1651 Main St. Jacksonville, Fla. 6 February 15, 1945 PERSONAL Governor Millard Caldwell, State Capital, Tallahassee, Fla. My dear Governor Caldwell: It was very gratifying to know that the first step had been taken towards the creation of the Everglades National Park. I had the privilege of serving on the Florida Everglades National Park Commission for four years, previous to Mr. Cone's administration. He was not in sympathy with the project, beyond the appointment of a friend, who drew a salary as Managing Director and did nothing. I handled all the legislation authorizing the transfer of State Lands to the Department of [the] Interior, National Park Service, creation of the Florida Everglades National Park Commission and the securing of the appropriations to carry on the work of the Commission - paying my own expenses while in Tallahassee attending the sessions. At the time I was a member of the Commission the Collier interest and the Florida East Coast R.R., Model Land Co., would have given practically all of their holdings, but less than practically all of the Glades for a National Park was opposed by Ernest F. Coe, then Executive Secretary of the Commission, which was absurd, and the opportunity of securing these great gifts of land was lost. During Governor Holland's administration I made application for appointment as managing Director of the Everglades National Park Commission. Senator Graham of Dade Co. still sponsoring the reappointment of Mr. Coe. There should be a file in the Governor's office of letters of endorsement from prominent persons and two Boards of County Commissioners of Duval County and Pinellas County, recommending my appointment by Governor Holland, as Managing Director of the Everglades National Park Commission, to which I would be glad to have you refer. If these have been destroyed I would be glad to submit my files of copies for your inspectiion, although it is not complete as many letters were sent direct to the Governor. I do not know if you have in mind the continuation of the Commission but I am asking your consideration of my name as Managing Director of the Everglades National Park Commission, if you do. You already know that as President of the Florida Federation v [sic]