The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-02-25
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THE JOURNAL VERSUS 4
THE MES-UNION. I
Orlando RepOTter-Star =


The Pensacola Journal and the
Jacksonville Times Union are in
dulging in some ~ather strong argu-
mentS on the drainage question. which
il kept up and placed before the peo-
pie might have L tendency to make
for drainage.
The Times Unions argument, as an
argument, does not hold water after
The Journal knocks the bottom out of
t.
The RepOrter-Star did not original
~ stand for drainage because of the
tax forced upon owners of adjacent
lands, even extending into Orange
county. Also because there seemed
plenty OF available garden lands for
any who wanted them. Finally be-
cause it did not approve Broward's
high handed procedure in ignoring the
plain vote Of the people against drain
age which finally terminated as it de-
served, in the reputation of Broward
himself
When drainage" or any other
measure eliminates in the centTaliza-
ton of arbitrary power. self assumed
in any man, be it BTOWaTd or ROOSe-
welt, we are just democratic enough
in principle to be against the PROPOSE
ton.
But on the general proposition of
irrigation of vast desert areas for
public improvement and to make hab-
liable otherwise waste places, a man
or a paper would cut a very poor fig
ure Directing thereto.
In the face of the great irrigating
projects of the west, the reclaiming
Of the Pecos valley or of the CalifoT-
MIA desert converted into fruitful gar
den spots, populated with hundreds OF
thousands OF people, made rich by the
reclamation and restoration of these
once arid wastes. resulting in the
making of great states, what folly it
would be in any one to try to argue
against it or to stay the onward
prOgreSs2
By the same rule, on general prin-
ciples, the reclamation Of great wastes
by wholesale drainage for public use
IN growing salable products, III up
building and making d hundred fold
more valuable and ultimately pOpu-
lating and town bJuiding-by the same
rule ii were folly 10 set up an argU-
ment of obstruction
We are living in an age Of progress
and il it is wisdom 10 build a great
railroad through the sea, d heretofore
unheard of proposition, then the re-
clamatiOn OF waste land now over
flowed is not unreasonable, especially
when the products of such reclaimed
lands will feed the aforesaid railroad.
and whilst it is true that there is
plenty OF tillable land in the state for
fruit and gardening purposes il a
great syndicate, with plenty OF money
at the back is willing to pay $500 per
acre for OveTfiOWeG lands not worth
a copper in their present state, pro-
vided that S1-O0 be spent on drainage
under existing state laws, in order
that a demonstration in sugar growing
may be made, we are just a little in
clined to think the people might re-
verse their vote on the proposition if
properly presented TO them.
Whilst our views on drainage have
been modified somewhat by changed
conditions, We could not approve of
Governor BTOward's determination 10
force the issue. even to the acceptance
of d new contract on the very eve of
the termination of his Office, as though
no administration hut his own were
capable Of dealing with the question.
We should like 20 see an expression
from the people along these lines now
contemplated, not delegated express
sion through the legislature, because
that might not indicate it properly
but from the people themselves.