6 BULLETIN 304, V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



Low Lands/' enumerates 13 distinct districts having areas varying 

 from 800 acres to 35,000 acres which are now drained by steam plants 

 operating either the improved scoop wheel or the more modern 

 centrifugal pump. 



From available data it appears that not less than 203,000 acres of 

 lowland in eastern England depend upon pumps for their drainage. 

 The efficiency of these plants has from time to time been greatly 

 increased until it is now estimated that the average cost of pumping 

 in eastern England is 2 cents per acre for each foot the water is raised. 



The conditions which are found in Europe are in many respects 

 different from those we are required to meet in this country. The 

 history of drainage by pumping, however, during the last 100 years 

 shows a gratifying and substantial development of mechanical 

 devices and the utilization of power for draining, and establishes 

 beyond question the practicability of this kind of reclamation. The 

 experience and practice of northern Europe are exceedingly valuable 

 to those who contemplate the design and construction of works of this 

 class, a study of which should prevent us from falling into certain 

 errors that have at times been expensive and discouraging to European 

 enterprise in land development. 



PAST EXPERIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 



In this country, among the plantations in the lowlands along the 

 Gulf of Mexico, pumping has been in vogue for a long time, especially 

 f&r the drainage of lands devoted to the cultivation of sugar cane. 

 Recently the reclamation of the wet lands in southern Louisiana has 

 progressed rapidly and there are now a large number of projects com- 

 pleted and others in the various stages of construction. The total 

 area thus taken in is about 240,000 acres. 



Pumping was first introduced in the bottom lands lying along the 

 Illinois River and the adjacent portions of the Mississippi about 25 

 years ago, but little was accomplished previous to 1900. Since 1905, 

 however, numerous large plants have been constructed. In the 

 spring of 1915, 19 separate plants along the Illinois were in oper- 

 ation, pumping the drainage water from a total area of about 161,000 

 acres. These plants have a combined capacity of about 6,300 horse- 

 power and represent an investment of about $500,000. There are 

 under construction three additional plants to provide for the drainage 

 water from about 21,000 acres. With the completion of this work 

 nearly all the available bottom land along the Illinois River will have 

 been reclaimed. For all the improvements constructed in drainage 

 districts as such the expenditure was about $4,800,000. 



Along the Mississippi River in the States of Iowa, Missouri, and 

 Illinois the movement is well started, and it is now evident, from the 

 numerous inquiries for information received from these and many 



