The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-10-04
TRUE CONDITION
OF EVERGLADES
ENGINEER FRED C. ELLIOT, HEAD
OF THE DRAINAGE WORK,
TELLS OF PROJECT.
IS PAYING OWN EXPENSE
Great Swamps Are Not Drained Yet
and Not Ready for
Settlement.
Tallahassee.

Since the resignation of j. o.
Wright, chief drainage engineer of
Florida, at the head of the drainage
operations in the Everglades, Fred c..
Elliott, who has been personally in
supervision of the work in the Ever
glades, has returned to Tallahassee
by direction of the Trustees of the In.
ternal Improvement Fund to take
charge of the work.
Mr.. Elliott undoubtedly has a clos.
er personal knowledge of this terrific.
ry than any other man living. His
knowledge has been obtained by ac-
tual experience on the ground itself,
coupled with a practical understand,
ing of the office duties.
He says:
During the past few months, the
Everglades of Florida have been. stag,
ed in the limelight of misdirected
publicity until the multitude of con.
flicting reports circulated in regard to
the same have reached a point where
1t is absolutely impossible for the
public to separate the true from the
false, or to gain an opinion approach
ing accuracy even in a remote degree.
The real idea, the real work, Abe
actual proposition, seems to have
been lost sight of. The question of
draining the Florida Everglades has
been conspicuously canvassed of late
from every conceivable position ex-
cept one-the plain, common sense
position. No other position is tenable |
or justifiable. 1t is a common sense |
question, made up of and independ- |
ent upon three general and funda. |
mntal considerations, all common
sense.
First, the drainage of the Ever
5lades as practical proposition.
Second, the drainage of the Ever
5lades as a business proposition.
Third, the drainage of the Ever
slades as a common sense PROPOSE
ion.
Then, considered as a whole, this
question logically resolves itself into
common sense, practical business
From an engineering standpoint,
he practibility of draining the Ever
;lades has been abundantly demon
trated and proven by careful and
borough investigation of the condi-
ions which govern and control the
ituation. Other undertakings of SINH
ar nature have been successfully &C.
which assist us in fore
asting the result In presenting this
ubject as a business proposition, the
principles involved differ in no way
rom those upon which any other bus
ness undertaking or investment
you'd depend. It is perfectly obvious
hat in developing its resources and
uilding up the wealth of a communi-
y within its domain, the State as a
'hOle will increase it's riches and adj
ance in prosperity. When this de-
elopment can be carried on by the
tate without unreasonable burden
pom its citizens or increased taxa
on upon property, and when the
tactical and successful accomplish
lent of the undertaking will guaran- Z
ee to the State a perpetual and ever. $
lcreasing revenue, derived from the {
dvancing value of its property, then
is plain that a project offering such (
lVantopnS will DrOyo Of proot vouo =
nd makes it incumbent upon said
, use every reasonable affort to uti- l
re, for the benefit of its citizens, a
lese natural resources G
There was granted by the federal a
1vernment to the State of Florida, d
1850, the tract of land comprising I
lie Everglades. s
Without going into detail regard t
g the method Of providing funds. f
r defraying the cost of Carrying on y
e drainage work, it may be interest II
g to know that the Everglades C
one, and the territory Immediately |
thereto, is providing all 4
the money necessary to pay Ene {
,st of reclamation. This project is
sing carried out, and is paying for \
self on It's own merits and resources.
that part of the State not one cent |
increased taxation or expense in t
ly form whatever has resulted, or Y
i'll result. f