The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-07-06

The Question of
Everglades Drainage.

Everglades drainage
It is generally conceded that the
Everglades drainage proposition is the
most important matter now before the
people of the state of Florida, and that
1t will be the principal, If not the only
issue in the next gubernatorial cam
paign. is beyond question. However.
in the meantime, the voters should
thoroughly familiarize themselves
with the question in order that they
may vote intelligently upon it when
the time comes. The Gainesville Sun
believes in fairness to both sides, and
advocating this in a recent issue, had
the following to say:
The drainage of the Everglades ap-
pears to be the only issue in state
politics at this time. Heretofore there
have always beer a number of issues,
either real or imaginary. before the
people of Florida with which to instill
Interest in the ordinary Floridian
pending the meeting Of the Florida
legislature. But this year there ap-
pears to be but one question involved
In the discussion of state issues This
drainage scheme Is taking the wind
cut of the sails of every other ques-
tion In the state, even the efforts of
the Lake City contingent to make an
Issue out OF the university question
falling as fiat as gang plank.
But this drainage question Is live
issue. II Is also an important one.
The Sun does not hesitate to say that
II Is the most important question en-
terirg into state politics since 1870.
According to the meagre estimates
which have been given about FIVE mil
lions OF dollars will be necessary to
complete the drainage OF the Ever
gades on the gigantic plan which the
governor of Florida has proposed. The
expense to be attached to the drainage
OF the Everglades. would make 1t a
pretty live issue in Florida politics,
Tut there are other features in connec-
dion with the plan as proposed by Gov
ernor Broward which makes it even
hore important. In the first place,
there Is the method of taxation. There
have been some good arguments
brought To bear to show that the plan
Of taxation by which the Governor
and his board OF drainage commission
ers are to defray the expenses of
draining the Everglades is an unjust
one. The taxing of lands one hundred
miles from Lake Okeechobee, when
the lands so taxed are fifty feet above
the level OF that great swamp and under
cultivation at this time, for digging
ditch by which to reclaim lands in
which the owners of land taxed are
not at all interested, does not appear
to be equitable nor fair The fact
that the state OF Florida owes the rail-
roads by virtue of the acts of the legis-
1ature many thousands of acres of
land, and that the railroads might sue
and obtain possession Of the lands, or
part OF them. after they had been
once drained. Is another ground al.
vanced for opposing the scheme.
But even with all of this considered,
Governor Broward had a pretty plaus-
tble argument TO offer when he made
his campaign against Robert w. Davis
for the Democratic nomination for
governor. Evidently the people
thought so, for they gave him a ma
5ority over the distinguished gentle
nan who opposed him in that race.
The Sun believes that this question
OF draining the Everglades is too Inn
portant to be determined without a
careful study. We believe that every
voter In this state ought to become
familiar with the issues involved.
They ought 10 study both sides of the
question. and while 1t appears from
what has been given out during, the
past three months that the opposition
to drainage has the better of 1t, tho
governor is entitled to be heard. The
people OF Gainesville and Alachua
ward to Gainesville to discuss the ques-
tlon. They ought to go farther than
that When that invitation is extend
ed those who are opposing the Cover
nor ought to be notified and given the
opportunity to be heard. That is tie
only fair means of obtaining anything
like fair knowledge of the merit.
and dement's of either side of this
great controversy. The Sun hopes
that Its suggestion will be followed
and the governor and some Of those
who are to stump the state for the
opposition will be heard here in Joint
debate.
Every voter ought to pass upon this
question next November intelligently
There is but one way to gain the
knowledge necessary to thorough
understanding Of both sides of the
contentious and claims of the COVER.
nor AID those opposed to drainage.