The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-02-16

FIELDING, apparently, 70 q popular
dekSRnd for information concerning its
tfl 5actions, the Board Of Trustees Of
theInternal Improvement Fund has de-
parted from its previous custom Of max
ing an abbreviated and purely perfume
tory report every two years, and has
made public a statement purporting to
give in detail an account of its proceed
ings for the calendar year 1905. 1t is,
in fact, an apparent purpose, . special
plea in support of the attitude of the
board, acting in the capacity of the
board of drainage commissioners au-
thoriZed under an act of the last Legis-
lature, with special reference to the
Everglades drainage scheme.
With fine show of candor, the board
gives the statistics of the swamp and
overlooked" land fund and the proceeds
of sales of such lands, showing that
there are on hand 1850, 236. as acres of
said lands, and 1912, 272.35, net cash
proceeds of the sales of such lands, de-
posted in and drawing interest from
certain banks throughout the State,
naming them, together with a list of
securities of various kinds deposited in
the State treasury to secure said sew
eral deposits. The schedule Of disburse-
ments from the fund for the year shows
an aggregate or S69, 585. %, of which
$48, 445. 65 has been expended in drain
age operations to drain the Everglades, "
and nearly $12, 900 for attorneys fees.
Strangely enough, this apparently
full and candid statement of the opera
lions of the board and the legislation
and litigation affecting the fund, con-
tains no mention OF the act OF 100
Chapter 5245) which declares that 'all
in hn nf IF1nFnVa-
ment Fund" as we'll as the proceeds
of all the lands thereafter to be sold,
shall be placed with the State Treas
urer, who shall therupon place the same
to the credit of the several counties
of the State for the purpose
of constructing hard roads in such
counties"
The report complains rather bitterly
of the interruption of drainage opera,
tions by the recent injunctions issued
from the United States Court. This lit
igation is proceeding with considerable
vigor, and large number of affdavits
have been filed tending to disclose the
real status and possibilities of the
BToward drainage scheme. One OF
these, by Civil Engineer Christopher
Mailing, an expert of worldwide fame,
sets forth the manifest impossibility OF
securing practical and valuable results
therefrOnn, and demonstrating the fact
that the lowering of the water level OF
Lake Okeechobee four feet, requiring
a main canal $50 feet wide and fifty
miles in length, with lateran drains
would neffectiyely RECLAIM" only g
small area of the vast region now Gov
cred or partially covered by water
throughout a large part of each year.
1t is an exceedingly interesting prop
osition which confronts the board
Have these officials the right under eX
listing laws to use the moneys of the
fund for the drainage of the Ever
glades, or are they bound, by the act OF
1908, (asde from any issue arising il
the litigation referred to) to distribute
the moneys on hand, and the proceeds
of future sales, among the counties fol
the construction of hard roads? Anc
will not the several counties, or some OF
them, or the State Good Roads Associ
alton, be disposed to take hand in the
pending litigation to project their vest
ed interest in such funds under the
law?-St. Augustine Record.