The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-07-21


B. Broward; and many more months before the
conception OF his famous scheme to drain the
Everglades by State undertaking; and still many
more months before the drawing Of that still more
famous map. the Fort Myers Press got out
trade edition which did credit alike to the State,
the section and It's proprietors
Capt +. A. Hendry contributed an article to
this trade edition on Lee County, Past and
Present" m
No one thought, at that time, OF taking excep-
tion to any Of the statements Of this old settler
No subsidized press proclaimed him dreamer.
No paid writer's OF q Literary Bureau, run for
those who have money to spend for the putting
before the people Of stun to benefit themselves
alone, denied the statements in the Hendry arti-
Gle In the Fort Myers Press Trade Edition pub
lished October, 1908!
Yet Capt. Hendry said then just what Capt.
Broward said In 1904, and just what Governor
Broward said In 1905. and 10 saying now.
Here Is what Capt. Hendry said October, 1909,
about the Everglades:
The principal subject OF this sketch was In.
tended to be the great and famous Everglades
and Its environments. but thought little review
Ing as a preface might not be deemed out Of
place. The Everglades Of Florida covering an
area Of over one million acres Of land, has been
written of by writer's galore, hardly any of whom
ever placed their foot upon It's broad expanse. 1t
is severed In twain by an imaginary line be-
tween the counties Of Dade and Lee. The great
and famous Lake Okeech0bee with an altitude Of
% feet above the sea, lies Immediately north OF
to the SOUTH and its surface Ia Is feet below the
level Of the lake. Lake Okeechobee covers an
area OF 1900 square miles How or under what
circumstances 1t was formed no one knows. One
receptacle for the watershed Of many million
acres Of land lying to the north, east and west
OF It. Its principal tributary is Kissimmee river,
which rises In Osceola county, over one hundred
miles from Its confluence into the lake, passing
through many large lakes In its course; Tohopc-
kaliga lake being the most northern with an alti-
tude above Lake Okeechobee Of Ga feet. This
Kissimmee river has many large tributaries. SO
we see that Lake Okeechobee is a receptacle Of
no small dimensions, and supplies the EvcT-
glades over It's low marshy boz "r and numerous
small rivers leading from It to 10 south witch
water sunicient to keep its surface submerged
practically all the time. There Is possibly no
place on the surface Of the green earth like the
Everglades OF Florida; 30 uninviting yet so invis
Ing. A vast bed Of black mud, from Ave to ten
feet deep, with shallow covering of water from
one to two feet, clothed with vegetation aquatic
In its nature entirely tmberless except its south
ern part Safe to say that there Is one thousand
square miles OF It's northern part on which there
can't be found q tree large enough for turkey
to perch upon. The southern border of Lake
okeechobee. however. 70 eelted with dense
growth Of timber Custard apple trees (Pond
Applet, with an occasional cypress. Unique In
every particular; wonderfully and strangely form
ed. No use to mention It's climatical advantages
It possesses that happy medium between extreme
for, and of which 80 little 10 found on the CONT
nent OF North America. It's eastern border ex
tends within few miles of the Atlantic ocean
whose breezes with their healthful saline innu
ences continually wait across It's broad and lone
~ bosom. met by the Gulf breexes equal In health
fulness and comfort to those OF the Atlantic.
Uninviting as It 10 today. entirely uninhabited
by man or beast. offers and alligators being the
principle occupants, thousands and thousands Of
which are being hunted. killed and skinned by a
few determined hunters and trappers both To-
dams and white men, Inviting to those who have
money to invest there IL possibly no enterprise
today which offers so rich a return for money In.
vested as that OF draining and reclaiming this
vast territory, Nature has performed her part
nobly. Her stern, inevitable laws have since the
uplifting OF the lower peninsula OF Florida from
the depths OF the sea been hording up her rich
ness In this great natural store house OF fatness
Nature seldom does It ALL In her wisdom she
leaves something for man to do, and It Is here
and In this case she invites man to cut great
central canal to the sea, q few latterals with
the necessary surface ditcnes. thereby bringing
20 the surface and to the sunlight and air land
enough TO produce sugar equal or in excess OF our
immense importations. Yes here Is a field white
unto harvest and entered upon will Yield not less
than nifty dollars for every one spent Just why