The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-07-28
Mr.. Claude L'Engle.
Editor THE SUN,
4

Dear Sir:--I desire that the following facts be
placed before the people of Florida for their infor
nation. ~
The 10th day of May of the present year |
was travelling in train on the Florida East Coast
Railroad, going to Daytona, where l was to
make a speech that evening on the subject of the
drainage of the Everglades. Mr. Ingraham, the
Vice-Presdent of the road, was on the same train,
going to West Palm Beach, where was to speak
the following night, also on the subject of draining
the Everglades.
After speaking at Daytona proceeded to West
Palm Beach, arriving there the next day Dur.
ing the day learned that meeting had been
held between the business men of West Palm
Beach and Mr. Ingraham and Mr. Gleason. who Is
known to be dredge man. l was informed that
that day, at the meeting, an agreemnt was entered
into by Mr.. Ingraham with the business men Of
West Palm Beach to the following effect That
Mr. Ingraham would dig canals and bitches and
construct dykes, thereby retaining about 1000
acres of saw grass land west and south OF Palm
Beach, he agreeing to have dredge at work exca.
waiting within thirty days; that he promised the
business men OF Palm Beach that the East Coast
Railroad Company, which he represented, would
not charge more than $25 an acre. selling alter.
nate lots of from 10 to 20 acres each for that sum
per acre, but reserving the right to charge what.
ever 1t choose for the remaining portion Of the
lands, and stated that they would spend $4,000
in recaiming this small body of land.
This meeting took place the 18th day OF
May, four days before the date that the first prl-
night political meeting was held at which Judge
Worley and Hon. John w. Watson made speeches.
AT the conclusion Of these speeches also ad.
dressed the people assembled, on the subject or
drainage Of the Everglades; l asked the people
to carefully consider the matter and II they
thought well of 1t to vote for the adoption OF Jout
Resolution No. 4, thereby making 1t a part OF the
Constitution Of the State Of florida, and stated
that II the amendment to the Constitution was
adopted 1t would facilitate the collection OF the
drainage tax by throwing out of court the law
suits that had been commenced against the Drain
age Commissioners to prevent them from collect
ing the drainage tax.
That the people of West Palm Beach were III
favor of this amendment was well known; they
had bonded the town at one time for $4,000 to be
used in retaining some Of the saw grass land to
the westward Of the city, SO anxious were they To
develop their county. During the day that |
spent there, following the meeting OF Mr. lngra.
ham and Mr.. Gleason with the business men or
West Palm Beach, was told that some OF the
business men suspected that the promise to draln
the lands was made In order to affect the votes or
the people in favor Of the candidate then being
supported by the East Coast Railroad. 1t was
suggested to Mr.. Ingraham that his promise to &c.
claim the land might have been caused by the
presence OF the Governor that day IN the town, as
1t was known that the Governor would speak IN
favor Of drainage Mr.. Ingraham told them tnat
he was making the proposition because he de-
sired the drainage done, but THE BUSINESS
MEN INSISTED THAT IF 1T WAS REALTY
THEY DESIRED THAT THE FACT BE PUB
LISHED IN A NEWSPAPER. An article was
thereupon prepared, or just afterwards, and puo-
lished In the Miami Metropolis dated Ma; IA, lSVo
the day before the primary election was to take
place. l will leave to the people OF Florida to ds-
eide what the purpose of the advertisement coull
have been. l herewith insert the advertisement
as 1t appeared in the Miami Metropolis May 14th,
1906:
WEST PALM BEACH TO THE FRONT.
May 14th, 1905.
The Merchants Association begs to call atten-