The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-02-07
DETERMINED CONTEST
FOR THE EVERGLADES

which meant the election-of Hon.
, Napoleon B. Broward, of Jacksonville,
pronounced anti-cOrporation candi-
date, to the governorship.
The Race of Broward.
1t is a fact that Mr.. Broward was
very reluctant to become a candidate
for governor, and only consented after
he had failed to induce any other suit
able man sharing his views to enter
the race in opposition to Congressman
Robert w. Davis, whose nomination,
until couple of months before the
primary was generally regarded as a
foregone conclusion. Finally, Mr..
Broward did enter the race, and he
canYassed the entire state preaching
the doctrine that the public lands
should be held, administered and dis
posed of for the benefit of the state
and not given over to corporations,
meaning the railroad and canal CON-
panies. On that issue he was elected
governor and in his inaugural address
a few weeks ago he reiterated even
more firmly his determination to
fight to the end the attempts of cor
porations to obtain the public lands.
The governor, of course, is only one
of the trustees of the internal improve
ment fund, but it may be said that the
other four trustees are in hearty ac-
cord with him and will act with the
greatest vigor in his support.
An Immense Territory.
The Everglades of Florida cover an
area of about 1000 square miles, en-
bracing more than one-half of that
portion of the state south of Lake
Okeechobee. The subsoil of that vast
region is coraline limestone Upon the
surface of this. which is very rough
and irregular. lies an immense accu-
mutation of alluvial deposits and de-
cayed vegetable matter, forming
mass of soft mud from three to ten
feet in depth, that overspreads all but
few points of the first stratum, upon
which rests a sheet of water, the
depth varying with the rainfall, but
seldom greater than three feet; inter
spersed by numerous narrow and tor
tuous channels that form a kind of
labyrinth whose outlets present them
selves in every direction-most of
them, however, terminating in impass-
able barriers of grass, mud and sand.
The difference of level between the
highest and lowest stages of water is
from two to three feet.
Value Of 'GIades.
1t is the idea of the trustees that the
Everglades should be drained and
opened to actual settlers. Engineers
for many years have declared that this
is practicable. and there is general
agreement that the cost of reclama-
ton of this vast area would be a mere
bagatelle in comparison with its great
agricultural value. Experts have re-
peatedly declared that the glades, once
dried, would open up the best sugar
land in the southland also excellent
for rice and corn, tropical fruits, vege-
tables, pasturage, etc. Little effort
has been made in the past to drain and
reclaim this large area, one great diff
ficulty having been the uncertain con-
dition of the title until Governor Jen-
nings secured patents from the United
States in 1903. Even now no definite
project can be prosecuted until the
new litigation between the land grant
companies and the state trustees IS
adjudicated. When or how that will
be terminated has been commenced
by the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
road and other companies in the Unit
ed States court for the northern dis
trict of Florida, the court over which
the impeached judge. Charles Swayne,
presides. There's not much business
being disposed of in judges Swayne's
court just now.
1t is interesting TO note that the
eastern boundary of the Everglades
reaches within half a dozen miles of
both Miami and West Palm Beach. the
greatest of all Florida winter resorts.