The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-19

For ReCIalmIng Ia,OOO, 900 Acres Florida
swamp Lands.


PHILADELPHIA, February lS.--An i'm
mense transaction, involving the reclsma
ton OF IL ,OGO 900 acres Of land, or one.thirt
oil one OF the statOs Of the Union, has beel
undertaken by company OF Philsdelphii
gentlemen, with every prospect Of success
About One.third Of the State OF Florida Ia
u huge swamp, termed "Irhe Everglades,
Il dark, impenetrable, unknown region.
No white man has ever fully explored it
and all that Is known OF II ig that 1t Ia &
great swamp, with number OF lakes a ne
here and there islands upon which roam
ieroCious wild beasts. 1t Ia, par excellence
the home OF the crocodile and place 0
wonderfully luxuTiant vegetation. Or
tho outskirts q few miserable human be
ings, u mongrel race Of white, Indian and
negro blood, manage to exist in state o.
bafbariaIn.
These people are the descendants OF the
unConqueTed warrior OF tho Creeks and
semlnoles, Billy Bowlegs, who retreated
TO the businesses Of the swamp before the
United States army.
Tho project OF reClaiming this wonder.
fully rich country has been talked OF for
years, and 1t has long been construed
feasible by many noted engineers. Some
timo since the State OF florida made a
move in the matter, which 10 likely to cul.
inmate In the reclamation OF the immense
body OF land which has lain under water
for thousands Of years. Under contract
with the State oil Florida, q PHILADELPHIA
company is about undertaking this great
scheme. The leading men In the enter.
prise are Hamilton Diaston 4 Sons.
Associated with them are ex.SheriG VIM.
II. Wright, A. Q. Parsons, Whitman
II. Drake, A. u. Linderman, all Of
this city; l, Coryell, Of Florida, and
others. Under the agreement already
made with the State, the company are re.
quired TO begin surveys within sixty days,
and within ak months to put force
equal to one hundred men on the work,
and continue az expeditiously as possible
until 1t Is completed. 1t Ia proposed to
drain the land from Lake Okeechobee to
the Oal0os2katChee river, which empties
luto the Gulf OF Mexico. Another canal
mayalao be constructed to the East, tap.
ping the 81. LuCie river, which flows into
the Atlantic. These canals will entirely
drain the swamp, aud from ten to twelve
million acres OF the richest land in the
world will be reclaimed.
The company will reCiyo for tho work
one.half OF the land recovered and II Ia ex.
peCted that this will largely repay all ex.
penditure Of money that may be made in
the work.
A leading Louisiana planter was shown
a piece Ofsugar.caue raised on the islands
Ia the swamps, and he at once said that
the land that would produce 80 rich a
specimen was worth one hundred and fifty
dollars per acre. It is said the land will
produce twice the amount OF sugar that
can be raised In Louisiana. The entire
property Of tho company is below the
frost line, and there would be no such
damage done orange plantations az those
In Northern Florida have suffered this
winter. Every production OF the tropics
can be raised on this land-indigo, sugar.
cane, oranges, lemons, coffee, jute, &c.
The latter, which has recently become
most valuable In manufactures, grows
wild and can be produced In large quaint.
ties at little expense. A number OF Irish
manufacturers, who use large quantities OF
jute, have already applied for stock OF the
company, and will aid 1t financially.
The company will organize at once,
with Hamilton Disston as President. II
is proposed to issue one million shares Of
stock at ten dollars par value. Each share
will carry with II the right to one acre Of
land. The stock will be put on the Phil.
adelphia Stock Exchange, and II is expect
ed will be sold readily. A number OF ap.
plCaLions for stock have already been
made by prominent gentlemen In this city.
The proceeds Of $4,000 shares will he used
as the working capital. II iu not known
how long II will take 10 fully develop this
stupendous scheme, but the gentlemen
who have undertaken 1t will push It To
completion as coon as possible. f.
George McGowan and Thomas ]. Bsr.
ger, well known gentlemen OF this city,
will leave for an extended trip south ward
on next Tuesday. They will 70 TO Talla.
hABsee, Fla, where they will look into the
title Of the State OF Florida to the Ever.
glRdes on behalf OF the company men.
TONED above. Thev expect 10 return 10
Philadelphia by May lst, but prior to that
time the ptelimnafies 10 The Everglade
scheme will be pushed forward by the III.
terested parties In this city.