RECLAIMING A BOG

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16200, 25 November 1926, Page 11

RECLAIMING A BOG

LONDON, Oct. 18. Details of an interesting and important scheme of work for unemployed in Scotland, in connection with reclaiming the extensive tract of waste land in Stirlingshire, known as Flanders Moss, are now available. Flanders Moss is situated between Kippen and the Lake of Menteitli, and tho scheme proposes to reclaim a portion to the extent of 12 or 13 miles, which at present consists of large stretches of bog and desolate areas of dead and decaying vegetation, A Nation Executive of Distress Committees of Scotland lias been formed to carry out the reclamation scheme, which has advanced so far that it now only awaits the sanction of the Government. It is proposed to begin operations on a section of 100 acres, and it is estimated that, about 1000 men could be employed at the very outset in the construction of the necessary railway siding and the erection of housing accommodation. "As the work progressed, the schemel would eventually provide employment for many thousands of men at present unemployed In addition, to providing work, the scheme would result in the saving of considerable sums Fo parishes in the form of relief to able-bodied persons out of work.

Railway and canal faciities already exist for the conveyance of city street refuse from Glasgow and other places which are so linked up with Flanders Moss. In the cast* of Glasgow it is estimated that- by dumping the city refuse in the moss, a saving of Is petton would be effected in comparison with the present method of disposing of the 600 tons of refuse handled by the citv daily.

In tli/ opinion of experts, reclamation would transform Flanders Moss into land equal to any in Scotland. Good arable land would' be the result, suitable, in addition to cropping, for fruit-grpiying. ■poultrv-reavihg. bee-keeping, etg. ,‘lt is estimated that the land reclaimed would represent a value of £3 per acre??