The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-10-02

and distinct matter.
i Mr.. Kenyon. The senator, of
course, is familiar with the geography
of that situation?
Mr.. Fletcher. l have been all over
the route, and all through the river
in a small boat, from one end to the
other.
4 Mr.. Kenyon. Can the present pro-
ject of the government if it be car
ried out, be used as a basis in any
way for the reclamation of lands?
Can any plan be carried out of CO.
operation between the owners of the
lands and the government, and an
apportionment of cost that might be
made by virtue of any reclamation
be arranged in some scheme between
the owners of the land and the gov
eminent? Is that feasible?
Mr.. Fletcher. That is all a matter
for subsequent investigation and
study. 1t is matter that is left open.
1t is not included here. If it can be
done, provided the government is not
put to any expense in that connection,
it may be done.
Mr.. Kenyon. Does this improve
ment in itself, with nothing more, re-
claim any of this land?
Mr.. Fletcher. l presume that the
improvement in itself does not result
in retaining land, any more than
any improvement which increases
the depth of a river in any locality
might tend to afford more complete
drainage in that locality.
Mr.. Kenyon. 1 thought the senator
was so familiar with it that he would
know whether that fact in itself did
result.
/ Mr.. Fletcher. 1t is entirely out
side of any consideration of this pro-
ject at all. That is matter that is
subject to further investigation and
study in connection with the govern.
ment authorities, to determine w
er or not that sort of thing might be
undertaken; but, in any event, it
must be undertaken without any cost
to the government.
BY Bryan. Mr.. President, I sug.
gest to the senator that he place in
the Record at this point the conclud-
ing paragraph, numbered 6, of the
report of Col. Burr, acting chief of
engineers, because a great deal has
been said in the newspapers to the
effect that this was a real estate
scheme, and the concluding para
graph shows that the drainage of
lands is not contemplated in this ap-
preparation, but that if those who
have lands afterwards see fit to CO.
operate the chief of engineers ought
to be permitted to require them to
contribute to the expense of the work.
Mr.. Kenyon. This is on page 8 of
this report?
Mr.. Bryan. Yes.
Mr.. Fletcher. l will ask permission
to add to my remarks section of the
report, found on page of house doc
ument No. 514, as suggested.
The Vice President Without OBJ
lection, that may be done.
Mr.. Fletcher. My effort has been
to be as brief as possible in this con-
nection, and I did not want to quote
from the report any more than seem.
ed to be necessary to present the
facts and refer to the report, so that
If anyone who felt an interest in the
matter wished to examine it for him.
self he could do so.
The matter above referred to is as
follows:
While this project was under con-
sideration is was stated by interested
parties that plan of improvement
might be devised which would drain
and make available for cultivation
large areas of land in addition to Civ
ing navigation facilities. This phase
OF the SUBJECT was investigated and
the conclusion was arrived at that the
additional cost of any plan which CO.
ordinate land drainage and reclama-
ton with navigation project was.
greater than was warranted by the
amount of land which would be bene-
ficially affected. Should the owners
of the land to be benefited, providing
| for the reclamation and darinage of
the land would cost over the project
which provides for navigation alone,
such project should preferably be-
adopted; and it is therefore recon-
mended that the secretary of war be
given authority to make such modifi-
cations of the project above recon-
| mandnd for adOnfi0n &c NAV hn an