The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-13
paAIxrrc rHr EyERGLADEs.

again being discussed. As many of our readers know. the Everglades is a large area of lakes, marshes. swamps and lagoons covering between three aud four thousand square miles dur Ing the rainy season. Much of it is inpenetrable. and the whole is prac- ticaliy unat for habitation or cultiya- ton It is largely the home of wild animals. reptiles. mosquitoes and ma- laria That the land would be of im- mense value if thoroughly drained is plain. but how and by whom shall it be done? In recent issue of The Baltimore Sun was this dispatch from Washington:
 However 1t must not be inferred that the drainage projects are all easy of accomplishment. The Ever glades of Florida. for instance. pre- sents stupendous problem In engi- neering. Yet this is declared to be a matter of engineering skill and inyen- tion rather than expenditure, for the expense would not be commensurate with the cost an acre in reclaimins western arid lands. These facts are
 
 Of many public men. At first sdvo- cates of these projects met with in- difference. Now great mary pub lie men are seeking official data on the subject. and it is believed that the success of the vas. irrigation pro- jeets in the west will be an argument for the drainage of swamp lands that will convince congress of its practica- bility and secure government action
 The Jacksonville Times-Union. com menting on this statement. has this to say:
 If there is any Likelihood of the na- tional government taking up the dyain- age of the Everglades, why should we spend money for that purpose? Grant ing for the ss Ike of argument that the drainage of the Everg'ade would add a large domain of arable land to the States resources. why is it neces- sary to do it now. without waiting for the national government, when there is so little need in Florida for more room? Just to enable Governor Broward to say that e was t. q Fla ther of the Everglades dralnage?' Will it be feather in his esp If the 'gIades remain unoccupied provided he succeeds in draining them am prov ing them arabic. Why all this haste to expend money on Everglades drain age if there is a possibility of the na- tional government taking it up? Is it from Ear that the overnment will take it up? Or that it will then be proved not feasible? At Washington they regard the reclamation of the Everglades as "a stupendous problem In engineering" and "a matter of engineering skill and invention rather than expo allure" But then they may he blinded by the SUI erior knowledge of the United States engineers which, after all may not be equal to tine wis., dom to be gained on an ocean-going tug.
 The Times-Union plainly does not wish the Governor of Florida to exait himself at the expense of the tax pay CTS of the state. It doesn't want him to set himself up as great benefac- tor and let the people pay the bill. It thinks. as people elsewhere often do, that if an executive wants to pose before the people as one to whom they should bow down and give acclaim 'he ought to do so at his own expense and not exact all the cost from those who pay the taxes.
 This Is natural feeling, it must be admitted. It Is only too true that there is entirely too much disposition to look to Washington for everything, but the government itself is largely responsible for this feeling. And when we consider the subject 1t might he difficult to see why the national government may not reclaim the Ever glades just as 1t Is retaining millions of acres of arid lands in the West. If one is right and proper, why not the. othef? If there is any difference in principle it is not apparent to the ordinary comprehension.
 We have seen no estimate of the probable cost of draining and reclaim ing the Everglades, but it would be not only an expensive job but would involve engineering and mechanical difficulties of no sntall importance and magnitude That it can be accom- | plished is not to be doubted. and that 1t would add some millions of acres of valuable land for settlement and cultivation is also true. Who shall do the work is the question