The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-06-29
THE DRAINAGE OF THE EVER.
cLADRS.

continually suggested itself to US for
several months.
The various newspapers throughout
the State are constantly filled with ed
itOrials, pro and con, on this subject
But in decided majority of these, we
can easily see the ear-marks and brand
of the ''hireling."
1t doesn't matter TO us by whom one
of these hirelings is hired, the effect is
the same. AS long as it is appa-
rent that he is the toady, the tool
or puppet of some corporation or indi-
vidual to write editorials for which he
receives compensation, we care not
upon which side of the fence he may be
found.
But in all of this waste of words, not
one of them has thus far shown this
subject in the light in which it should
really be seen.
They all tacitly acknowledge that the
scheme is entirely practicable and that
it is only question of the expenditure
of a certain sum of money and these
millions of acres of saw-grass will be
transformed into harvest fields.
But it is time now for more reason
and less prejudice How do we know
that tho reclamation of those lands is
even possibility? Have we ever had
the report Of any reliable engineer?
Has any survey ever been made of this
particular territory
Answer these questions in the mega
tive, as you are compelled to do, and
we have nothing more than a wildcat
scheme of a fanatic, who blindly plunges
into reckless squandering of the money
and credit of the State for the benefit
only Of favorite few who will thus be-
come endowed with that proverbal "li-
cense to steal "
We repeat that no duly authenticated
report has ever been made of a survey
of, this locality. And we say also that
the horseback opinions" of few en-
gineers who have Of their own volition
vehtured into this barren waste, " are
very widely divergent, The most con-
sentative of these reports we have ever
yet seen or heard, gives level of only
seven feet above the sea
With such figures before US, it. is, to
say the least, the manifestation of I'M
warranted haste in jumping at conclu-
slons and buying and building expensive
machinery at such exorbitant prices as
to invite the suspicion of fraud-all of
which is done and is being done before
a survey of this territory has even been
and before any estimates of
It's cost could possibly be made.
We most spectfully submit that such
haste is unwarranted and
Unprecedented by good business judg-
nent, and will unquestionably be fraught
with scandals redounding to the detri-
nent of all Floridans save the few ad-
9enturers who are scheduled to profit
oy our loss. Jacksonville Floridian.
If the counties are to go into the good
roads business, considerable of the
county commissioners time will of ne
'esslty have to be given to overseeing
he same that good work is done, be-
sides much Of each commissioners time
5 taken outside of the days they are in
attendance upon the monthly meeting.
md they should be paid for the time
hey are required to give the public.
md there should be law authorizing
payment in full for what services thew
nay he called upon to perform for the
'ublic. Why should not a county COM
missioner be d, well pad for what he
Toes a. Is the State auditor any other
State officer, or, for that matter, any
'ther kind Of public official. Every
ountyn Florida needs good roads more
han anything else, and Leon is no ex-
option, she being way back yonder"
behind IN good-road building.
Leon county still pays the board bills
# Caldwell, and Larkins in the Duval
ounty jail and Of course Sheriff
Brown Is gamer thereby. Wonder
low long our people will stand such in
oStice without registering a holy and
lghteous kick? Cannot Leon county
.tbpIaig faka mood