Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-03-28
THE EVERGLADES OF FLORIDA.
roR rHE NArrosAL INrrLrIcrscEn.

lets is or are connected with some deep Role IN the
interior of the ssglades," by cavernous channel
through the rotten tertiary lime rock which under
lays the whole peninsula and shallow shores; and
think the water viii be found bubbling up some
where in Gallivan's bay, outside of the cluster of
Mangroye islands, sometimes called the Labyrinth.
i AS many of your readers may net be acquainted
with the situation of the Everglades, permit me to
say that at their southern extremity, when the water in
them HIGH it has elevation above tide of near
ten feet Their northern extremity is probably num-
Der of feet higher Their whole extent when full of wa
ter is hundred and fifty miles long by an aver
age breadth of ninety miles, This includes Lake Okla
chobee which, with the Kssimmee river is in the same
basin of drainage The Indian of water grass
indicates the character of the gades and in their high
est stage their depth of water is less than three
feet of which than two feet subject to being
evaporated and drained off by the old outlets tolera
bly, wedefned rim of limestone eneloses the water in
the basin of the glades and short rapids usually attend
the outlets that have been formed through this rim
but small outlets known to exist by fresh
water bubbling up in many places in the near the
shore The water in the Everglades is generally the
highest at the beginning of winter after the summer and
autumn rains, and lowest at the commencement of
mer; but they frequently remain quite full for
two.years together when there is rain in Such
November perhaps later they unusually full and
had been so for more than two years.
The facts that indicate vent to the waters of the
gade are follows On the last days of December
had rumors that large bodies of fresh water had
csunered in the bay the north of Key West and it
soon became evident that there was some truth in them
from the number of fish and reptiles which alone nhabt
shallow salt water, coming shore dead and dying On
the 9Th of January this fresh water driven into Key
West harbor by strong northwest wind, where the
writer of this tried it with suitable Instruments and 9th
erwise set about inquiry to the found the
water then in the harbor, 2!o Beaume hydrometer,
water generally indicating by it AZ to So From the 9Th
the 10Th of January this fresh water driven into
the harbor three several times when the water indicated
from 10 So at the intervals between its visits the
water in the harbor was at 40 to 90 On the 26th of
February again driven into the harbor by norest
toind but in the time had gathered other facts
that connected this phenomenon with the Everglades.
learned that the 1s of January the of the gades
at the Miami river Cape Florida much lower than
it usually is after dry winter and spring. and al
though water then had nearly ceased running out of
known outlets yet in the next twenty days the water
fell eight inches at that place About the middle of Feb
ruary small division of our army in pursuit of the
remnant of Seminoles passed part of the glades
that part become and is related that about the
time and place detachments of the army were compelled
search of fresh water go three and four miles
them before finding it yet it is known that there was
the period much water them at their northeast
extremity This shows that the new outlet must be
at thair southwestern side. The further preof of 49,
that abouthe 1s of fepruurya vessel frork hence to
Keys crossed streak of dscoored water miles wide
fifteen miles to the north of the Northwest Pass to
this harbor. 1t well defined the water at the
mouths of the Mississippi, and had direction fromN
southwest to northeast in which directions this streak
extended far the eye could reach On her return
two weeks later the vessel crossed the same streak
some fifteen miles to the eastward of where did before
finding of the width with the direction and
in the general line Many other vessels have found
much dscoored bracksh in the bay between Capes
Sable and Romano since the 1st of last January and al
together it would seem that this new outlet for month
two must have discharged much water is ordi-
nariy discharged by the Mississippi to have produced
the effect that has in the bay and in draining the
tended surface of the gladas in SO shsrt time
1t is useless to speculate the ultimate effects to be
produced by this outlet but it is not improbable that
it may reclaim large bodies of the most fertile land
which, under late act of Congress- must inure to the
benefit of the State of Florida That there is new out
let is think made certain by the facts have stated;
but of may be mistaken to its exact location
and as to its being l could, however,
it useful state many facts and to fortify
my position to the place of the outlet and its kind
but Mr.. DoRR of the Coast Survey, is in search
of it by permission of Professor BAcHE who, being
informed of the phenomenon gave direction for limited
search 1 have no doubt that he will find the
of this fresh within the week to which his search is
limited, and this will supersede all necessity of speca
ton as to the place and form of it. w. C. D.
KEY WEST, (FLA.) MARCH Is, 1857.