Note: The following is one of a series of articles looking at events in the history of Bulloch County.

The Statesboro News, July 28, 1911 carried a Savannah Morning News article entitled "Land Draining in Bulloch County. Professor Johnson Returns Enthusiastic After Inspection of Arcola's Three Mile Ditch."

"He was met at Ivanhoe by Mr. Bacot, R.F. Donaldson, W.G. Raines, W.B. Martin, and Professor E.C.J. Dickinson of the Agricultural School. (It was) located at Tucker, 14 miles east on the Savannah and Statesboro Railway."

It revealed the "draining (of) 9,000 acres of rich farming lands in Bulloch County (by) D.N. Bacot, Superintendent of the Savannah and Statesboro Railroad, and his associates (who owned) a land development company."

They had "constructed a ditch or canal nearly three miles at Arcola." Professor J.M. Johnson, director of the Savannah Chamber of Commerce's Model Farm, at the request of Mr. Bacot, paid a visit" to the work site.

According to the News, he "returned highly enthusiastic at the progress in approved drainage (of) these 9,000 acres of rich and naturally fertile soil, (which were) suitable for general farming, trucking, (and) cotton growing."

And, "150 farms have been reclaimed that will repay any and all expenditures in time and money that will be laid out (to pay for the land's preparation and) cultivation."

The News declared "Mr. Bacot and his associates (are developing the land) for farming and colonization (which lays) on either side of the Savannah and Statesboro Railroad, thirteen miles southeast of Statesboro."

After "Mr. Bacot began a careful survey of the land, (when) the engineer's level had been put on the land a slope from three to ten feet a mile in a certain direction was found." This was a perfect natural drainage.

In addition, Mr. Bacot next ascertained that practically every pond could be tapped into a main ditch gradually ascending the slope. (Therefore), he mapped out the exact course that the ditch or canal should follow."

In order to avoid the problem of crossing other people's land, "he purchased outright one tract in order that he might control the main outlet of the canal."

He then convinced the other land owners to give "him the right of way and contributed somewhat to the expenses of opening a ditch across their own lands."

At present Mr. Bacot (has) nearly two miles completed and opened. The ditch varies in depth from five feet at the shallowest point to ten feet or more at the deepest place."

"It also varies in width at the top from 25 feet at the widest point to perhaps 15 feet at the narrowest part, and will average from 16 to 18 feet in width. Three quarters of a mile is yet to be excavated."

So, "the work of excavation is progressing at the rate of 100 feet a day. In all, there will be something like 40,000 cubic yards of dirt handled in making this ditch."

"It will cost between 4 and 6 cents a cubic yard for the excavation." Once finished, "this work will transform the entire 9,00 acres owned by the company (and) between t00 to 800 acres owned by other people."

The plan's promoters said, "a section that formerly was but poorly suited to agricultural purposes (will become) one of the most desirable and easily tilled districts in the whole South."

They went on to say "Perhaps of more importance though is the adaptability of this land to some of the trucking crops (such as) potatoes, beans, lettuce and others (will be) at home in this soil."

The News explained that "Mr. Bacot is the pioneer in this work. He is a hustler in any business he undertakes, (and) the ditch is Mr. Bacot's vision realized."

Finally, once then visit was over, the group got in to "automobiles (which) took the party from Arcola to Statesboro where dinner was waiting for them at the Jaeckel Hotel."

Roger Allen is a local lover of history who provides a brief look each week at the area's past. Email him at rwasr1953@gmail.com.