The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-06

survey of 100000 acres of hitherto
unsurveyed lands into townships,
ranges and sections. and other under
takings of an incidental though i'm
portant nature, involving an expendi-
ture to date of approximately S6,000,-
600. The Everglades drainage district
comprises a land area of 4,500,000
acres, or larger than the states OF
Rhode Island and Connecticut COM
bined. Where a few years ago there
was an unbroken watery waste there
are now, in those sections OF the Ever
glades where drainage work is most
advanced, thriving communities and
productive farms. The holding of the
state in the Everglades are represented
by 1.125.000 acres of land.
The National Guard of Florida.
The entire national guard of Flor
ida entered the federal service at the
beginning of the world war. During
the past three years there has been
practically no guard in existence.
About a year ago steps were taken to
reorganize the national guard of Flor
ida. This reorganization has gone
ahead steadily, and at this time the
entire regiment allotted to Florida has
practically been organized and
equipped and is in fine condition.
More troops will be allotted to Flor
ida each year and the organization will
proceed until the entire allotment will
be organized by the end of 1924. The
total allotment to Florida will amount
to 1890 men and will constitute a
splendid force for the protection of the
state and the United States.
The for in To
well-equipped national guard in the
state of Florida, as well as in all other
states of. the union, must be apparent
to all thinking people. 1t would seem
desirable that a regular army be main
tanned of sufficient size to guard our
borders, garrison our insular posses
sions and form the nucleus for the or
ganization of a large army in case of
war, but it appears now that the poll
cy of the congress of the United States
is to cut the regular army establish
ment down to a minimum. This being
true, the organization of a strong ma
tional guard is more urgent than ever
before. 1t is certain that the national
guard will have to be relied upon in
any sudden national emergency, as
well as emergencies arising within the
state.
The fine record of the Florida troops
is we'll known. They have served eff
ficiently in all wars, in the face of ad-
verse circumstances. And they have
always responded to any call to assist
the civil authorities in preserving the
peace of the state. This force can al
ways be relied upon in any emergency
where the civil authorities are in need
of help. and this fact has often been
an important factor in preventing trou-
BILE that might have arisen otherwise.
All assistance possible should be given
the national guard of Florida by the
legislature.
Education.
assume that it will be very readily
agreed that the education of the chill
dren of the state is our most impor-
tant activity. The achievements of
today had their foundation laid in the
past. We are moulding and building
today the kind of citizenship we will
have in the future and this process of
citizenship making must be largely
left to the schools. Every child in the
state. of Florida should receive a good
common school education.
Apportionment of Membership.
The constitution limits the member
ship of the senate to 80, and that Of
the house to 68 members. 1t requires
reapportionment of the membership
at 10-year intervals. The trainers of
our constitution, looking down the
years, saw the probability of more
rapid growth Of resources and increase
of population in different sections of
the state, and they wisely provided
that those sections showing increase
of populations should be equitably
represented in the legislature.
Agriculture and Live Stock.
We have about 35,000,0OO acres Of
land with only very small percen-
tage OF 1t under cultivation. There is
no state in the union which can grow
prof1tably so large a variety of crops
as Florida. We are especially adapted
to the development of the live stock in
dustry. Our climate in this respect is
ideal, and nutritious grasses for pas
turage grow abundantly. The real need
of the farmer is to be found in market
ing facilities. We can grow the crops
but not always dispose of them to the
best advantage. There is but one sue
cessful method of promoting agricuI-
IuFe. 1t Is 10 make farming pay. some
system OF cooperative marketing would
no doubt prove beneficial. Cooperative
selling agencies have been successfully
tried in other sections. The proper
support of the bureau of marketing is
a practical way by which the legisla-
ture may aid in this great work.
Conclusion.
Some OF the legislatures of the past
have apparently acted on the theory
that they could best make a creditable
record by the enactment of a multi
plicity of laws. I am sure the people
have the conviction, in which I share,
that enactment OF fewer laws, but with
more consideration of the value of such
measures in dealing with specific
problems, would be Of much greater
value. I wish to urge, therefore, that
such measures as you may consider
and pass shall be of that character
only needed for the advancement of
the higher interests of the state. II
shall not, during my administration of |