File No. 837.6112/23.
[Untitled]
Sir: I have the honor, in obedience to the Department’s instruction No. 306 of October 24, 1912, to transmit herewith my report1 upon the matter of the concession granted to the Compañía Agricultora de Zapata, and the investigation of some of the territory indicated in the concession. To this work I have devoted considerable time and therein have sought every available source of information within my knowledge, as well as having gone into the swamp where by actual observation my own conclusions have been reached.
With the findings, as contained in the report, I am absolutely and thoroughly satisfied, representing as they do my sincere and honest opinion as well as an exactly truthful and unbiased statement of fact as the features appeared to me.
I have [etc.]
Note.—The conclusions of Mr. Rodgers’ report are, briefly, that Mr. Champion’s statements “as to the character of the area included in the provisions of the concession, the timber thereon and the difficulties to be encountered in reclamation * * * are almost exact. The Ciénaga de Zapata is merely a great swamp * * *; it does not contain enough timber to pay the cost of even the effort to get it out under the most favorable conditions.* * * The opening of such an area to cultivation, if only for rice-planting * * * would be of great benefit. * * * There is every reason to believe that every intent in the matter is a legitimate one.”
- Not printed, but see note following Mr. Rodgers’ communication.↩