Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-03
A GREAT UNDERTAKING.

PHILADELPHIA CAPITALISTS TO RECLAIM
TUE FLORIDA EVERGLADES
From the Philadelphia Times.
An immense transaction, involving
the reclamation of 100000 acres of
land, or one.third of one of the States
of the Union, has been undertaken by
company of Philadelphia gentlemen
with every prospect Of success.
About one.third of the State Of
Florida is huge swamp, termed "The
Everglades'--a dark, impenetrable,
unknown region. No white man has
ever fully explored it, and all that is
known of it is that it is great swamp,
with Il number of lakes and here and
there islands, upon which roam fero-
cious wild beasts, It's, par excellence,
the home of the crocodile, and place
of wonderfully luxuriant vegetation.
On the outskirts few miserable hu-
man beings, mongrel race of white,
Indian and negro blood, manage 10
exist in n state of barbarism. These
people are the descendants of the un.
conquered warrior of the Creeks and
Seminoles. Billy Bowlegs, who retreat
ed to the Businesses of the swamp be.
fore the United States Army. The
project of reclaiming this wonderfully
rich country has been talked of for
years, and it has long been considered
feasible by many noted engineers.
Some time since the State of Florida
made a move in the matter which j.
likely to eliminate in the reclamation
of the immense body of land which
has lain under water for thousands Of
years.
Under a contract with the State Of
Florida Philadelphia Company j.
about undertaking this great scheme
The leading man IN the enterprise Is 4
young gentleman of great business
energy and ample fortune. Under the
agreement already made with the
State. the company is required to be-
gin surveys within sixty DAYS, and
within six months to put a force equal
/ To 100 men on the work. aud continue
as cxpeditiou.Iv ~ possible until it j.
completed. II Is proposed to drain
T the land by canal from Lake Okcc-
chobcc TO the Caloosakatchcc river,
which emptic, into the Gulf of Mex.
leo Another canal may also be con.
I structed TO the east, tapping the -.
I Lucie river, which flows into the At.
I lantic. These canals will entirely
drain the swamp. and from ten to
/ twelve million acre, Of the richest land
I in the world will he reclaimed. The
company will receive for the work
one-half of the land recovered, and it
is expected that this will largely repay
all expenditure Of money that may be
made in the work. 4 leading Louis
lana planter was shown sample OF
sugar-cane raised on the islands in the
swamp, and he at once said that the
land which would produce so rich n
specimen was worth $50 per acre, and
it is said the land will produce twice
the amount of sugar that can be raised
in Louisiana. The entire property OF
the company j. below the frost line,
and there would be no such damage
done orange plantations as those in
Northern Florida have suffered this
winter. Every production of the
tropics can be raised on this land-in.
digo, sugar cane. oranges, lemons, cof.
fee, jute, etc. The latter, which has
recently become a most valuable arti.
Gle in manufactures, grows wild, and
can be produced in large quantities at
little expense A number of Irish
manufacturers who use large quaint.
ties of jute have already applied for
stock of the company and will aid il
financially. The company will orga.
nize at once with Hamilton Disston as
president. II is proposed to issue
100000 shares of stock at $40 par
value. Each share will carry with il
the right to an acre of land. The
stock will be put on the Philadelphia
stock exchange, and it is expected will
be sold readily. A number of appli.
cations for stock have already been
made by prominent gentlemen in this
city. The proceeds of 10000 shares
will be used as the working capital
1t is not known how long it will take
to fully develop this stupendous
scheme, but the gentlemen who have
undertaken it will push it to compile.
tion as soon as possible.
| A uutrxrsr l,ttl. ~. s.1n kaJ krn.,