The Ocala banner., 1906-10-26
VAN puzoR AIRS HARD.
sie Was connected With pisstcn
Drainage and Knows theh Value Of
Saw Grass Lands From Experience.

The Journal has no interest in the
drainage scheme except as citizen
of Florida and in opposing it we are
honestly seeking to serve what We
think to be to the best interest Of the
whole people Of the state.
We have never doubted Governor
Broward's sincerity in the great fight
which he is making to fix irrevocably,
the scheme upon the people of the
state, but we do believe that he has
been misled and ois deceived about
the real value of the lands after
drainage.
Viewing the matter in this light we
have honestly sought information of
the subject from those in position to
know and publish below letter from
Mr.. W. L. VanDuzor, who was con-
nected with Disston drainage enter
prise and who has cultivated drained
lands, and witnessed the efforts of
others in their cultivation and is
therefore capable of speaking intelli-
gently on the subject.
A careful reading of the letter
which follows, will no doubt enlighten
many who know absolutely nothing
of the conditions-Bradentown Jour
nal.
Kissimmee, Fla, Sept. 25, 1906.
To the Editor of the Times:
have read with interest Governor
Broward's speech delivered in Tam
pa and would request you to print a
few facts-the other side of the pic
ture.
had several years experience in
constructing canals to drain much
lands, as the superintendent of the
Atlantic and Gulf Coast Canal and
Okeechobee Land company. About
thirty miles of canals were dug in
the upper Everglades, or the lands
bordering Lake Okechobee, and these
bordering lands are practically all of
the vast Everglades that is not abso-
luiely worthless.
For thirty years or more l have
watched the efforts Of others in cul-
tiyation Of muck lands. Among them
the present State Chemist, r. z. Rose.
who spent about 100000 on his muck
farm and made complete failure.
He is now telling Governor Broward
and the people of Florida of the great
fertility of the Everglades. A. s.
Kinsn,an spent 100000 at Southport; /;
Francis Goblet expended fully as
much and a number of others, in
ciuding j. M. Towne, Of Tampa, spent
large sums and failed to produce
crops profitably. This was the re,
suit on muck lands in the vicinity of
Kissimmee. which have not been in
undated since 1894, and are far SUI
perior to any in the Everglades.
The great st. Cloud sugar planta-
tion can be purchased for less than
the buildings cost that now stand on
It. 1t is fenced, has 35-foot canal
through it, has a standard gauge rail-
road on it, long distance telephone
connection, postOffice and school, an
absolutely healthful spot, free from
malaria and insects. Compare this
with the malarious and insect-iaden
air OF the wilderness known as the
Everglades, and then name its value.
The blackjack ridges spoken of so
slightngly by Governor Broward are
more valuable for agricultural pur-
poses, and the sum already spent by
the state is far in excess of the real
value of the portion of the Everglades
possible to reclaim
Did the little picnic party just re-,
turned from Okechobee, when they
said "Okeechobee could be easily
drained" remember that Lake Okee-
chobee took care of the rainfall of
the Kissimmee valley, a territory
1000 square miles in extent, as well
as the railfall of it's own surface.
which last year was inches? And I.
have seen Kissimmee river stretch
from Taylor Creek to Fish Eating
creek, distance of at least thirty
miles. Think of sheet of water
thrifty miles wide and from four to
ten fet deep pouring into Lake Okee-
chobee; and then consider it a SIM
pie matter" to carry it off through
canalsl
In addition to this enormous flow
of water. it is fact that the lower
RoitiOu Vi luc hNeTSldU6S are SUD-
ject to tides. Canals in this portion
OF the state would be useless. 1t is
a fact that dry muck will burn equal
to straw, and thousands of dollars
have been spent fighting fires in the
muck, and thousands of acres have
been destroyerd by fire in this vicin-
ity. When once the Everglades is
dry enough for cultivation. will the
internal improvement board keep up
organizing fire companies to put out
the fires? or will the Louisville &C.
Nashville railway company bear this
expense after the five counties drain
II for them?
Hillsborough must remember that
the five counties to be skinned, for
the worthless, impossible dream are
her neighbors.
Respectfully--W. L. Van. Duzor in
Tampa Times. VI
A Young Mother at 20.