The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-03-23

| Inc systematic drainage OF the EV-
erglades cannot well be undertaken with
any hope of ultimate success without
first securing most complete and ex-
haustive survey and geological exami-
nation, by competent engineers, of the
entire drainage district.
BASED ON SPECULATION.
ut is we'll known that no such survey
os comprehensive examination has ever
been made. 1t is the opinion of many
experts who have studied the problems
that the successful drainage of the Ev-
erglades is an impractical project, and
in the absence of scientific and accurate
information of the exact condition of
this portion of Florida, any attempts to
solve the drainage problem of this I'M
known territory can only be based upon
speculation
"Affiant further says that he is now
in charge of an expedition sent out by
the United States Coast and Geodetic
Survey TO make magnetic survey and
general reconnaissance of the interior of
southern Florida, including the drainage
district, and that upon his return from
the Everglades he hopes to be in pos
session of more absolute knowledge of
the natural conditions which now seem
to stand as insurmountable obstacles to
the drainage Of the Everglades and the
surrounding region.
DRAINAGE SCHEME is IMPRACTICABLE.
Professor w. G. Johnson, editor of
the American Agriculturist and part
owner of the Scientific Experiment
Farm near Palatka, is a guest of the
Duval Hotel.
Prof. johnson has been making tour
of Florida studying diseases of lettuce
and other vegetables and while travel
ing through the State visited the Dade
County Fair, where he delivered very
interesting address.
In speaking at the fair about the Ever
glade drainage proposition, Professor
Johnson said:
The Dade County Fair was an eye
opener. The East Coast of Florida has
not yet unfolded her real beauties and
the marvellous development of the fruit
and vegetable industries, which are only
in their infancy. predicd a rapid de-
velopment of this favored section
The extension of the Florida East
Coast railway is going to open up still
greater possibilities along horticultural
lines and no man can now forecast
what the future has in store for South
east Florida.
EVERGLADE DRAINAGE.
II do not know the details of the
scheme to drain the Everglades, but in
my opinion it is impractical. You might
as well try to drain the Great Lakes by
cutting another st. Lawrence river to
the ocean.
II do not believe that any number Of
outlets from the Everglades will reduce
the constant volume of water entering
them. concede that such drains may
lower the present level and expose a
narrow rim of muck lands, but their
real value for trucking and fruit grow
ing would be questionable even then.
1.-THE bulk of the lands that were re-
deemed by the drainage of Lake To-
in Central Florida, a few
years ago. are still unavailable for ag-
ricutural purposes. do not mean to
say that these great deposits of muck
and peat will not become available for
trucking crops and fruits some day, but
up TO the present time their value is
questionable and thousands Of acres are
as useless as if covered with water.
THE conditions in the Everglades !
are, perhaps, herdly comparable with
those around Lake Tohopekaliga, but in
lily OplIllOH JISy are VI u COIUDicA
character. The Everglades contain the |
deposits of centuries The formation |
under the Everglades is covered largely !
by waters deposited there by immense |
streams or rivers which |
find their underground chan !
nels in the limestone through which it is
known that large subterranean rivers
flow
at is the opinion of some biologists |
that the source of water supplying the
great geysers Of Colorado is the same
that supplies the Everglades. There |
are sound reasons for such an hypothe- |
sis
4 DOUBTFUL QUESTION.
Whether the Everglades can be
drained is a doubtful question. Let us
they can, then what? Aside .
from the border Of muck around the |
edges, we would reasonably expect to
ind deposit of pure sand over the
greater portion of the area now covered
BY water.
Such sand would have questionable
agricultural value; but what is TO be-
come Of that eternal flow Of water from
.hese underground rivers? They can
not be stopped up as easily as the mouth
If the St. Johns river. It is my judy
nent that such a project would drain
he State treasury more rapidly than
he Everglades.
II may be mistaken about all this,
Dut when ! am convinced that ! ami
wrong ! will readily admit my error in