KECLAMATION OF TIDE LANDS. 395 



and convinced of the great profit that would result from its reclama- 

 tion, but the lack of sufficient funds, together mth the knowledge of 

 certain failures that have been made, has perhaps more than any- 

 other consideration held back the reclamation of large areas of recog- 

 nized fertile lands. 



(2) In the New England and North Atlantic States nearly all the 

 marsh is owned in small tracts in connection with the highlands, and 

 it is extremely difficult to get the proprietors interested to unite in 

 carrying out any comprehensive plan of improvement. No one holds 

 enough land or has sufficient interest to take the time and spend the 

 money necessary to work up an organization for joint effort. This 

 want of united action among the many owners of small tracts has been 

 a great drawback to the improvement of the marshes along our coast. 



(3) Another serious hindrance has been the lack of proper tools 

 with wliich to do the work. Because of the swampy conditions 

 where the work is to be done and the amount of water encountered, 

 it is both difficult and expensive to construct a large embankment 

 by hand labor. In many localities where the marsh is favorably 

 located and could be reclaimed by a small amount of labor, the lack 

 of information as to how banks should be built and experience in 

 doing the work have held back many owners from reclaiming small 

 tracts of very valuable land. Education along this line of work, the 

 improvement and develoj^ment of machinery suitable for carrjdng 

 it on, and the accumulation of capital available for projects of this 

 kind will no doubt remove many of these hindrances and bring about 

 improvement in this work. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



In order to encourage the development of these marine marshes, 

 the Federal Government should be induced to cause a survey to be 

 made to determine their area, character, and fitness for reclamation 

 and the probable cost of doing the work. Such an examination 

 would have a tendency to establish their commercial value and v/ould 

 be of inestimable benefit to both the o%vners and the Government. 



Simple but equitable drainage laws should be enacted by each 

 State having within its borders any considerable amount of salt 

 marsh. Without such a law the progress of reclamation would be 

 slow. It is not right that a few men, owning but a small portion of 

 the marsh, should prevent its improvement and development by refus- 

 ing to sell or aid in the cost of the work and yet reap the benefits 

 when made by others. Such will, however, always be the case in 

 the absence of just and equitable drainage laws. The drainage of the 

 farms in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa would never have reached 

 such a degree of perfection as they have had it not been for the efficient 



