Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-23

everglades gaze commission, in part, TO gentleman by the
name Of Smth-who had TO perform great many other du-
les according 10 appointment conferred upon him by the
Secretary in relation to lands in that quarter OF the
try but in addition these duties he particularly re-
ouesed TO make some examination in regard TO the practical
bilily Of draining these everglades.
Mr. Smith has made very long report upon that subject
and must say that without very accurate entertainment OF
the facts he has taken for granted number OF things his
reasonings upon the subject are very pet made out sup
posing the facts to be as he has stated them VIII read TO Inc
Senate some of these statements in order that Senators may
consider what is here presented Mr. Smith says To re-
clam the everglades and the Aseenahooa and Hapatiokee
swamps and the owlands on the margin OF the kssme IL
ever and its tributaries, and the other rivers empng into
Lake Okeechobee this lake be tapped by such canals
unnne into the Caloosahachee, the side and the
Loeahachee San Lucia or both on the other and cuts
must also be made from the streams on both sides OF the
peninsula into the gades Besides after the height OF the
the gades should be decreased, much as
five feet there will probably be necessity for several drains
through the gades and those swamps by which the waters
gulf" This is Mr.. Smiths plan for draining the
gades
Now sir as to the depth,o these canals which to be
thus carried into Okechobee Lake. here is the most definite
and information that have been enabled TO procure
by reading these papers This statement made by Mr.
McCeland, captain of the typographical engineers. He
does make the statement from any examination expo
ration made by HIMSELF but he bases the statement which he
makes upon what Capt j. r. Vnion, Sd artillery, stated 10
him. Here is what Capt. Vnon told Capt. McCleland Of
the Typographical engineers Capt McCleand says: Gin
the of tho year $40 ls4l, was informed by the
late R. Vnton, Sd artillery that he had line Of lev
es-so appears from this that the instruments had actually
been applied the surface of The groundfo the Atlantic
the gades and found their elevation above from ten
fifteen feet This taken Fort Dallas, at the mouth Of
the Miami river, which emptes into Biscayno bay"
According this information, will be necessary to dig
canal through the rim, which, am informed surrounds the
everglades and by OF this canal to connect the waters
in the basin with the waters Of the for the purpose of
draining them of and according to the information here
gven this canal to be efficient in draining the everglades,
must be from ten TO fifteen feet deep.
Well now, what the length of this canal is unin-
formed What is the position be secured for that canal
We are uninformed. What will be the expense As that
depends upon the length, position and DEPTH we are unin
formed
Mr.. WEsTCoTT. Will the Senator permit me to cor
rect him His mistake evidently arises from his want of
knowledge upon the subject Had he read the next sentence
Of Captain McCelans letter. he would have fallen into
the which he labors under. Canals are contem
plated from Lake Okechobee which is nearly hundred
miles above the point where this level taken by Captain
Vnton The drains from the m to which the gentleman
refers in his letter. not contemplated TO serve any other
purpose except draining off the water in the rim 1t is not
necessary, is it stated TO be necessary in the report, that
these small drains should be twelve feet deep but the
canals from Lake Okechobee the Atlantic the east and
to the Gulf of Mexico the side be from twelve
to fifteen in depth The height Of that lake is considerably
more than that of the rim would remind the honorable
Senator that if he would look at the previous part the let
just read and at the letter from COL Long, d the topo
graphical engineers, he would find that the length Of Of
these canals would be twelve miles, and the ngh Of the
| other from ten to eighteen miles.
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Mr. President if my friend had
heard me out he would have had to complain.
intended TO read the clause to which he has called my aen
ton. But that clause only makes the mattel Worse
speaking about the canals which must be dig order
get into the basin, and before you get to Lake Okechobee
hundred miles beyond that understand If gentlemen will
take the trouble to lock at the map, have dne they will
find that the rim Of this basin is than
fifteen miles from the Atanc-lhe Gulf Stream Well, sir,
you have make these canals order get into the BASIN
And when you set there, what is be Dine Why,
says the gentleman, and this is stated by Mr. McCeanl
coming from Capt ViRon this lake, when you get into the
rim, is considerably higher. How much higher do
not know. Well then, may become necessary extend
your canals fifty hundred miles further. Concerning the
distractions if any the depth, the length, left
rey the dark Instead Of the clause which The honorable
Senator mr. WEsTcoTT) read, no objection to my ar
gument, but only makes II SO much the stronger
Sir, my objection to the whole bill lies little beyond this.
do not know that any thing that say will the
practice OF Congress, Of which complain, regard to the
administration of the public lands have been for long
time in minority upon this subject. do not know but that
shall remain till the end Of my official life here il minority
anxious to make the attempt now, he policy OF
the Government be changed My wish in reference
this subject, ii il be DONE 10 allow the General Govern
retain jurisdiction and control Of this great fund.-
1.-THE public lands not only in Florida and in Arkansas but
Louisiana and oil other States where these drains are be
made For the purpose Of saving the public land from its pre-
sent useless condition. would have all these drains
structed by the General Government and then would
il sell the lands and allow every State this Union pahi-
cpate in the distribution Of the proceeds in equal
While avow this to be my policy and while declare that
has always been my policy, yet frankly confess that il the
Government of the United States will do this the Co
vernment will not take hold Of these swamps lakes
than that the country should remain in its present unpoduc-
tive condtionfor would play the policy of the dog ia
the manger- would be in favor Of the States draining these
lands and sppropriaing such vaueess
useful purpose. frankly confess that If my policy
ruled, will go with the Senator from Florida (Mr WEST.
corT) will go with the Senator from Arkansas (r Bon.
LAsD) will join my friend from Louisiana, (Mr JOHNSON
will join with every make something beneficial for the
States out Of this useless land.
But sir believe that the General Government can do
better than the States and believe that the General Govern
ment ought to do it. The principle that have adopted
propae the public domain in the States has been long
toned, and no one think, will presume question the
general authority of Congress to exercise this right There
is no constitutional question involved in this II
simply matter Of policy What win Congress do in regard
to these lands For the present do not wish them act
on THIS matter until they get proper information upon which
they can base their action. acknowledge, member Of
the Committee on the Public Lands that have yet been
enabled to find that information / not willing TO
grant TO the States these useless lands unless be asceaned
that we cannot reclaim them and appropriate them the
general USE do not know but that, il send coinpe
tent engineers to explore level and estimate the Of
such proceeding, after they shall make full report to
us OF what they have done, shall ultimately take the
course now proposed by the gentleman from Florida mr.
WEsTcoTT and give the lands to the States in which they
he II We send out these engineers sndbaye the land explored
II