THE GLEANERS 93 



in places where tile drainage was not required 

 the average cost has not exceeded $4 per acre. 

 Judging from the prices which prevail in a 

 large number of these districts where work 

 of this kind is being carried on, it is safe to 

 estimate that the 77,000,000 acres of swamp 

 can be thoroughly drained and made fit for 

 cultivation at an average cost of $15 per acre. 

 The market value of these lands in their pres- 

 ent shape ranges from $2 to $20 per acre, 

 depending upon the location and prospect of 

 immediate drainage, with an average of prob- 

 ably $8 per acre. Similar lands in different 

 sections of the country that have been drained 

 sell readily at $60 to $100 per acre at the 

 completion of the work, and in many instances, 

 when situated near large cities, they have sold 

 as high as $400 per acre. To determine 

 whether or not it will pay to drain these lands 

 we have but to consider the following figures : 



Cash value of 77,000,000 acres after thorough drain- 

 age, at $60 per acre $4,620,000,000 



Present value of this land at $8 



per acre $616,000,000 



Cost of drainage at $15 per acre. . . 1,155,000,000 



Value of land and cost of draining 1,771,000,000 



Net increase in value 2,849,000,000 



Ninety-five per cent, of the land ceded by 

 the government to the various states is al- 

 ready in the hands of farmers. And in addi- 



