136 THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 



the front rank of American physicians and surgeons the Hon. 

 John Swinburne, late Mayor of the city of Albany, at one time 

 Health Officer of the Port of New York, and now Member of Con- 

 gress elect from the Albany district. 



ALBANY, May 7th, 1885. 

 Hon. A. N. Cole : 



DEAR SIR: After quite thorough examination and consideration of 

 your invention, or system styled by you " The New Agriculture," I 

 have become deeply interested in the matter, and beg leave by letter 

 to express to you the impressions I have formed in reference to it. 



Careful thought about the system impels me to the conclusion 

 that as a plan for the storage and preservation of waters for irrig- 

 tion and purposes of general use, it demands and merits far more at- 

 tention at the hands of farmers, gardeners and the public generally 

 than has as yet been given to it. 



In a country like ours in the eastern, southern and central 

 portions fast filling up with large cities and villages and thickly 

 populated neighborhoods the question of the most available 

 means of obtaining a proper and sufficient supply of water for 

 mechanical manufacturing and household purposes, and for pro- 

 tection against fires is calling to its consideration the earnest atten- 

 tion and careful study of many of our ablest scientists and most 

 practical thinkers; while to agriculturists, manufacturers and mill 

 owners generally, in these sections, the very perceptible decrease in 

 the volume of our rivers, creeks and other irrigating streams, upon 

 the sufficiency of the supply of water from which they have been 

 compelled heretofore (some in part and others wholly), to depend 

 for success in their various avocations, has been to many of them 

 the cause of great diminution of business and business profits, and 

 to others a subject of deepest anxiety. The reduction of our forests, 

 it is said, (and very properly too), has resulted in a consequent re- 



