The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-12-17
EVERGLADES


in the state, as rapidly as some o.
them are growing.
5 This prediction, in all probability
will be realized much sooner than We
anticipated.
Mr.. J. H. Reese. in a very interest
ing letter printed in a recent issue OF
the Baltimore Manufacturers Record
Says that the drainage has ceased to
be a problem and is now a fact. and
people are so anxious for a foothold
There that they cannot wait for the
lcOnsummation of the drainage posi-
bilities, but are already buying tracts
and erecting houses in order to have
Everything prepared for immediate
operations as soon as the work of
drainage is completed.
/ Where the lands are already drain
ed some of the purchasers OF tracts
more or less large, are having demon
stTatiOn farms established, and toma-
toes, egg plants, peppers and other
vegetables are growing most luxuri-
antly upon them.
The state has Withdrawn its un.
sold lands from the market in view of
the growing demand for the same.
and will hasten the drainage opera
tons TO more quickly enhance their
value.
Mr.. Reese says that the men who
are buying these lands are not dream
ers, nor sentimentalists, but are prac-
tical men, many of whom have
brought their engineers with them.
and are proceeding along conserva-
tive and enlightened lines. One man
told him that after a careful examina- |
ton he was convinced that the Ever |!
glade lands were richer than the Sac /
ramento valley, where lands are sell
ing for $3.50 per acre. So OF course
these lands are going to be gObbled
up.
This paper makes the following ex-
tract from Mr.. Recess letter:
When the enterprise was begun by
Governor y. B. Broward with one
dredge in 1906. the failure OF the pro-
ject was freely predicted. and there
were many to declare it unfeasible
and forecast failure. 1t was a bold
move, for at that time the trustees of
The internal improvement fund, who
are the governor, the comptroller. the
attorney general, the treasurer and
of agriculture. had but [
5cant funds with which TO proceed. | 7
One dredge was constructed and put :
o work in 1906. another got to work [
he following year, and two others 5
we're constructed the latter part Of L
-90S, and began excavating the first I
If the present year. 1t was necessary a
rom the beginning to prove the
worth of the Everglades lands. and 9
his was done by the first dredge. It z
equired patience and perseverance Z
through the most diskeartening lack l
II public sympathy, but Governor L
3roward had the faith that moves a
and in the summer Of 1908. n
which was the last year Of his admin $
he succeeded in selling 500 r
100 acres of the Undrained lands at h
= an acre, which gave the trustees a ie
-rainage fund of 100000 Other p
mailer contracts were made for a p
Um aggregating about 100000 addi- r
ionaL Capital had recognized the p
alue Of the lands, and this was the e
OUndation which gave the trustees h
firm footing and attracted such at W
entiOn to the section that the board Il
s now able TO step out with the as a
uraGce that ample funds will be
from the sale of the lands S
at largely increased price Il
Yer that at which the undrained W
ands were sold in order to prove the e
.orth of the lands and create a de- o.
nand for them. The wisdom of the o
Ontract made by Governor Broward u
or the drainage of the lands with s.
Z. J. Bodies, purchaser of the 100000 lC
ores, is now recognized The lands a
old to Mr.. BOlles were in alternate 5
ectiOns, the state reserving each al II
ornate section, so that the lands of II
he state are being drained as fast as o.
he lands owned by Mr.. Bodies. The
enetit accruing to one in the matter b
f pushing the work is to the good 81
lso of the other. Soon after this t.
ontract was made Mr.. Bolles. through 81
sales company, began the sale of 81
1000 farms in this undrained terri st
Dry. To this sale was allotted 100000
ores. The greater part of the acre
&c was divided into 10-acre farms.
nd the price put upon these small u
arms was S240 each. or s24 an acre. %
he lands have been sold in the west. :"
ne installment plan of payment be- ~
GNN IL