The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-04-07


deep-a black mold underaid with mari. 1t is the
purpose of the people having the work of recama.
ton in charge to plant cane, erect mills and pro-
mote other agricultural and industrial enterprises
Statistics show that sugarcane yields enormously in
the right sort of Florida soil, an average of forty
seven and one-half tons having been obtained from
one field of 42O acres without artificial fertzing
and with little attention.
The lands being level, they are peculiarly fitted
for sugar fields and for the of modern appli-
ances-the steam pillow and cultivatOr. Cane planted
ten years ago is now growing in the district Expe
rienced sugar growers from Cuba, Louisiana and
Florida estimate that these lands will easily pro-
duce 5000 pounds of sugarcane per acre. Fifty
bushels of RICE fifty bushels of and forty bushels
of oats are now being made on large of similar
Florida lands, which have already been drained
The drainage of lands will promote many indus
tries-agrcutural, mechanical and commercial. The
purchase of sugarcane delivered at its central mills
will be one of the prime objects, and growers who
desire to plant small areas of cane-ten to a hundred
acres-will be offered the highest prices.
Many afidavts have been made and filed in the
Court by persons living in this State which tend to
create doubt in the minds of the people as to
whether Everglades drainage is practicable. In
order that the people may have some light upon
the subject of drainage and reclamation in other
parts of the United States and in some parts of
Europe, herewith inclose to you and ask that you
publish part of this letter written to ME by Mr.
G. G. Elliott engineer in charge of irrigation and
drainage investigations under the Secretary of Ag
rcuture of the United States, whose positive state
ments, many Of them copied from history and others
written from his personal observation, I hope will
be OF interest to the people and that they will care
fully consider not only the of this information
but the subject matter itself, and realize the great
riches that have resulted to the people by the work
described by Mr.. Elliott:
Washington D. c.. March "a. 1906.
Gov. n. b. Broward Tallahassee, Fla:
Dear Sir-I am not unmindfu of the promise
made to you to furnish references and particu
lars regarding large drainage projects which have
been successfully executed and the profits and benefits
which have accrued to the owners of the land and
to the commonwealth in which they are located 1t
1t TO be regretted that the history of these various
projects IS confined to fragmentary accounts widely
scattered and not readily accessible The historian
has neglected to make prominent mention of many
cases winch had an important influence in the devel
opment OF agriculture. He is ever ready to describe
the progress OF cities, the construction of great
priuges' and the numerous internal improvements to
oe seen at all times and noted by the passerby, but
NEGLECIS TO DESCRIBE THE STUPENDOUS
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RECLAMATION OF
LANDS which have contributed so materially to our
wealth. and TO the progress of which we boast.
YOU OF course desire the mention of such work
as VIII serve In a measure as O precedent for the
great Undertaking you and your State have on hand
IN retaining part of the Everglades It is safe
10 say that no drainage project which may be men
:ohed Is IN every respect similar to the one in Flor
ida, yet it is interesting and will doubtless be in
sIructe to describe some of the difficulties and sue
cesses e which have attended reclamation work in
other States and in foreign countries
. recall an interesting examination which made
OF one OF the islands in the Sacramento river of Cali
lorna, which has been permanently reclaimed and
Is now ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE SPOTS
In The VICINITY OF SAN FRANCISCO the west
eln metropolis of our country. The island is APP
Proxlmatey two miles wide and thirteen miles long
ana contains an area of $1,000 acres In its original
cGnaltion much of it was below the medium stage
u u;, 'ne water and was always overfowed at every
rise OF the river 1t is now protected from overflow
Dy levee thirty miles long, which completely sur
rUumus IL and rises in many places sixteen feet or
more above the surface of the land the cost of which
has been about $75O,OOO - "''''
vo me early history of this work shows that the
The levee was at first built by Chinese labor in which
t Wneeosrrows and shovels were used This was en-
iSateiy SWEPT AWAY, but was rebuilt in 1878 and
IoaI broken then repaired and BROKEN AGAIN in
1851 In 1889 the levee was ENTIRELY REBIJIIT