2 ENGINEERING FOR LAND DRAINAGE. 



researches ascertains the means by which a dread dis- 

 ease may be averted. 



The civilizing effects of the drainage of these great 

 tracts upon the people immediately concerned are diffi- 

 cult to measure. It is sufficient to say, however, that 

 it has had no small part in leading men away from 

 primitive superstitions and rude practices to higher am- 

 bitions, nobler impulses, and purer morals. It is said 

 that when the drainage of the North Level, a part of 

 the celebrated Fens of England, seemed assured one of 

 the Fen poets made the following versified predictions : 



" With a change of elements suddenly 

 There shall a change of men and manners be : 

 Hearts thick and tough as hides shall feel remorse 

 And souls of sedge shall understand discourse : 

 New hands shall learn to work, forget to steal ; 

 New legs shall go to church, new knees shall kneel." 



Not only this, but in the development of the fertility 

 of a large area of all grain-producing agricultural lands 

 drainage has been extensively practised, and is justly 

 regarded as one of the most necessary adjuncts of suc- 

 cessful soil culture. 



Land drainage in this country has had its principal 

 growth during the last twenty years. Its practice 

 reaches from the simple drainage of a garden costing 

 only a few dollars to that of tracts containing thousands 

 of acres, involving elaborate plans and the expenditure 

 of large sums of money. It includes the drainage of 

 all kinds of lands which require it, either for profit or 

 for health, and hence embraces a wider rano;e of topics 

 than, upon first thought, seems to be involved. 



The drainage engineer should be qualified for his 



