The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-10-05
mt Honesty in Public OFFICES Equal AI-spec
EXPERIENCE IS BEST
TEACHER OF ALL.
Mr.. vanDuzsr's Experience Entitles
His Views to HuCh Confederation.
Says Lands are Worthless.

Kissimmee, Fla, Sept rs, 1906.
To the Editor of the Tampa Times;
have read with interest Governor
Broward's speech delivered in Tampa,
and would request you to print a few
facts-the other side of the picture.
had several years experience in
constructing canals TO drain muck lands,
as the superintendent of the Atlantic
and Gulf Coast Canal and 0keechobee
Land Company. About thirty miles of
canals were dug in the upper Ever
glades, or the lands bordering Lake
Okeechobee, and these bordering lands
are practically all of the vast Ever
glades that is not absolutely worthless.
For thirty years or more have
watched the efforts OF Others in culti-
walton of muck lands Among them
the presenl State Chemist, r. 4. Rose,
who spent about $50, 600 on his muck
farm and made complete failure, He
is now telling Governor Broward and
the people of Florida of the great fer
tility of the Everglades. A. s. Kins-
man spent 500, 600 at Southport; Fran
els Goblet expended fully as t,luch, and
a number of others, including nj
AoWHSt Va AHNAlag NHSnN ldikE chuto
and failed 10 produce crops probably
This was the result on muck lands In
the vicinity of Kissimmee, which have
not been inundated since 1894, and are
far superior to any in the Everglades.
The great st, Cloud sugar plantation
can be purchased for less than the
buildings cost that now stand on IL. Ii
is fenced, has a 35-soOt canal through
it, haa a standard-gauge railroad on II,
long distance telephone connection,
postoiiice and school, an absolutely
healthful spot, free from malaria and
insects. Compare this with the mala-
rious and insect-laden air Of the wilder
ness known rs the Everglades, and then
name its value
The blackjack ridges spoken Of 30
slightingly by Governor Broward are
far more valuable for agricultural pur-
poses, and the sum already spent by the
State Is far In excess Of, the real value
of the portion Of the Everglades pos
sible to reclaim.
Did the little picnic party just re-
turned from Okeechobee, when they
said Okeechobee could be easily
drained, remember that Lake Okee-
chobee took care Of the rainfall Of the
entire Kissimmee valley, q territory
4, 900 square miles in extent, as well as
the rainfall of it's own surface, which
last year was q inches? And have
seen Kissimmee river stretch from Tay-
lor's creek to Fish Eating creek, dis
lance Of at least thirty miles. Think
of sheet of water 80 miles wide and
from 4 TO 10 feet deep pouring into
Lake Okeechobee; and then consider IL
"a ample matter" to carry II of through
canalsl In addition to this enormous
flow Of water, II is a feet that the
lower portion of the Everglades are
subject to tides. Canals IN this portion
OF the glades would be useless. II is
a fact that dry muck will burn equal to
straw, and thousands of dollars have
been spent fighting fires in the muck,
and thousands Of acres have been de-
stroyed by fire in this vicinity. When
once the Everglades is dry enough for
cultivation, will the Internal Improve
ment Board keep up organized fire com
panles TO put out the fires, or will the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Com
pany bear this expense, after the five
counties drain it for them? Hillsboro
must remember that the five counties
To be skinned. for worthless, impOs-
sibe dream are her neighbors
Respectfully,