75 



METHODS. 



Just a word as to methods. I can only give a few broad sug- 

 gestions, because each case varies and should be worked out 

 under scientific supervision. Generally, reclamation should be 

 undertaken in units of not less than i,ooo acres. This may be 

 done by co-operation of owners or by purchase of unimproved 

 marsh lands by corporations, for in spite of certain modern 

 prejudices some things can still be done better through corpora- 

 tions than by individual or State action. Next, the State should 

 by every means in its power encourage such reclamation, and 

 the same should be done by the local governments. The latter 

 should not be in too great a hurry to increase taxation upon lands 

 thus improved. They will get there ultimately, but difficulties 

 should not be put in the way of enterprising men who are ready 

 tO' add to the wealth and beauty of the State by improving these 

 now worthless lands. When the banks are constructed, care 

 must be taken to bring them to a height well above the highest 

 known tides. There should be a margin of at least two feet, 

 for the reason that some settlement of the embankments is in- 

 evitable. In all cases a trench should be cut through the meadow 

 turf, the sods and vegetable matter removed, and the trench 

 refilled with well-puddled clay. The center of the embankment 

 itself should be carefully puddled and kept tight. If it is ex- 

 posed to wave action the side toward the waves must be pro- 

 tected by broken stone or otherwise. As a rule, the bank should 

 not be set too close to the water. There should be a foreshore 

 of some 20 feet. This is partly because the natural bank may 

 crumble more or less with time, but it is in addition a safeguard 

 against the work of muskrats. These animals usually go down 

 below water level and tunnel into the bank, working upwards to 

 their house, which is built above the water. If the tide bank is 

 built too close to the water the result will be that they will go 

 through under it and come up on the inside, thereby allowing 

 the water to rush in and wash out the embankment, flooding the 

 improved land. At some soft spots in the marsh it may be neces- 

 sary to drive sheet-piling in order to make everything tight, but 



