6 BULLETIN 304, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
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 voguefor a long time, especially 
for 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 8500,000. 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 84,800,000. 
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 
