Everglades Tropical National Park Association Ernest F. Coe

the everglades tropical national park association established coe in 1928 fairchild, university of miami president bowman ashe, , journalist marjory stoneman douglas on committee. followed 2 destructive hurricanes caused widespread flooding in miami , lake okeechobee. 1 of association s primary selling points portray proposed area receive protection worthless human habitation , commercial enterprise; far controlling natural floods in region had met no success , tourist attraction such park favorable. coe insisted tropical used in park name, allude salubrious nature of tropical weather. invoked foreign place americans , reminded them was, @ time, tropical location within u.s. borders.

coe drafted proposal park , senator duncan fletcher , congresswoman ruth bryan owen introduced legislation create everglades national park. followed delegation visit tour area in 1930 took 1 day car, boat, , goodyear blimp. although coe spent blimp trip airsick , vomiting bucket sitting next sympathetic douglas while both rode below blimp in observer s coop, visiting delegation duly impressed , supported idea after shifting concepts of everglades miasmatic swamp beautiful paradise.

coe enthusiastic park won on opponents , undecided , caused supporters shy away him. made nuisance of himself in own words, , figure of man obsessed according douglas. coe gave speeches @ civic, garden , rotary clubs, , held informal meetings seminoles , white squatters living in everglades, saw him interloper , threatened him. douglas wrote coe visited father editor of miami herald, , coe read aloud letters received , wrote while frank stoneman forced sit , listen though backed idea of park.

the great depression created economic obstacles park, , owen lost congressional seat. coe, however, worked tirelessly park s establishment in washington d.c. sent coconuts congressmen, president herbert hoover, , secretary of interior. while concept of landscapes worth protecting developing in minds of scientists , politicians, coe used tactic think of advance idea of everglades national park, equating powers mythical fountain of youth. took congressional appointees department of interior on tours through everglades, , though attempts establish park failed twice, passed in may 1934. carried provision federal government not responsible buying lands park, establishment ensured no more land purchased protected area. removing prospect of developing lands in south florida angered many state politicians. newly elected governor fred p. cone fired coe , left everglades tropic national park commission without guidance.