The Pensacola journal., 1907-05-02
CRANE
On EVERGLADES
DRA|NhGE {
Whole Committee on In
spection Favors Contin-
uing the Work.
WILL MAKE UNANIMOUS REPORT
TO LEGISLATURE ON THAT
PROJECT OPPOSED TO
Boards AMENDMENT.

The Tampa News of Saturday says
At home for the first time since the
legislature convened, Senator James
e Crane was this morning asked by
an Evening News man for a state
ment on the drainage work. which
he has spent the past week inspect
ing with the other members of the
special committee of members of the
senate and house appointed for the
purpose.
I'VE had a most enlightening trip
and one that impressed upon every
member of our committee the practi-
cal value of the drainage work" said
the senator. 4 think I may safely
say for the other members of the
committee that the report which we
will make to the legislature as a re-
suit of our personal inspection VIII
strongly recommend that the work
be carried on but l also think it
probable that the committee will rec
Ommend that the funds for the work
be derived from the sale of the state
lands in the drainage district. These
lands will be of such value for truck
ing purposes tfTSt the committee be-
lieves they will find ready sale at
good prices. In fact, purchasers are
already offering to pay $35 per acre
for the land, and the revenue from
the sale will, l believe. be sufficient
to keep the work going
Work of Dredges.
Senator Crane said they saw the
dredges actually at work One dTedge
has already cut one and a quarter
miles, the cuts, in some places, being
35 feet deep. This dredge has al
ready reached the open Everglades
and the practical value of the work
was st:ikingly demonstrated to the
committee, when they saw four fine
tomato farms, in fcurishing COndl-
ton, on land that was only recently
covered with water. Although there
has been no rain in that section in a
long period, Senator Crane says the
tomatoes were of the finest kind,
showing the richness of the reclaim
ed soil. made available by the drain
age operations.
II Will Not Burn.
The committees Investigations re
suited in the disprOval Of the frc-
quently reiterated statement that
this reclaimed land is peaty in charac-
ter and that it Will burn. his is all
bosh, said the senator. The land
is a black loan and is not peat"
The committee was entertained by
the Board of Trade at Miami on its
tour in that section and visited the
head Of the Miami river. Senator
Crane says he believes the commit
tee will be unanimous in recommend
ing that the work be continued. al
though there may be some differences
of opinion as 10 how the funds shall
be obtained. All the members of the
committee except Mr.. Crane voted
against the drainage amendment
Other Matters.
Speaking of the various measures
now pending in the legislature in
which he is personally interested,
Senator Crane said he had every rea-
son to believe that his textbook uni
formity bill would be passed and also
the bill continuing the state fair ap-
There may be a fight
on the bill appropriating SIS, 600 for
an armory here" said Senator Crane,
''on the ground that Tampa is asking
for too much, but | have hopes of
that through also" On the
county division question, Senator
Crane has been hands off, and il is
not known what position he will take
should the bill get to the senate.
The Beard Amendment.
The most dangerous measure to