Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-15
J. o. WRIGHT is CRITICAL
Florida Drainage Engineer Holds It
Contains Half Truths.
UNFAIR AS TO THE CLIMATE
Solicitor McCabe of Agricultural
Department Near Clash With
Representative CLARK.

The circular OF the Department Of
Agriculture on the Florida Everglades.
which, because of it's publication and
subsequent suppression, developed the
present controversy in the Agricultural
Department, was introduced in evil
dence today before the House COM
mittee on expenditures in the Agricul-
tural Department. Solicitor McCabe OF
the department presented the circular
This circular. written by c. G. Elliott,
who was recently dismissed from the
service by Secretary Wilson, was en-
barassing to the promoters Of Florida
land companies. Representative Clark
of Florida has attacked Secretary Will
son for suppressing this circular.
The circular is far from f1atlering to
the possibilities of Everglade land. 1t is
at variance with the report of j. o.
Wright, now chief drainage engineer Of
Florida, but formerly an employe of the
department.
Chief Points in Circular.
are:
THE reclamation and development OF
the Everglades has long been desired by
the state. The climate Of southern Flori-
da seems as healthful as that of other
localities having the same latitude. The
long and hot summers are usually very
irksome to the people from more north
ern states, but do not seem detrimental
to the health. The normal annual rain
fall in southern Florida is nearly sixty
inches, and has reached seventy inches
in a year.
THE soil Of these lands (Everglades)
consists largely of decayed and partly
decayed vegetable matter, having the
nature of muck or peat This is under
laid with white sand or with a lime
stone formation. The principal vegeta-
ton is SawgraSS.
THE state has sold large tracts in the
glades to companies that are now offer
ing these lands for sac. A number Of
it does not seem improbable that as this
work progresses the land bordering the
canals will be at least partially drained.
But probably much time will yet be re-
be habitable or fitted for cultivation.
''The drainage Of the Everglades Is
entirely feasible from an engineering
standpoint. but the value OF the lands
when drained is still largely problemati-
cal. Some small drained tracts on the
edge Of the glades have produced very
satisfactory crops Of vegetables. On some
of the lands oranges and grape fruit nave
been raised, but for these large quantities
of commercial fertilizers are almost al
ways required"
Wright Criticises Circular.
Mr. Wright took up the Elliott circu-
lar piecemeal and found much fault
with it. He said it contained half
truths and was distorted. He did not
know who prepared it, he said. His
first notice Of 1T was when his atten-
tion was called to it by two land pro-
moters who called at his Office.
Under cross-eXamination Mr.. Wright
admitted that the statements to which
the promoters had taken exception
were true at times and untrue at
others He expressed the opinion that
the circular was unfair in its pre-
sentation of climatic conditions. He
also said the statement that the land
would burn was not fair. as all land
will burn. he said, if the moisture is
withdrawn.
Mr.. Wright was freely cross-examined
by the committee and by the two Flor
ida senator's Messrs Bryan and Fletcher.
Representatives Clark of Florida, Bath
rick of Ohio and Solicitor McCabe Of the
Agricultural Department also examined
him. The committee permitted w. H.
Ellis, attorney representing the Internal
Improvement Fund trustees of Florida,
to participate in the hearing.
colloquy in the committee shortly before
the noon adjournment. He read an ex-
tract from the newspaper report Of Mr..
Wright's testimony Of his trip into North
Carolina to Representative Small's con-
gressional district. Mr.. McCabe said 1t
was the policy Of the Agricultural De-
partment to diffuse information and that
the assignment of experts to this work
was a part of the policy.
To illustrate this he started TO read
lse$ nf tot tSyaC
democrats. who had drawn on the de-
partment for lecturers.
Clash With Clark Averted.
He had read the names Of Representa-
tives Cravens, Arkansas: Garrett, Ten
nessee, and Edwards Of Georgia, when
Representative Clark interrupted. He
said he did not think 1t was fair that
these members Of Congress should be held
up to the country as having improperly
received aid from the department. He
said he had caused agricultural depart
ment employees to be detailed in his dis
trict, and he did not see anything wrong
in it. Mr.. McCabe said there was nothing
wrong in it, but insisted that as the sub
ject had been opened that all Of the ac-
tivities of the department be made public
The clash between the solicitor and the
Florida representative was averted by
the announcement OF Chairman Moss that
the hearing would be adjourned until to4
morrow.
'I promised to meet my wife at
O'Clock" said Mr.. Moss. 'I have just
twelve minutes to fill the engagement
The chairman's remark eased the ten.
Of the opposing interests. the land agents
and others who are attending the sittings
was continued In the corridors