Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-03-02
ACRES OF WATER UNLOADED
Millions Secured from Sale Of
Florida Swamps.
PROSPECT OF DRAINAGE REMOTE
now Promoters Dodged the POST
office Department and scooped
In the Money of In
yestOrs

new YORK World presents these con-
nected facts:
More than sixty years ago the Ever
Eiades were ceded to Florida by the
United States government. The region
contains 100000 acres. most OF which is
covered by from one to fifteen feet Of
should devote to its school fund the rev.
enue from the Everglades, II they were
rented or sold
After many different reports had been
made as TO the feasibility OF draining
the region and the probable value Of
the lands II drained. Hamilton Disston.
the Philadelphia sawmaker, undertook
in 1891 the first actual work OF re-
cismstion. The Florida Internal I'M
provement board. which had charge Of
the swsmps. agreed to pay him 8 cents
an acre for drainage. He did not get far
with the project. II took years to settle
the Disston claim against the state.
The reclamation Of the Everglades did
not get another boost until Napoleon B.
Broward was elected governor Of Florida
in 1906. Reclamation had been one his
battle cries in the campaign and he re-
habllitsted the project after hegot into
office. Broward and former Governor
Jennings. cousin of w. ]. Bryan, con-
trolled the Internal Improvement board.
The first result Of their agitation was the
sale of some small tracts Of the swamp
al from 81 to s. an acre.
Drainage Inyestiga tion.
At about that time Major J. o. Wright.
then an engineer of the United states
Agricultural department., was sent TO
Florida. by congressional resolution, TO
report on the feasibility OF draining the
Everglades. lie also was scheduled to
report on the probable, agricultural value
of tire reclaimed lands.
Wright spent many months in the re-
Eioa in 1906 and 1901. While he was there
the state Of Florida began to dredge the
canals through the swamp and agreed to
spend $50 an acre on drainage. specu-
lators bought small sections at Sc an
acre and sold them with some success
throughout the country at much higher
price.
In July. 1905. Governor Broward and
former Governor Jennings interested
Richard ]. Bolles OF colorado in the
Everglades plan. Bolles, who had made
fortune In western irrigation, went to
Florida and bought from private indi-
viduals $4,000 acres and from the state
10000 acres OF the swamp at g an acre.
PAYABLE in installments. the, state agree
ing TO spend $50 an acre In drainage.
The last of Bolles's instslments Is due in
1916. by which time the state has con-
tracted TO complete the drainage.
Major Wright. In 1909. ompleted his re-
port on the Everglades and turned It in
10 the agricultural department. lie as
serts that his report was not Intended
either TO boost or condemn the plans for
the Everglades. but contained all the
available evidence pro and con on the
plan SO that the public could draw its
own conclusion.
Portions of the Wright report found
their way into the hands OF the swamp
boomers and were widely circulated as
eommendatory. II is alleged that on
the strength Of these extracts from the
Wright report. the spectators sold
scores Of thousands Of acres Of the
swamp at from sl2 to $50 an acre.
Immense Profits for Bolies.
One batch Of $4,000 acres OF this land
was sold through the Florida Fruit Lands
company to persons in the middle west.
There is a suit pending for recovery on
tho part OF 1900 persons who invested
in this batch.
The plaintiffs in the case aver that
Bolies received 81 $1,000 gross for this
land on which he had paid the state OF
Florida about $4,000 and on which he is
expected eventually TO pay $4,000.
His selling agents. 1t is said, received
on this batch. commissions Of 100000
The BoIles agents. under many names.
are selling the lands in all sections Of
the country at $50 an acre. The pro-
moters have cut the country up into
sections. and virtually every state in the
union, With the exception Of Florida and
the adjoining states. is covered with the
agencies
The postoffice department got on the
trail Of the promoters. Through the ac-
,tiylties Of the postal inspectors. s. B.
golles, u brother Of Richard Bodies, has
been Indicted In Florida with others. The
Indictment charges him with using the
United States mails TO defraud.
The promoters have evolved a scheme
10 beat the postoffice department. They
do not use the mails any more. They
have opened up offices all over the coun-
try where they prove" the value OF the
property by showing prospective pur-
chasers what viii grow on the soil. The
soil Is in buckets in their show windows.
They show the purchaser beautiful views
Of the level Everglades In a state of cul-
tivation. They show him vegetables Of
all sorts and fruits growing rapidly in
earth supposed TO have been transpianted
from the Everglades.
Almost Inaccessible.
They do not tell the purchasers that
fhe land in the Everglades, with the ex-
eeption Of the fringe. is almost lnacces-
s.blc and that nothing but wild vegeta-
lion is growing thereon. Along the canals
that have been cut into parts Of the
Everglades houses have been built and
some farmers are prospecting In some sec
tIans. These canals are miles apart and
between them is nothing but water COW
cred land with no prospect Of drainage.
Engineers who have examined the
lands say the present canals will never
carry off the water; they are not large
enough. The state of Florida has not
Guaranteed to build any further canals.
II has no money with which to build
them. The people who are not interested
IN the Everglades will not furnish the
millions that it Is estimated will be re-
au,red TO complete the work The land