The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-01-03
Governor Trannrnell
Delivers Grafton

(COntlnueQ From Page One.)
commission was headed by Mr.. Isham
Randolph, who was at one time con-
sulting engineer on the Panama canal
work, and had been in charge of some
of the most extensive drainage oper
atoms in the United States. This
commission assisted by a corps of
some fifty or sixty persons, many of
whom were experts in their respect
i've fields, after thorough investiga-
ton for some six months or more, re-
ported favorably upon the feasibil
ity of the Everglades drainage and
commended the project as being one
which was capable of being accom-
plished at the least cost per acre for
reclamation of any project of similar
nature throughout the country
1t was apparent that new plans for
financing the work were necessary.
We thereupon recommended the leg
islature of 1913 and enacted law
authorizing bond issue for the
Everglades drainage district, it be-
ing provided by said law that an an
nual drainage tax should be imposed
upon all lands within the district.
This we believe to be an equitable
and just plan as it requires each of
the property owners to bear his pro-
portionate part of the expense of
draining his lands. Under the plan
the board holding the state lands pay
the drainage upon the public lands
Just the same as the private owners
are required to pay upon their lands.
/! While it is true that under this law
and the amendments thereto enacted
in 1915 we have found some difficulty
in procuring purchasers for the bonds
authorized, the work has nevertheless
been carried forward with splendid
progress and today far more extern
sive operations are being carried on
than is generally realized, by the
people Of the state who are not in
touch with the operations. Approx
imately three hundred and twenty
miles of canals have been excavated
representing the excavating &C
two million cubic yards of earth. -Four
large docks have been constructed OF
nearly completed During the pas
several months from six to ten largs
dredges have been at work on the
canals, and a recent contract ha:
: been closed which will increase the
number of dredges in the fleet. Thi:
is by far the largest reclamation
project in the United States. 1t i:
of such enormous magnitude, consist
ing as it does of district contain
! ing more than four million acres o
land that its accomplishment neces
: sarily will require considerable tim'
s and the expenditure of large sum o
money.
i It is gratifying to observe, however
that the work has already progresse,
5 sufficiently to accomplish wholly o
= in part the reclamation of a larg
: acreage within the district. 1t is ais
f very gratifying to observe from tn
farming which is being carried o.
n upon the lands which have been re
S claimed that the fertility and pro
5 ductiveness of the lands within thi
$ territory cannot be excelled any
: where within the United States.
The dreams and hopes as som
a were wont to call them of the lament
{ ed Governor Broward as to the possl
bilities of this vast empire are com
: ing true.
1t has not only been the object Q
myself am my associates in directin
the Everglades drainage operation
: to push the work within all reason
: able dispatch, which we have done
but wa also conceived it to be on