The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-02-20
DRAINAGE WORK
is a SUCCESS
Says Officials of the Farmers
Improvement Association
of Fl0rahOme.

The News has received the follow
ing communication signed by the pre-
ident and secretary Of the Farmers
Improvement Association of Flora
home:
Editor Palatka News:--
In reply to a letter published
in the Palatka Item of the 5th inst
signed by G. L. Sirprell. and given a
send-otf in big letters in which it was
stated they were facts and to the
point, we wish tc submit the follow
ing:
That all of the said article was not
facts, but on the other hand contain
ed but little truth, and was mislead-
ing to the public.
First, he states the drainage board
is failure, viii i,h is not true. 1t is
the opinion of many that the board
has not accomp ished as much as it
might have done, but they are only
doing what they think is best and they
deserve credit for what they have
done, especially with the opposition
Of the anti-drainage and few of the
so-ealled drainage men like Sipprell
and his few followers who, it appears,
have hoped from the beginning that
every thing would win that opposed
drainage, from Wallis appeal and in
junction to the failure of the dredga
built by the commissioners.
His remarks about the dredge are
false to the letter. Every one who
hit lick on it, from the negro who
drove the spikes to the mechanic, Mr.
Dillon, deserve some praise.
No better material could be Sc :Ired
any where and no better dredge sOuld
rave been built for durability.
1t is as wide as can &C through the
canal and as long as necessary ard
nas ample power. judging from Pas.
performances.
1t can oa operated al cost OF from
Is to So per day with a capacity Of
from to / hundred cubic yards a
day.
1t is being operated every Day with
an occasional stop for repairs which
occurs with any machinery.
1t is digging as smooth a ditch as
any machine of the kind can, and do
ing it according to the surveyors
specifications.
One of the misfortunes was the
loss of the dipper man, since which
time the boat has been operated by
an inexperienced man but who is now
doing paying work,
The facts are, according to the men
in charge of the boat, Mr. Sippren
has never seen the dredge in action,
and we doubt if he has even seen it
at all.
He harps on letting the contract;
something the commissioners could
not do, according to the report of
their attorney.
The board advertised for bids for
80 days and received bui one answer
and it was withdrawn after the law
was examined; when nc found the
law to be solid for doing business on
a cash basis, with no provis ion for
doing the work on credit.
If Mr.. Sipprell was so anxious FOR
the contract to be let he shoul, have
taken it himself, since he clans to
be a drainage man.
He could have then put up th3 bond
for completion in one year ami have
made the land worth $100 Ees ucre,
then in case no purchaser shD Sed up
ne could have taken them over HIM
self.
In our opinion either would have
been more honorable than clrcu,a5-
ing discouraging reports.
He could then have proven his
faith by his works.
The above facts can be proven any
time you desire it and is tine senui-
ment Of the great majority of the
people of Florahome.
All we ask of the honorable board
is that they keep the "toy,' as Mr.
Sipprell calls it, working "a houcS
per day and relief is sure. Personal
ly we have nothing but the best Of
feeling for Mr.. Sipprell but our drain
age views differ.
1t was voted unanimously at the
last meeting of the Farmers Improve.
ment Association that the above facts
be forwarded to your valuable paper
for publication
Farmers Improvement association,
W. r. REVEl S, Pres.
G. C. HARDY. Sec.