Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-07-05
THE DRAINAGE QUESTION,


pears IN be the only issue IN STATE
polite. a. The tine. Heretofore there
have always been n number Oi issues.
either rvsl or imaginary, before tn
people ~ Florida with whi:h 20 insti'I
interest ~ the ordinary F'0ridisn
pending the meeting OF the Florida
Lpgisla:urp. Bnt this yesr there ap.
pears 10 be- bit one question involved
in the discussion Of state Issues The
Idrainag" scheme. ~ taking the vii d
on. ~ the calls Of every other ques-
ton in The state, even the efforts Of
the Lake City contingent TO maze an
issue ant Of the University q IestiOn
lfa,linPss fla, a. gang plank
Bat -. drainage qIrA'ioo is a live
issue. II il al.o an im.ur'ar' one
The san doe, o.. kssith:e'to s.J thst
itistae most impor,sn, question en-
,erinR into state politcs since 1870.
According TO The meaRre estimates
which have been given about FIVE mil
! lons ~ dollars will be becessary 20
complete The drainage Of the Ever.
elades on the gigantic plan which the
Governor OF Florida has proposed The
expense 70 be attached 10 the drainage
~ he Everglades would make il a
pretty live issue in Florida politics,
but there are other features in conntc
ton with the plan al proposed by Gov.
ernor Browsrd which makes it even
more important, In the fret place
there il the method ~ taxation. There
have been some good argument,
brought 20 bear 70 show that the plan
Of taxation by which the Governor
and his board Of drainage commission.
ers are 10 defray the eXpsntes Of drain
ing the Everglades 10 an unjust one
The taxing OF lands one hundred
miles from Lake OkeechObee, when the
lands ~ taxed sre fifty feet above the
level OF that great swamp and under
at this time, 'or digging a
ditch by which 70 reclaim lands in
which the owners Of land taxed are
not at all Interested, does not appear
10 be- equitable nor fair The fact that
the State Of Florida owes the rall-
roads by virtue OF the acts Of the Leg.
islstufe many thousands Of acres u
land and that the railroads might sue
and obtain possession Of the lands, or
n part oi them, after they had been
once drained, il another ground adj
vsnced for opposing the scheme
But even with all 81 this considered |
Governor Broward had pretty plaus.
iblr argument 20 oher when he made
his campaign against Robert W. Davis
Tor the Democrats, nomination tor
Governor, Evidently the people
thought 90, for they gave him a major.
i,y over the distinguished gentleman |
who opposed him in that race.
The sun believes that this question
OF draining the Everglades - too I'M
pOrtAnt 20 be determined without n |
careful study We believe that every |
voter In this State ought ~ become |
iamilisr with the issues involved |
They ough, - study both sides Of the ,
question. and while l., aprpars from
what hAs been gwen out during the
past three months that the opposition
10 drainage has the better ~ u, the
Governor 10 entitled 10 be- heard TIE
people ~ GAINESVILLE and AlachuS
county ought g. invite Governor Brow.
ard 20 ua,nssville 20 discuss the qae..
ton They oIght 30 =, farther than
that when that invitation ~ extend.
ed those Who are opposing the
Governor ought Nv ~ not He'd and
given the opportunity ~ te heard
Tha, Nth- only fair means vi obtaining
anything like far knowledge OF the
merits aud dement's OF either side OF
this grcA, controversy The sun hopes
Ahat its suggestion viii tc followed
and the Govrtnut and some - those
who are 20 stump the state 'or the
opposition viii BE- heart here IN JON,
debate
Every voter olght O. pass ugou THE
question urI, No,rmtrr iute'ljg-utiy
There 70 but one Nay % gain n,