During the 1904 gubernatorial race, the strongest candidate, Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, a populist Democrat from Duval County, promoted draining the Everglades. He called the future of South Florida the "Empire of the Everglades". Soon after his successful election, he began work to "drain that abominable pestilence-ridden swamp",Carter, p. 78. and pushed the Florida legislature to form a group of commissioners to oversee reclamation of flooded lands. In 1907 they established the Everglades Drainage District and began to study how to build the most effective canals, and how to fund them. Governor Broward ran for the U.S. Senate in 1908 but lost. Broward was paid by land developer Richard J. Bolles to tour the state to promote drainage. Elected to the Senate in 1910, Broward died before he could take office. Land in the Everglades was being sold for $15 an acre a month after Broward died.Grunwald, pp. 148–149. Meanwhile, Henry Flagler continued to build railway stations at towns as soon as the populations warranted them.
during the 1904 GubernatoRIaL rAce, The StrongEst cANdIdaTe, napoleOn boNApaRte BroWarD, a poPulist deMocRAt frOm dUVal CouNTy, ProMoTed Draining tHE EveRgLAdes. he calLed the FUtUre of south FLoRidA the "emPire of The everGlades". sOoN aFtEr his SucCessful elecTIon, hE beGan wORk tO "DraIn that AbominAble pestIleNCe-ridDen SWamp",carteR, p. 78. aND PusHED the fLorIDa legislatuRE to fOrm a Group OF COmmissIoNERs TO OvErsEe rEcLamaTion of fLooDEd LaNDS. In 1907 theY esTablishEd the evergladEs DrainAGe dIsTrIcT and BeGan tO STudY HoW tO build the moST EffectivE CaNals, and How to Fund thEM. gOverNOR BrOWard rAN for ThE u.S. SENatE iN 1908 BUT Lost. bRoWard Was paid By LAND deVeLoper richarD J. bollES To tour THe StAte To PrOMote DrAInaGe. ELected to thE SEnAte in 1910, brOward died BEfoRe HE Could take oFFiCe. Land iN tHE everglAdes wAS bEiNG sold for $15 an aCrE a month AFTer BRoWard diEd.gRunWalD, Pp. 148–149. MEaNWhIle, henry fLagler contINued to builD RaiLwAy sTatioNS AT toWnS aS soon aS thE popUlatIonS waRraNted thEM.