The Ocala banner., 1906-10-19
sRowARD's VISION.

Okeechobee is the largest lake in
any state In our Union and it oc-
cupies an elevation of twenty-one feet
above the sea level 1t would not
seem to require much of an engineer
ing feat to lower its waters Seven
million five hundred thousand acres
of land are inundated by its over
low and can be reclaimed by the
lowering of the lake.
Governor Broward makes the state
ment that these lands are the rich
est on earth and will produce in lux.
uriance and abundance all sorts of
tropical and semi-tropical fruits, vege-
tables, cereals and Towering plants.
The climate is as mild as any ''In-
dian summer" anywhere.
The land, while it will not produce
In quantity very much more than
the prairie lands of the west, will
produce many times more measured
in dollars and cents because the pro-
ducts will be much more valuable on
account of their rarity.
If the governors vision should
prove true cities will be built along
the shores of Lake Okeechobee Ev-
cry foot of the land will be put under
cultivation and beautiful homes will
be dotted over these seven million
five hundred thousand acres of re-
claimed lands. The lakes and canals
will be navigated by steamers and
the traffic will be great enough to
attract a network of railways.
Great cities, rivaling Chicago, Mil
waukee, st. Paul and Minneapolis
will spring into existence and the now
neglected Everglades will become
the richest spot on the surface of the
globe.
This, at least. is Governor Brow
ards vision.
Let us hope that it may prove
more than the phantasma-
goria of dream. Let US hope that
every outline of the vivid picture may
become true
In all other lands peninsulas con-
tain the oensest populations-why
not here9 Why should Florida be an
to the ruleP
Engineers, who have given the sub-
ject careful and laborious investiga-
ton, say that the drainage of the Ev-
erglades is entirely feasible.
Why should they make these state
ments. with their regulations at stake,
II the scheme is visionary one?
Pioneers-such men as Berry Hen
dry, whose names stand for truth
and integrity-say that the lands, if
drained, are rich enough to fertilize.
any other land in Florida and that
the picture so vividly and graphically
drawn by Governor Broward is not
that of a dreamer. but needs only to
be attempted to be made real.
Is 1t worth the trial?
When good men differ. how are we
TO find n~t tha truth? There is no
other way that we know of except to
make the attempt and let the result
show for itself
1t is at least admitted that Lake
can be lowered and to
do so will prevent the overflow of the
river, and when this
is assured it will bring under cultiva-
ton the whole of the Caloosantchee
valley.
The finest orange groves and grape
fruit groves that we have ever seen
already line the banks of this majes-
tic stream and the bringing Of the
entire valley under cultivation will
more than repay the attempt to drain
the Everglades even If no other good
results shall follow
1t costs us, who live in this Sec
ton, nothing, and as all the people
who live in the drainage section are
willing to try the experiment, why
not give them the opportunity of do
ing so?
See what was done in Holland and
is now being done in Louisiana. How
many predicted the failure of de
Lesseps in digging the Suez canal?
And how many advocates had Morse
and Field and Edison and Marconi?