The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-06-15
EVERGLADES
PROPOSITION.
Major Abrahams' Letter No. 5, Show.
ing the Drainage Scheme Up
for What IL Is Worth.

In my third letter your types made
me state that if all the lands in the
drainage district were cultivated in fruit
and vegetables they would produce ten
times more than would suffice for pop
ulation of two millions. 1t should have
been printed two hundred millions.
OUR LIMITATIONS.
1t must be borne in mind that winter
vegetables are used by practically only
the better off classes of our population.
While we have an advantage of several
weeks over Mississippi, Louisiana, Geor-
gia and South Carolina, we are COM
PEELED to ship as rapidly as the crop ma
lures, and the period each year of prac-
ticable shipment is limited to few
weeks. Even now, with a population
of eighty millions, and only few thou
sand acres in cultivation, the markets
of the country, in years of unusually
generous yield, become glutted and
prices fall below profitable figures.
SUGAR CANE UTOPIA.
dismiss from any serious considera-
tion the sugar cane Utopia of Governor
Broward and his associates. The con-
ditions existing render the idea impos-
sible in his or their lifetime, and an on
terprise of this kind is only warranted
when there can be prompt utilizing of
the land drained, sufficient labor to Gull
tivate them and an ascertainment that
the cost would not exceed the value of
the land after being drained. Another
pregnant consideration would be the
annual cost that would be necessary to
keep the land drained, and still control
the water so as to give it the sub-irri-
cation essential for q growth of any
kind of crop
SOME PERTINENT QUESTIONS.
have been informed that at a meet
ing held in this city some days ago it
was determined that thase letters should
be answered and that / Should be pull
verified, so to say. A mere criticism,
without argument, will not impress in
telligent minds. To refute and rebut
what / have written, it will be neces-
sary for Gov Broward and his associ-
ates to satisfactorily answer the follow
ing questions:
First Before assessing the tax and
starting on this work, did you have sur
veys made so as to enable you to ascer-
tain the probable cost of the work?
Second-Dld you have the levels of
the land sought to be drained ascer-
tanned, so as 10 ascertain which of them
and the number of acres that would be
benefited by drainage?
Third Did you ascertain approx
mately, or at all, how much sand how
much rock, and how much muck would
have 70 be removed?
FOurth-Did you ascertain, approx.
mately or otherwise, how many acres
of the millions sought 10 be affected
would, after being drained, be available
for profitable cultivation?
Fifth-Did you ascertain, approx
mately or otherwise, the amount of
water at high water, at average water,
and at low water, 10 be taken from the
land and kept a sufficient depth below
the surface 70 warrant the cultivation
Of the land?
Sixth Did you have any investigation
made as TO which of the lands are ''al-
luvial, swamp or overlooked, so as 10
avoid assessing lands which have either
always been high and dry or have been
already drained, or which are now in
process of drainage, so as to avoid as
sessing for taxes lands not authorized
by the law TO be assessed?
Seventh-Did you make any investi-
cation so as TO enable you 20 form any
idea Of the aggregate cost Of the stu
pendous work you have undertaken?
Ii will be necessary to refute the ar
guments ] advanced for the Governor
and his associates TO afIrmatively an
swer every one Of the foregoing ques-
tions, as well as TO make further ex-
plantations that must be obvious TO the
intelligent reader.
A REMARKABLE STATEMENT.
A few days ago a gentleman who has
been in some form an apolOgist of this
scheme. told me that | was altogether
mistaken in asserting that Governor
Broward and his associates had any
present idea of draining the Everglades
that all he had any idea Of doing was Ia
dig a canal from the Atlantic ocean to
Lake Okeechobee.
Now, have heard on reliable author
| ity that only short time ago Governor
Broward stated emphatically that he IN.
tended 70 drain the Everglades ''lf
have to call out the militia to do II y
But IL this recent statement be correct,
! IL makes the matter worse, for, II the
purpose is only 20 dig a canal from the
| Atlantic into Lake Okeechobee, will the
Governor and his associates explain why
millions Of acres of land whose condi-
ton cannot be affected by this proposed
canal have been assessed and taxed ~
cents PER aere7 Furthermore, will
the Governor and his associates explain
fC,-kaaU,d IN namm