DRAINAGE INVESTIGATIONS. 47 



DRAINAGE OF SWAMP LANDS. 



Along the coast of the South Atlantic States are considerable tracts 

 once devoted to the production of rice, but now abandoned because 

 this crop can no longer be raised profitably in competition with that 

 from lands more favorably situated. It would be of value to know 

 whether such lands can be economically drained and cultivated to 

 dry-land crops. Surveys and plans were made by George M. Warren 

 and D. L. Yarnell for draining 340 acres of such land on the Orton 

 plantation and the Garrell tract, near Wilmington, N. C. The con- 

 struction of levees, the excavation of ditches, and the installation of 

 pumping plants seem the most practicable method of reclamation. 



Near Belvidere, N, C., is a tract of 3,500 acres, which the owners 

 have attempted to drain by ditches without success, owing largely to 

 lack of proper outlets. George R. Boyd made a survey of the tract 

 and reported the changes and additions that should be made to the 

 old ditch system. 



A survey was made by J. V. Phillips of about 2,200 acres in Wash- 

 ington, Hyde, and Beaufort Counties, N. C, drained by the Pungo 

 River. The river channel has not sufficient capacity to remove the 

 water promptly. A new main outlet ditch was planned, following 

 the river channel closely, the location for the ditch was marked in 

 the field, and the size and approximate cost were determined. 



The area drained by the Scuppernong River, including the water- 

 shed of Lake Phelps, in Washington and Tyrrell Counties, X. C, 

 was surveyed by George R. Boyd. Plans were made for enlarging 

 the river channel and extending it to Lake Phelps ; for the construc- 

 tion of new drainage ditches and the enlargement of some of those 

 previously constructed; and for the control of the lake to prevent 

 overflow. The construction of the work which has been recom- 

 mended Avill benefit 75,000 acres. 



A watershed survey of the territory between Albemarle and Pam- 

 lico Sounds in Beaufort and Washington Counties, N. C, was made 

 by George R. Boyd, assisted by J. V. Phillips and F. G. Eason, the 

 John L. Roper Lumber Co. paying one-half the cost. The survey 

 established the natural watershed lines in this area, and connected 

 the surveys in these counties and that of the Lake Mattamuskeet 

 project in Hyde County, previously made by this office. The ap- 

 proximate area is 158,000 acres, exclusive of that in the territory 

 covered by earlier projects. A new ditch was located along Broad 

 Creek, in the southwest part of the district, to furnish an outlet for 

 19,500 acres. The location was determined also for a main ditch to 

 drain 36,300 acres in the northwest part of the district and discharg- 

 ing into Conaby Creek near Plymouth. 



D. L. Yarnell made a survey of a tract near Norfolk, Va., known 

 as Berkeley Swamp, which borders the Great Dismal Swamp. A 



