The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-08-21
ONLY OPPOSED BY
LAND GRABBERS'
Beard Opposes Giving Great
Power to Board.
BELIEVES CLAIMS OF RAILROADS
ARE GOOD AND THAT THEY
WILL EVENTUALLY GET THE
IAND-BRoWARD ANSWERS ALL
ARGUMENTS FULLY AND IN A
CONVINCING MANNER.

A crowd varioushy estimated at from
1850 TO 1000 greeted Governor n. b.
BrogH.d and Hon. John S. Beard when
taey appeared at Seville square last
Llglt to participate IN the much talk
ca OF debate ON The Everglades drain
age question, and listened with inter-
eSt 10 the argument presented by the
speakers both of whom were eloquent
and earnest in presenting their con-
I1t!Ons. The governor was the first
speaker and consumed one hour in ar
gment. He was followed by Mr.
Bard who also consumed one hour in
s.nent, Governor Broward closing
ItA an address, in reply to the con-
nGtions Of Mr.. Beard that consumed
Uer an hour. The crowd sat patient
y throughout and interest in the de-
bate was maintained to the last.
The governor opened hes address
by ccmplimenting the people of Pen
SaCola upon their evident progress and
pos terity and the quick recovery
fem the coud tons that obtained here
during the fall of last year. He then
set al the meat OF his subject.
A Business proposition.
The proposition to drain the ever
glades, said the governor was bust
ness propos ton in which every man
IN the STATE was interested, as 1T was
fer the good Of all and as the servant
OF the people he desired to do as
much for them as possible; he was
eady 10 fight for drainage Of the Ever
ylades to the last ditch and fight to
prevent the railroads from taking the
ands Of the people of the state.
The governor referred at consider
able length TO the orig'nal acts OF con-
eresS granting the swamp and over
flowed lands to the state and to the
purposes for which such lands were
granted; also to the acts of the legs
atura with reference to the lands IN
question and to their grant to the rail-
lOad companies of the state when the
Nads were being constructed. He be-
san at the beginning, going back to the
'lme when the state was first settled
and carrying the history of the Ever
eladeS down to the present time. He
admitted that the legislature had al
ready granted millions of acres more
Man the state had ever claimed, but
expressed the opinion that the claim
the railroads TO the lands granted
was not good and that the title was
sC!l vested in the people OF Florida.
IN support of this contention he read
number of the original laws on the
subject all Of which he claimed had
never been repealed and were there
"Te still in force.
Fear Adverse Decision.
me railroads and large hand owners
S'dnned the governor, were afraid TO
ny The suits they had brought reach
.ne supreme court of the state for
ledr Of an adverse decision and had
"hseQuently, brought suits in differ
VIZ ways, all based upon prac tically
tne same contentious, but all for the
sue purpose Of delaying the final set
uement of the question of ownership
the Eyerglade lands; il the matter
vas allowed to run along as it had in
ue past il would take 20 years Of lit
,ssV on to settle II. On the other
,.dhc' the taxation of the land benefited
drainage at the rate Of 5 cents pei
seHa would furnish ample funds tC
prosecute the work, which would re
.uU IN the greatest benefit not only to
~. lands themselves and the owners
saereot, but to the whole state If the
asN' In the courts continued, said the
so'ernor, it would still be possible to
T,Aunue the work by draining one
sece Of land and selling it. then using
~, ne money realized by the sale for thf
purpose Of draining other land, which
..d also be sold. and so on. He
S Sa'u That he believed the railroads
, g.ew well enough that they had nc
NE NE 10 the lands granted them, and
10 NJ the courts had decided against
Ell, aoh on several occasions. one deci
Nm M oeng that Of Judge Malone who
~ ~ decided adversely to the East
'oast railway.
Poor People Willing.
'Se poN- -"nTa,A those who ownet