The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-05-03
en-. MlLroN,s FAiRy-LIKE PROP.
osITloN

The editor OF this paper heard a
Part OF Hon. William H. Milton's
speech from the band stand Thursday
night.
The orators first proposition was
the building of good roads.
Mr.. Milton SAID InaI MS distinguish
ed opponents favored the building Of
good roads. but that their platforms
revealed the fact that they had given
this all-important subject absolutely
no study nor investigation.
Mr. Milton is opposed to the con-
siruction Of good roads with convict
labor. because. he says, to do so will
cost money and increase taxation.
That Mr.. Milton is right on this
proposition we believe no one will
aeny.
Georgia Is building her good roads
with convict labor, but to do which it
Ia costing her money and is increas-
ing the burden of her taxation.
hut Georgia has the satisfaction of
knowing that she is getting good
roads--roads that will last life time.
The statement was made by one of
enc good roads demonstrators sent
cat from Washington that every time
the sun went down Georgia had ten
additional miles of good roads that
would be an inheritance to her peo-
pie for a century.
Candidate Milton has evolved big
scheme for the building of good roads
whereby the tax payers of Florida
will be saved the burden of additional
taxation.
After submitting an array of figures
Candidate Milton makes the state
ment that Il will cost for the removal
of a cubic yard Of earth with convict
labor 40 cents, while with contract
labor IL will only cost 10 cents.
This difference in the cost of con-
vict and contract labor seems absurd
ON its face, but, after diligent study
aud careful investigation, it is
Mr.. Millions proposition, so we are
compelled TO treat it seriously.
Further along in his speech Mr..
Milton said that he had visited the
Angola convict farm in Louisiana, and
had n on the authority of Governor
Hurd OF that state that it produced
80 tons OF sugar cane per acre, and
here Mr. Milton has discovered an
Aladdin lamp. which, at the sound of
the tallsmanic word, will build for
Florida all her good roads without
costing her tax payers single pen
ny.
The state of Florida, Mr.. Milton
said. owns thousands of acres of rich
lands In the Everglades, as rich, or
richer. than those of Louisiana, so IL
the Angola farm, under convict labor,
viii yield 30 tons of sugar cane per
acre why will not the Everglades
lands. under convict labor. yield the
same returns?
The proposition. It seems to us, is
unanswerable
Mr. Milton has made very nice
calculation which warrants him in
saying that q single convict can cult
waite 10 acres OF Everglades lands,
from which can be produced 30 tons
81 sugar cane. which. when converted
into sugar. will amount to $500
pounds lie says that it has been
ciearly demonstrated that the net
profits on the production of sugar is
cents per pound. so We have $50 net
per acre for every convict cultivatine
sugar cane on the state lands in the
Everglades.
SO. with one thousand convicts
eulilNarlng sugar cane down in those
Paradise regions the state will clear
an annual profit of nine hundred thou
sand dollars.
Was there ever a more captivating
proposition made from a political ros
arumg The scheme is pretty enough
60 be printed on pink paper.