Letter from Ernest Coe to Governor Millard Caldwell, 1947

Parks -- Florida -- Everglades

National parks and reserves -- Florida -- Everglades

Protected areas -- Florida -- Everglades

Seminole Indians

Letter from Ernest Coe, director of the Everglades National Park Association, to Florida Governor Millard Caldwell regarding the land encompassing Everglades National Park. Also includes promotional photographs, a map and the boundaries of the park.

Coe, Ernest F., 1866-1951

State Archives of Florida, Series S576

1947-05-31

Holt, Richard

Miami Daily News

Ebbets, Charles C., 1905-1978

United States. Department of the Interior

Romer, G. W. (Gleason Waite), 1887-1971

Buswell, Walter M.

Munroe, Bob

Zimmerman, Robert M.

Matlack, Claude Carson, 1878-1944

Everglades National Park Association (Miami, Fla.)

United States. National Park Service

letters (correspondence)

eng-US

Text

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Postwar Florida (1945-1968)

Tallahassee (Fla.)

Leon County (Fla.)

Everglades National Park (Fla.)

Miami (Fla.)

Miami-Dade County (Fla.)

Key Largo (Fla.)

Monroe County (Fla.)

Yellowstone National Park

Cape Sable (Fla.)

Key West (Fla.)

Plantation Key (Fla.)

Upper Matecumbe Key (Fla.)

Lower Matecumbe Key (Fla.)

Florida Bay (Fla.)

Ten Thousand Islands (Fla.)

Chokoloskee Island (Fla.)

Chokoloskee Bay (Fla.)

Turner River (Fla.)

Collier County (Fla.)

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Nature and Environment

Florida. Governor (1945-1949 : Caldwell)

Everglades National Park Association (Miami, Fla.)

United States. National Park Service

Caldwell, Millard Fillmore, 1897-1984

Papy, Bernie C., 1902-1964

Holland, Spessard L. (Spessard Lindsey), 1892-1971

Smathers, George A. (George Armistead)

Pennekamp, John D., 1897-1978

Wirth, Conrad Louis, 1899-1993

The Everglades National Park Project Est. 1929 Inc. 1933 The Everglades National Park Association, Inc. "To Promote the Early Establishment of the Everglades National Park" 41 Civic Center, N.W. 2nd Street Miami, Florida 5/31/47 Director Ernest F. Coe President J. Mark Wilcox Vice-Presidents Francis M. Miller Leonard A. Usina W. Stanley Dodd Treasurer F. Lowry Wall Executive Council Frederick W. Borton Roscoe Brunstetter William F. Cheek Ernest F. Coe George E. Holt E.B. Leatherman N.P. Lowrey Francis M. Miller Mrs. T.V. Moore J. Arthur Pancoast Frank O. Pruitt R. Warner Ring Leonard A. Usina F. Lowry Wall H. Sayre Wheeler J. Mark Wilcox W. Stanley Dodd Advisory Council Mrs. T.V. Moore Chairman Gov. Millard Caldwell The Capitol Tallahassee, Fla. Dear Gov. Caldwell: Your splendid leadership in the progress the Everglades National Park project is now making is greatly appreciated both statewide and nationwide. That the Cape Sable country is now assured of inclusion within the National Park System, is an epoch in national park development. In the rounding out of the Everglades National Park to the fullest of its opportunity and consistent expectations expectations of national park interests, the inclusion of a portion of Key largo and abutting marine waters, adds a spectacle of at least equal importance to the E.N. Park as do the geysers to the Yellowstone*. The adding of these two referred to features can well be made a next step in the park's development. This Association is in a position to take up the development of promotion to the above referred to end as it has been in promoting the E.N. Park project all along [through] a number of years and obtaining the funds for land purchases that Key Largo will require. You are no doubt very well aware that former Rep. [Bernie] C. Papy has been the leading figure in the Monroe County opposition group to the including within the Park of the areas herein taken up. Key West and all intervening lands between and to the mainland interests will be greatly benefited by the areas referred to being included within the Park, including revenue from taxes, etc. The opposition is from land interests. Should the interests of the public be jeopardized in this instance, while not in many others of [similar] nature? Sincerely yours Ernest F. Coe, Dir. [signature] Enc. Senator Holland, 5;31;47 Rep. Smathers 5;20;47 C.L. Wirth. N. Park Service, 5;31;47 J. Pennekamp,

[Photo] Cypress laden with orchids and other air plants. Photo - Richard Holt [Photo of trees in the distance and clouds in the sky] There is mystery in the far-flung open Everglades. Photo - Miami Daily News, by Ebbets [Photo of mossy trees by the water.] In the depths of the tropical jungles. Photo - Department of [the] Interior [Photo] Sunlight on bay, viewed through foreground coconut palms. Photo - G.W. Romer [Photos] Royals, the majestic prince of palms. Photo - Walter M. Buswell [Photo of two people on horses surrounded by trees.] Amid the spell of tropic mysteries. Photo - Miami Daily News, by Ebbets [Photo of a young woman petting a deer.] The national park spirit where friendliness prevails. Photo - G.W. Romer [Photo of man fishing from the shore.] Lagoons where great black bass test one's brawn. Photo - Bob Munroe Why the Everglades National Park will be One of the Most Popular National Parks This Park area is delightfully unique and so overflowing with human interest as to fascinate the tourists. It is within North America's only climatic tropics. Its ocean, bays, gulfs, lakes and rivers afford unlimited pleasure cruising amid entrancing tropic scenes, and is a fisherman's paradise. Its underwater tropic marine gardens present a little known world of fascinating grandeur and beauty. Its jungles contain stately palms and other trees of the tropics, festooned with lovely orchids and other equally rare plants. There are deer, bear, panther on the lands, and alligator, crocodile, manatee and great turtles in the waters. The abundance of native wading birds, waterfowl and birds of the forest are of never-ending interest. Delightful bathing every day throughout the entire year. Lovely sea shells on the beaches furnish happy souvenirs for one's visit to America's tropic national park. [Photo] With all the sublimity of the occasion, His Highness, the American Bald Eagle[.] Photo - Miami Daily News, by Ebbets [Photo of a photographer taking a picture while sitting in a tree.] Capturing a very choice Park picture. Photo - Miami Daily News, by Ebbets [Photo] Wading bird rookery; one of the spectacles of the Cape Sable region. Photo - Miami Daily News, by Ebbets [Photo of a boat on the water.] The lure of these tropic waters under the silvery moon. Photo - G.W. Romer [Photo] Silver tarpon, one of the many gamesters of the Park waters. Photo - Miami Daily News, by Ebbets [Photo] Under water marine gardens in a magical mystery world. Photo - Robert M. Zimmerman [Photo] A labyrinth of interlocking lands and waters within the Park area. Photo - Miami Daily News, by Ebbets [Photo] The Seminole knows the waterways of this region. Photo - Claude C. Matlack Why the Everglades National Park will be One of Florida's Big Money-Getting Assets The eyes of the world are centered on America's national parks. The Everglades National Park will be one in the forefront in this respect. This National Park will attract to and through the State of Florida hundreds of thousands of tourists annually. These visitors will bring into and spend within the State each season millions of dollars, benefiting directly and indirectly practically every interest and citizen throughout the entire State. The gasoline tax revenue to the State alone will be increased by at least a million dollars each year by this augmented travel. Hotels, transportation lines, by rail, water, highwawy and air, and all interests catering to the welfare and pleasure of tourists will be greatly benefited. Truly, the Everglades National Park will be one of Florida's biggest assets.

U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Everglades National Park Project [Map of southern Florida, including the Everglades.] METES AND BOUNDS DESCRIPTION of the Everglades National Park Project From Department of Interior, Nov. 29, 1937 Beginning at the northwest corner of Sec. 2, T. 52 S., R. 31 E., Tallahassee meridian, Florida, thence easterly along the township line between Ts. 51 and 52 South, through Rs. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 E. to the northeast corner of T. 52 S., R. 36 E.; thence southerly along the range line between Rs. 36 and 37 E., through Ts. 52, 53, 54 and 55 South to the northwest corner of T. 56 S., R. 37 E.; thence easterly along the north boundary of said township to the northwest corner thereof; thence southerly along the range line between Rs. 37 and 38 E., through Ts. 56, 57 and 58 to the southwest corner of T. 58 S., R. 38 E.; thence east along the township line between Ts. 58 and 59 S., through Rs. 38, 39 and 40 E. in Card Sound; thence due south to the shore of Key Largo at mean high water line in Sec. 12, T. 59 S., R. 40 E., thence southwesterly along the shore line of Key Largo to the line between Secs. 12 and 13, T. 59 S., R. 40 E.; thence east along the lines between Secs. 12 and 13, said township, and Secs. 7 and 18, T. 59 S., R. 41 E. to the Atlantic Ocean and contiuing due east approximately eight miles to the navigable waters of the Gulf Stream; thence in a southwesterly direction to include the Coral Reefs in Dade and Monroe Counties to a point due east of the corner of Secs 20, 21, 28 and 29, T. 60 S., R. 40 E.; thence due west approximately eight miles to the east shore of Key Largo, thence continuing due west through the corner of Secs. 20, 21, 28 and 29 to the west shore of Key Largo at mean high water line; thence southwesterly along the west shore at mean high water line of Key Largo, Plantation Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, and Lower Matecumbe Key to a point in latitude 24 [degrees] 50' 13" N. and longitude 80 [degrees] 45' 46" W.; thence N. 62 [degrees] 40' W. approximately thirteen miles crossing Florida Bay to the waters of the Gulf of Mexicol; thence N. 45 [degrees] W. approximately sixteen miles in the Gulf of Mexico to a point opposite Cape Sable and three miles distant therefrom; thence northerly and northwesterly parallel to the west shore of the mainland and three miles distant therefrom in the Gulf of Mexico, including all of the islands in Florida Bay and those within the area of the Ten Thousand Islands off the coast of the mainland, to a point S. 27 [degrees] 05' W. of the most easterly point on the eastern shore line of Chokoloskee Island at mean high tide; thence N. 27 [degrees] 05' E. to the point of intersection with the section line between Secs. 30 and 31, T. 53 S., R. 30 E. in Chokoloskee Bat; thence east along said section line to the east shore of the mouth of the Turner River, thence northeasterly along the east shore of said river; thence across the mouth of Turtle Creek and continuing northeasterly along the east shore of the Turner River to the line between Secs. 20 and 29, T. 52 S., R. 30 E.; thence easterly alongt the second latitudinal section line through T. 53 S., Rs. 30 and 31 E. to the corner of Secs. 22, 23, 26 and 27, T. 53 S., R. 31 E., thence northerly along the second meridional section line through said township and range, and continuing north along the second meridional section line through T. 52 S., R. 31 E. to the point of beginning. Issued by the Everglades National Park Assn., Inc., Miami, Florida