Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-11-16
THE TRUTH REGARDING
EVERGLADES HIGH WATER

EVERGLADES HUH W Alien
Following the unprecedented rains
which fell last month throughout the
Everglades section and the conse-
quent high water in Lake Okeecho-
bee there were many conflicting
statements regarding the amount of
damage which would follow that en-
ormous overflow. At first even the
settlers in that section scoffed at the
idea of any great loss and takes
which went northward from individ-
uals telling the story as they saw it
were Indignantly refuted. Chambers
of Commerce took up the matter and
insisted that newspapers publishing
the accounts received from private
individuals should follow up the sto-
ries with denials and admissions that
they had been "spoofed." In some
cases such admissions were made.
Now comes the details as sent
forth by relief committee formed
to secure all possible aid for the
large numbers of settlers who have
been made penniless, and, what is
worse, cropless, by this flood of wa
ter which could not be carried ocean
ward sufficiently quick to save the
crops, even though all the canals
were run at capacity. These details
are pathetic. Both of the banks at
Moore Haven were forced to close
thus depriving the people of the small
sums of money which might have
been kept in reserve. There are many
in the vicinity of the lake who cannot
figure where the next meal is to be
obtained.
The committee declares that it
will require fully one hundred thou
sand dollars to carry the people
through this disaster, and adds that
"near-home relief is needed fully as
much as Near-East relief"
In its appeal for assistance-"not
charity, but neighborly accommoda-
tion"-the committee writes:
"One hundred thousand dollars is
needed at once to relieve the situa-
ton.
Financial assistance must be OBJ
tanned at once to avert suffering. One
hundred thousand dollars is sufficient
to place this section of the Ever
glades on its feet and start the
wheels of industry rolling. No part
of this amount is asked as charity,
unless you prefer to make it so. The
people of this part of the Everglades
have an unfaltering faith in their
country and its ability to come back
and fulfill all the flattering predic-
tions made in it's behalf For the
time being we are down-but not out!
We have not only had to survive the
havoc wrought by the elements with
in, but the evil efforts of the Ever
glades knockers without. And the
latter has been by far our worst en-
envy, in that the knocker has destroy
ed our community credit and closed
our banking institutions.
"Under these circumstances and
conditions, we are forced to send out
this S. 0. S. call to our friends and
ask for a neighborly accommodation
in the shape of a loan of from S. up
to any amount you may choose to Of
fer. We hope to be able to return to
you every dollar of the money with
interest, plus our everlasting graft
tude."
The near-home disaster ever ap-
peals the more stringently than
where such horrors happen afar off;
and in this case there can be hardly
found in Florida county but where
some of the former residents have
migrated to the rich lands of the
Everglades within a few years. The
exact number of people who have To-
Gated there since the 1920 census was
taken would amaze the prospector
who had passed over and through
that entire district but few years
ago; and it may be said within truth
that none of the residents had made
a failure as a whole during the time
of TIE making of the home and the
perfecting of small and large enter.
prises.
Now that disaster has overtaken
those peOple-a disaster which
probably will never re-occur because
Of preventives to be Immediately in
naSed-there should be a generous
ssssr1iase to the appeal which is based |
csme ii straight business proposition.
ak naght the urgent need of funds.
az silHncingsttee says that these (
darting an iihe a donation, or they |
eahty party q upon as loans which |