Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-09-26
10 the Editus Of the enquirer:

You are the conductors OF an influential and
prom nent paper, and therefore in the reception
II many documents emanaling hence, which
sour constant occupation with the details OF
daily journal will prevent your examining, even
in the most cnrsory way. Nor is this your con.
ition only. Il has then often occurred, | am
sure, that topics OF great imports nee, discussed
Tnh ability, have escaped public attention, te-
cause The controllers Of he daily press cannot
find the time 10 encounter the vouminous re-
ports Of committees, and give their character and
objects 10 The country. Ii strikes me that an in.
stance Of this sort OF omission may have hap
penet upon recent occasion, and i! 50, shall
take the liberty 10 attract your own observation
and that Of The public 10 the TACT. Have you
looked into The report, presented 10 the Senate
during The late session OF Congress. by the COM
millec on public lands, 10 whom was referred
bill 10 authorize The draining OF the Everglades
Of The Sale Of Florida, and further 10 grant The
same Qhe Evcfs ates. To iha; Stale, tor that pur-
pose II you nave not already seen that int.
resting document allow ME 10 request that you
avail yourself oil The first opportunity. and give il
Your consideration Within lev days past
have done as much, and my deliberate convic-
ton, upon caFeiui perusal oi thai report, To-
oclher with the authoritative evidence which
accompa les il, and upon which it, conclusions
and rccoElmenda ions are based, is, that we have
The mosl remarkable and beneficeni project pre-
scented, that has vel Distinguished even ibis &C.
i've and Unitarian generation. Il Is great
project, il indeed that which, upon The best data,
eminent Judges Of such Il subject have pro.
bounced 81 feasible, can properly be dcnonlina-
I'd a prcjcct. | will repeat then that This cnler-
prise oil draining great territory, II viewed IN
~ magnitude Of proposed results as these snail
affect The peninsula OF Florida, and in several
If
>.loendoGs character. And Why2 Thi, vast de-
sign is nothing less than the efectual tapping 81
4 great basin Of aliuvial Garth covered with
VA er from Two To ten !ce desp-a hAsn whose
Shortest diameter is fifty miles, and whose
greatest excnds one hundred What concep-
,ion 10 b.. realized What an achievement, II u
Sc poss ib'c--aEd il is believed q be inevitable,
vhencvrr a'tempted-hus 10 reclaim from an
,aur,id,iyn, whose existence reaches beJonh
inc memory ol man, an area OF land equal.
linz in lis extent he dimensions nj the
State ii Connecticut, and Tor ali the pur-
.ns,s Of productive cultivation, 'npical ~ Us
character and climate ! Nor is it the amplitude
Of tins buried region which most imprc>scs
,.s with Tic grand conception OF bringing II 10
The light Of the sun, and snhJcctlng II 10 Inc
useful ends of tiliage This conquest from Inc
waters, of tract submerged for ages assumes
its real consequence only when we consider
what new and invaluable additions, not only 10
what are now the necessares OF Lille, but lis
luxuries. are thence 10 be derived bananas,
oranges, lemons, lines, pine apples, sugar cane,
and most or all of the fruits that rlpen under the
line.
shall not forestall the pleasure you will cx-
perience in reading the narratives and details
given by yoyagers, employed by Government
10 penetrate the everglades in question, for pnr-
poses Of observation, by any attempt oil my
own 10 embody these particulars; but VIII con-
cude this has,y letter BY observing, thai al me
instance OF the Hon. Senator from Florida,
| MIR Westcott, through whose zeal and public
spirit this affair is in its present state oil pro.
gress, the most distinguished names are found
arrayed in support Of this splendid undertaking
I The letters of the gentlemen, upon whose Ia
| yorable concurrence in respect TO The practica
bility of this scheme is deemed important, will
be found embodied in the report. They all
agree upon the most, if not the only, material
fact, and that =, the due elevation OF the ever
glades above the Straits OF Florida and The Gull
saw from twelve to twenty feet-and thai
two lateral canals, East and West, the one
twelve, and the other some five miles, WIN
minor cuts entering the streams, Originating
near the line of the great basin, VIII 90 'he
work, and al an expenditure OF from two hun
bred and fifty thousand dollars TO half million
When done, the idea is, that million OF acre:
of land will be brought into productive cuiiiSa
lion.
In nv next letter will probably give yot
somewhat at large, the specu aIlons oil Poiiti
clans here. of both sides, upon the prospects o.
Presidential candidates of all grades and De
,crptions. 1t will be sufficient for the presen
10 inform you that the Democratic party wer'
never in higher hope, in more absolute conn
tence Of SUCCESS. flhulNlA.