The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-10-06

When the Times
Union Was Right
- RECOGNIZING the Importance of the sub
MY ject 1t has been the custom Of THE SUN
tV/ to print, each week, an article on the
i'm subject OF Everglades drainage. The
IN subject IL 90 large one that there mas
never been any lack Of material upon
which to base an argument In Its favor,
there being practically no argument against
It, and there has been no difficulty to pro
vide original articles on this subject. But
friend OF this paper sent In, this week,
Florida Times-Union dated December "a, 1901,
which covers the question SO fully and so well that
THE SUN can do no less than give It space.
perusal Of this editorial will convince even the
casual reader that the Times Union, before the
great light broke upon It by which It is now
guided, WAS RIGHT on this question Of drainage
and WAS ABLE TO DISCERN ALL THE GOOD
IN 1T. The editorial produced was written In con-
nection with the proposed operation Of the Florida
East Coast Drainage and Sugar Company, whose
prospectus names as officers of the company,
among Others Mr. Jas. II. Ingraham, now Third
Vlce-President OF the East Coast Railway Co., Mr..
J. r. PARROT, now vicePresident and General
Manager Of the East Coast Ry. Co.. and Mr.. Il. M.
Ashley, a nephew Of Mr.. H. M. Flagler:
Florldas Big Sugar Factory.
The announcement that a Ave-million dollar
company will develop the sugar industry on the
east coast during tho coming year will be hailed
with unmixed satisfaction throughout the State II
assures a promising future because cane In that
section breads no FROST 1t carries the promise Of
development and Improvement to millions of acres
now lying idle and It's output will return to us
In few years all we have lost. Sugar mills will
do for us more than cotton factories, because our
own raw materials are given marketable shape
and permanent value. Il requires no prophet
now to foresee the day when drainage will add the
area OF another State to our arabic lands Sugar
offers profitable market covering the civilized
world for a Florida product, profitable employment
for labor and the certainty of greater income to
the State from the taxation of lands now lying
Idle.
Too much cannot be said for the enterprise of
those gentlemen from the West who have taken
hold OF this industry In Florida. There the beet
has proved unsatisfactory, the cattle are being
driven out of their richest ranges and the lumber
only remains OF the sources Of earlier wealth.
Therefore, we may expect that this first swallow
will make many summers for us-the pioneers
will be followed by long procession of those with
money to invest and other talents to fructify for
their enrichment and ours. So may 1t be.
Nor should we forget those Floridians who were
the instruments and the inspiration OF this immi
grafton. They have labored long In every discour.
agement-they could not make even our own peo
pie appreciate the magnitude and importance OF
their work. May they reap the full reward of
their good deeds, for themselves as well as for
their friends.
The lands selected for the Inauguration of the
enterprise are among the richest the sun shines
on, with every advantage In climate and position
The canefiel0s will lie parallel with the Gulf
Stream and well within It's innuence-being
scarcely twenty miles distant on the western
boundary. Accessible harbors open into their ter.
ritory at New River and Miami, the canal winds
through the plantations and the true Everglades
will temper the cold winds ON the north and west
Easily within reach runs the trunk line OF the
East Coast Railway, connecting them with every
market of the continent and the world. Perhaps
there remain other lands In Florida equally well
adapted to the business certainly there are none
better on the face OF the globe.