true that when these matters get 

 into a lawyer's hands they are made about as hard to understand 

 as possible. In the matter of possibilities for drainage, however, 

 it should be clearly pointed out that the laws on conservation, as 

 well as on drainage, provide for the recognition of the benefits 

 from drainage for commercial purposes. The drainage law in 

 language specifies " for agricultural improvement." The con- 

 servation law adds public health — either the public health or 

 general welfare. jMy interpretation of the term " general wel- 

 fare " is that agriculture comes within it. It is the broadest term 

 we can apply. The amendment to the consolidated drainage law 

 originally included the term, or used the term '' agricultural im- 

 provement " or " general improvement." Somewhere in the 

 enactment of that law the general welfare clause was dropped and 

 it was limited to agricultural improvement. So far as farmers 

 are concerned that is sufHcieiit, and both laws do provide for ihe 

 recognition of agricultural drainage as sufficient recognition. 



I see a gentleman here in the room I should like to hear from 

 on this subject. 



Mr. White, of Toxia: I have luul very little experience in 

 carrying out the i)r(ivisi()iis df ilu> drainage law. Last summer 

 I was appointed eliainuiin of a eommissiou f!)r draining a piece 

 of swamp land, Sdiiie sdO iici'es. rn(h'r that act there is appar- 

 ently no difHeidty ;it nil :!■< 1n tlie drainage of a piece of property 

 in which a number of people are interested. In this connection 

 I will say that in order to make it doubly certain we got a cer- 

 tificate from the health officer in that territory declaring it was 

 for the benefit of ])ulilic he;illh, so we cimld get away from all 

 chances of complications. Wo are working along that line and 



