SWAMP LANDS 63 



According to the reports of the United States 

 Geological Survey, there are more than seventy- 

 five million acres of swamp land in this country, 

 the greater part of which are capable of reclama- 

 tion at probably a nominal cost as compared to 

 their value. It is important to the development 

 of the best type of country life that the reclama- 

 tion of the lands in rural regions proceed under 

 conditions insuring their subdivision into small 

 farm units and their settlement by men who 

 would both own them and till them. Some of 

 these lands are near the centers of population. 

 They become a menace to health, and they often 

 prevent the development of good social con- 

 ditions in very large areas of country. As a rule, 

 they are extremely fertile. They are capable of 

 sustaining an agricultural population numbering 

 many millions; and the conditions under which 

 these millions must live are properly a matter of 

 national concern. In view of these facts, the 

 federal government should act to the fullest ex- 

 tent of its constitutional powers in securing the 

 reclamation of these lands under proper safe- 

 guards against speculative holding and land- 

 lordism. It may be that in the case of those lands 



