The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-08-04
Sixth Page
Our Drainage Primer


Algy-I think, pa, that now understand lit
tie more about drainage than ! did before we
commenced our talks know now that the pe0-
pie who have accused the Trustees OF squandering
the public money on wild cat scheme are accus-
ing them wrongly, because the Trustees are not
spending money except that derived from the sale
OF lands which was given to them In trust for the
very purpose Of drainage Then, again, no scheme
can be wild cat scheme which has had the en-
dorsement OF 80 many wise and patriotic States
men Tor so many years, and no plan can be pro-
nounced impracticabe which has been endorsed
by 30 many practical engineers, and the Trustees
cannot be accused Of want Of preparation by sur
veys when all the information possible to obtain
necessary to drain was obtained by the surveyors
OF the two government engineers, and by three
civil engineers, l understand also why II Is that
the opposition has been so violent, because you
told me In one Of our other talks that the people
who were opposing II were only small number
OF people. 1t Is true but people whose interests
lay In the other direction, and as they happened
to be rich people they were willing to spend money
to carry out their selfish ends as all rich people
are. understand also why the Trustees haven't
gone to the expense Of surveying the area because
you told me that three different surveys had been
made by competent engineers, from Okeech0bee
to the sea, all Of which surveys showed no obsta-
Giles to the digging of canals and sufficient fall
TO carry on the water easily. l also understand
now IL s that the Trustees are able to make accu.
rate estimates Of the cost Of the work because
they can calculate the number of cubic yards to be
moved, how many cubic yards per day each
dredge Will handle and the daily cost of operating
each dredge You told me also that the estimate
placed on the cost OF the work by those whose
interests lay In opposing II were wild guesses and
while they were guessing they took good care to
make their guesses big enough to scare the peo-
pie You remember last week asked you to tell
me about some people trying to put up a Job on
tne trustees short while ago. I'd like to know
about that now.
Pa.-Well my son, that takes us back to the
stormy days Of the last session of the Legislature
You Will remember that Gov Broward was elected
10 once on the drainage platform. Certain men
who had been endeavorng for some time to get
hold OF large part of the lands remaining to
the Trustees, and who had been unsuccessful.
realized that 1t was all up with their cherished
project II they didn't do some pretty quick work
before the bills carrying out the prediction
piedges OF Gov. Broward and which we're recon-
mended Tor passage In his message, became law
Accordingly. three men were selected by these
men who claimed title to 100000 and odd acres
OF land to come to Tallahassee and try what thew
could do to save the situation, which meant, from
their standpoint, the defeat of Gov. Broward's
plans for drainage. The men selected were ]. A.
CRAWFORD Edward Wisner anu f. ]. L'Engle Mr.
Crawford, my son, is large owner of lands in
this State both In his individual capacity and
as stakeholder and director In the Consolidated
Land Co. He Is what Is known as a :Gummo
crat." He ran little store built Of rough planks
set with the cracks running up and down and
stopped up with battens nailed on the outside, in
which he sold calico. kerosene, chewing tobacco
and writing paper, also bacon grits and syrup
to the hands which he used to operate his tur.
pentlne business. He carried on this business for
many years In hand.tomouth sort Of way until
boom times came for the Florida naval stores bus
mess. We next find him citizen OF the metrop
oils OF the State and one OF the chief members of
the Jacksonville gum bunch"
Mr.. Wisner had been in many drainage reclama
ton schemes. put on by different companies at
different times. and as a result Of his talk about
drainage and his membership In drainage com.
panies. had gotten hold of large tracts OF land
The fact that neither he nor his companies had
ever drained an land didn't disturb his conscience
little bit over the proprlety OF his laying claim
10 the lands which he acquired under promise to
drain.
Mr.. LEngle is a SON Of DR.. ]. G. LEngle. He
comes OF good family and all Of his family connec-
lions nave been men noted for their sindepend.
ence OF thought and action. But Mr.. LEngie, due
to his possession Of unusual legal ability, became
associated with the Napoleons of finance who
L.