The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-18
Change of Front on
Drainage Question.

| VI 'nS lOOOnI campaign WaReQ by
Governor Broward to have the con.
stitutional amendment on drainage
adopted The Journal neither advoca.
ted or opposed the amendment, but
reported fairly the debates on the
question and published the views of
both sides to the controversy. Now
that the matter has been settled and
the people have voted overwhelming
ly against the proposition it is anus.
ing to note the tone of some of the
papers who fought the proposition
most bitterly.
1t has been said that the people
voted against the drainage measure
not because they were against drain
age, but because they were against
giving the powers enumerated in The
amendment to any five men, and some
nave claimed that the amendment
was defeated because Of opposition to
the governor-that by defeating the
amendment his enemies would side
track Broward for any future political
office to which he might aspire.
Whether the people were in favor
OF draining the entire Everglades or
not 1t is certain that a part of that
territory needs attention and that
very badly. The following editorial
from the columns of the Jasper News.
which paper opposed the adoption of
the amendment, describes the condi-
TOMS prevailing in Lee county:
The drainage amendment being de-
feated, the issue raised by it is a
thing Of the past.
But there is one county i'm orr state
Lee county, which needs help and we
feel sure that every patriotic citizen
OF our state is ready to contribute his
aoihty, influence and whatever money
may be necessary, in the shape of le-
Ultimate taxation, for her relief.
In very wet seasons the Coloosa-
hatchie river overfiOws. practically.
the entire county. This is caused by
the cutting. by Disston years ago. of
the Hfcpochee canal which turns the
waters of lake Okeechobee into the
Caloosahatchie river.
The Caloosahatchie river, with lake
Okeechobee, the canals, and the Kis-
simmee river, make a continuous
navigable waterway from the gulf of
Mexico to Kissimmee. Clearly, there
fore, the expense incurred in protect
ing Lee county from floods should be
borne by the national government,
and this we believe will be done.
But, we are not in favor of any
long drawn out delays in this matter.
FOR 1t Is one which requires haste.
Far better for the state to do the work
and trust for reimbursement by the
national government afterwards, than
for the products of Lee county to be
periodically destroyed, as is now the
case.
III Broward's canal which is now be- |
ing dug could be extended to Lake |
Okeechobee it would help great
deal, but this will never be done in
the way and manner now operated.
hN"oOh thdt lake Ok6eCnO-
bee. If reports be correct, is % feet
higher than tide water. The dredge
now operating on the canal began at
the tide water end of IL, and as water
will not run uphill, whenever the
dredge starts to rise above tide water
1t will come to standstill for want
Df water to float it.
Our suggestion would be to take
The two dredges and tow them around
to Fort Myers. Put one of them to
work strengthening and deepening the
crooked places in the Coloosahatchie
river. and tow the other dredge to
AXE OkeechObee and let it begin there
md cut the canal, which Gov. Brow
ard is now having dug. downhill to
5idewater. We believe this work
would make Lee county practically
Try
But we are not welded to our opin-
on, except in this: That something
should be done for the relief of Lee
county, and it should be done right
away"