Minutes 12/09/1969 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Dea~mber 9_ 196.9 Enclosure: ~ette's letter "Thank you. very much for your inquiry and interest in what appeared recently in the Lead,r-Star as "The Heutte Plan for the development of the Dismal Swamp", unfortunately I ran out of the original Documentry, whic~h I had distributed among all local papers, as well as political pebple ... the original of this documentary, I gave last to a me~oer of the associat~ Press, who is to write a story on it, then return to me. However, as you have honored me with your request, here it is in retrospect: My interest in ~ .... the d~velopment of D~smal Swamp, goes back over thirty )rears, when I first becam aware, tha~ it lay in that part of TIDEWATER Va., which was not only an ecological wonder, but at the northern edge of SUB-~ TROPICAL U. S., where it meets the TEMPEBATE growing zone. Over the years whidl have intervened, I -elieve I have proven my theo~r, that we live in >Ynat I have liked to refer to, as the HORTICULTURAL center of the Eastern Seaboard, with its capacity to produce from the soil, more species of plants th~_n e-ny other, which are sought by home and other types of Gardeners. Therefore, on these premises, I made a prediction during my early stay in NorfoIk, that we ~ould become the Horticultural CAPITAL of the east, with TIDEWATER as its spawning grotmds ... we had the P~W MATERIAL .... "EARTH & CLIPliTE". In the back of ~ mind, as I witnessed, the great spinach and winter producing ~egetable farms, dwindle before the onsought of urban spread, industrialization ~nd othe factors, i turned my~ mind to great open areas to the eat of DiSHAL SW;J~ ~nd the Magic of its history and B~bme. The Canal whic/n flanks it to the east, was conceived by some of the founders of our country George Washing- ton and Patrick Heni~/, and while theyit, ost money in their early investment, and that the canal they draa~ed about never becs~ne a Bonanza even after b-ina built .. it nevert25eless st~ds as a monument to their faith in our nation ... as a means of com~unciation it serYes a great purpose to our sophisticated society ... to me, however, it could become the source and magnet to a new INDUSTRIAL Eb~IRE, if we cmn for a moment think of the raising of om&mental plants as such a development ... remember we have the RAW M~TER!ALS. However, in the ~thinking of t~ose, who are em-powered to develop the great PRIVATE HOLDINGS in the dismal swamp that are theirs, there seemed to be other industrial smhemes in their minds, somewhat c]~ecked by a minority opinion (garden & womens clubs and rabid conservationist) THAT THE SW~P SHOULD REMAIN AS IS .... Therefore, the State Conservation & Economic Development, has been caught in the middle, and incidentRlly re- ceived MY PL~f ... that I thought would be a COMPROMISE. I propose that the FEEDER DITCH to the c, anal from Lake Drummond, which is controlled by the Army engineers, approximately three miles long mhd three kunam~d fe~t wide, be judiciously cleared leaving the best of the trees and planted to the best of what our soil can pr6duCe and exmmplifying the great spectacular all seaSon effect we cmn Produce, with Azaleas, Csm]ellias, ~hododendrons, Cramp Myrtles, Hollies, and hundred of other species. This would act as a t~hree mile HORTICULTURAL SHOW CASE, and demonstrating our climatic capacity .. if you cannot visualize what I mean by show caee, just ride ~own route 17 even at this time of the year, and see its present wild splendor reflected in the black waters of the of the canal .... that is the MAGNET, reflected spender, whic~h I visualize along its entire length 22 miles of it from Great Bridge to South Mills, becoming the g~eatest FLOWER ~'~ALL and MAPJ(ET in the world ... no other place to my knowledge, has a WATER-WAY, FLANKED BY A POTEN~IAL multi-Ianed highway, over which a trade route can be established. The ultimate results, would produce that INDUSTRIAL EMPIP~E I speak of. ~ has one of the worlds greatest Brewers "BUSCH", selected the Williamsburg area for one of its GARDENS ... because we are historically and climatically best situated. ~ae co~romise is ... that we leave the owners of the DISMAL SW~,~J~, do what they please with the swamp .. we have plenty of idle lands to support the industry I spe~ of. The federal controlled lands of the Canal, ~would become LE;~BED to the producers of the plants, whether raised in California or Kalamazoo. ~ese B~KS would become only the SHOW CASES and retail distributing centers, I mention California, because they have the corner on the ROSE PRODUCING market as has TEXAS ... what I visualize is the Greatest PL~T & FLOWER MARKET in the World .,. at least it fives something to think about. Thank you for your inquiry." Motion of Mr. Holley to refer to a conference with t~he. PArks and Recreation Commission was adopted, withou~ dissenting vote. 69-405 - The following letter from Thomas J. Miltner was read: "As ~airmsn of the Recraation Committee I would like to appear on the agenda December 9, 1969 to discuss our recreation problem in the Cavalier Manor Area and a possible solution to-same." Motion of Mr. Nolley that Mr. Millner's request to attend tlne meeting of the Council with the Parks Recreation Commission was adopted, without dissenting vote. 69-406 - The following letter from Linen V~nn was read: "Attac~ed herewith is F petitiou from residents, of North Truxtu~, urging early consideration of curbing sidewalks for that area, mhd a plea from residents on Marshall Avenue, Brighto~, for ~rainage and street ir~provemen us. Both ~ ~ ~ ~' ~e~O.S need bne work requested very much and I ho~e you will find it possible to aceompl_sn~it. Will you please extend me the privilege of the floor at your next meeting so I can speak on our needs, mhd let me knew in advance whether I may do so? Thanks~or your consideration." i¢~OtlOn Of ~-- ~' ' ,,~. Hoiley to refer to a conference on the stf~ject was adopted, without dissenting vote.