The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-24
CULVER OF INTEREST IN
 FLORIDA OVER LEGISLATURE


 portunity to convey his thought on needed legislation and reforms to the Assembly. Under the Constitution of Florida the term of the Governor Is four years and he cannot succeed him self The present Governor has begun the third year of his term. and as the Legislature convenes but once in two years this win be his last message, un- less the occasion arises for an extra ordinary session.
 Noteworthy Administration.
 The present administration has been noteworthy for number of events which he has caused 10 transpire, or which have happened through force of circumstance. His administration will be most notable, perhaps, for beginning the drainage of the Everglades. This has so overshadowed other affairs of moment that the Broward administra- tiou and the work which was begun uu- der it will always be associated. Two of the most powerful dredEes ever built In this country have been put to work, and they will be kept at work until the present Governor retires.
 Since the feasibility and tie practi- cability of draining the district have been demonstrated 1t Is probable that the work will be continued after his re- tirement, no matter which faction Is successful h the next election. The 
 subject of drainage. It was not divided after Broward was elected; the division existed for years before. It is not however, a question of drainage 1 self which caused the division but one of railroad influence and the opposition to it.
 All the railroads in Florida were built them by the Internal Improvement Board. These public lands were vested in the board for the purpose of internal improvement drainage and reclamation. Though the grants from the Federal government were made In 1855 no board previous to that of the Broward admin istration ever did anything toward drainage. The Jennings administration which preceded the present one was the first to deny the rign. of the railroads to the land which had been given them by legislative grant and refused to deed any more land to them. The patriotism and wisdom of this decision may be readily seen when it is known that the Legislature had granted from time to time more than half the area of the State. including lakes and rivers to the railroads, and more than the trustees held in trust
 Opposition to Broward.
 Broward was elected against the op- position of the railroads upon a pledge to begin drainage. and he has lived up to the pledge faithfully, though the fight against him has continued unre- lentingiy. IL is estimated that 1t will require i've years to sufficiently lower the Lake Okeechobee, with six dredges at work to accomplish this.
 So. though Governor Broward began the work, he cannot hope to see 1t com pleted during his fncumbency. The work thus far has been prosecuted with funds derived from the sale of lands by the trustees Thus far the Legislature has appropriated nothing for the oper- ations, and 1t Is a problem If the com ing Legislature will lend any assist ance.
 As to how far the railroad influence will control the next Legislature re- mains to be seen. The operations may be continued indefinitely without the appropriation, for the trustees may con- tinue selling lands and devo.ing the money to the purpose of drainage Thts is regarded. however. as poor eco homie policy, for the lands that are now selling from 60 cents an acre to $l.5O ar acre can be saved to the State at { value which will represent their pres | ent valuation several times.
 This brief resume of the situation will indicate that the next election VII ] probably be the most warmly contested \ in many years. The one side is commit I ed to drainage and the other is just al ] irrevocably opposed to it. There is { chance that the Federal governmen | will make some appropriation towar' l the project Through Che influence O | the Governor a corps of governmen | engineers are now in the field making | soil surveys for report to the Depart ment of Agriculture. This work alon' will require several years. for the req | son that the corps will remain in thu | 'glades only few months now and >wtl | return probably In the late falkr Tn | government appropriation fer sucl | work Is limited. and as the frrigaLiol work in the West and drainage pro | jects in the Northwesy require muc terest that the Department of Agricul ture is taking in the work will for tn present at least be only advisory.