The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-02-22
Party Concludes Inspection
of Possibilities; Legisla-
ton May Be Expected.
DAVIES EXAMPLE
AN INSPIRATION
Party Entertained by Bryan.
Sightseeing in
Miami.
Staff Snecial.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla, Feb. I'll
The legislative party which has been
inspecting conditions in the Ever.
glades, arrived here tonight from I
trip of nearly two hundred miles in
small boats through the canals and
lakes of the drainage system and
were guests at a banquet of theil
hosts, the Everglades Drainage
League, Fort Lauderdale and Miami
Board of Trade, and allied organiza-
tions, who have endeavored to show
the lawmakers Of the state what
Florida can and should do for the
relief of the farmers of the 'glades.
The party spent the night in boats
on the North New river canal, en-
route from Okeelanta to Davie. where
they were entertained today by the
Davie Board of Trade and luncheon,
consisting of entirely local grown pro-
ducts, was served by the ladies of the
community.
Davies Great Example.
Davie is the pioneer Everglades
city and was established about six
years ago and gave a conclusive dem
onstration of what can be accomplish
ed in the glades with reasonable as
sistance from the state.
c, A. Walsh, secretary of the board
of trade, ably presented the needs
of the Everglades farmers in a speech
delivered at the close of the LUNCHEON.
He stated that with proper drainage
| the products of the Everglades will
| aggregate the enormous sum of five
! hundred million dollars each year,
whereas the present value Of all crops
produced in Florida is less than fifty
million dollars. William Jennings
Bryan also made a short address in
support of the Everglades.
The legislators were favorably i'm
pressed with the progress made by
Davie in the face of seemingly UNI
surmountable obstacles.
$4,000 School and Roads.
The little community in the heart
of the Everglades, cut off from the
outside world except by canal trans
portation has contracted for a S12,-
900 school and a S12,50O drawbridge
across the canal, has country club,
church, pumping plant and tele-
phone line and is building roads to
the coast.
This has been the community's first
financially successful season and vast
quantities Of Irish potatoes and other
vegetables have been shipped. When
the party reached Fort Lauderdale it
completed the actual inspection of the
Everglades section and tomorrow will
be devoted to sightseeing in Fort Lau-
drdile and Miami, with a reception al
William Jennings Bryan's winter
home at Cocoanut Grove, tomorrow
| afternoon.
Bryan Addresses Party.
Mr.. Bryan was the principal speak.
er at the banquet tonight. He told
the legislators of the vast wealth
which the farmers Of the Everglades
will produce when their lands are
! properly drained and urged that they
receive the relief which they are ask
ing.
The trip has been most successful
in every way and ire sights viewed
and information gained has proven a
/ revelation to the lawmakers, many of
whom were skeptical when the party
left Lake Worth Monday morning but
all now agree that drainage Of the
| Everglades is feasible and that com
| pletion of the work will multiply the
wealth Of the state and most opeE
and above board the trip is look
ed upon as the cleanest lobbying that
has ever been undertaken in Florida
and has given 10 the legislators first