Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-30

The Proposed Florida Improvements.
In q conversation with our Jackson.
vile correspondent, DR.. W. II. Bsbcock,
yesterday, we gained some very interest
ing information regarding two important
undertakings proposed for the improve.
ment of our sister State of Florida. He
said that Mr.. Coryell, now in Jackson
vile, who is one of the incorpora-
tors Of the company to drain
Lake 0keechohee and the Everglades,
states that several prominent and heavy
Philadelphia capitalists, interested in the
enterprise, will arrive in Jacksonville
about the 9th of April next, and the
work will be pushed forward vigorously.
1t has been ascertained by proper sur
veys that the water from the lake is suf-
fieiently high TO permit its easy drainage
into both the Atlantic ocean on the East
and the Gulf Of Mexico on the West,
and the work is therefore already an
assured success.
The terms also upon which this enter
prise is to be conducted, are exceedingly
favorable to all parties interested. In
like most of the companies seeking
charters from the Florida Legislature,
this one did not ask dollar of money.
1t is expected that about II, 900, 900 acres
of land will be reclaimed, and of this one
half goes to the State, and the other
half to the company. In this
way the State will receive 6,OO0,000
acres of the finest sugar and cotton land
in the world-which is new and always
has been one vast swamp, and, there.
fore, utterly valueless-without the ex-
pendIture of dollar of the public mon
eys, while the parties engaging in the
work will, if successful, be amply remu-
nerated.
1t is needless to dwell on the immense
benefits which will result from this to
Florida, for mere recital of what is pro-
posed to be accomplished is sufficient
AS the lands to be reclaimed are so
located that they can easily be placed in
communication with the outside world,
they will doubtless speedily be settled by
an industrious and thrifty population,
who will convert that immense marsh
into busy hive, and add untold mil
lions TO the wealth of the State. As
earnest of the determination and vigor
with which the work is to be prosecuted,
DR.. Babcock informs us that the com
pany propose to erect and have ready
for occupancy by next fall on
Lake Okeechokee, where now there
is but a wilderness with no IN.
hsbitants beyond few Seminole
Indians and an occasional Florida COW
boy, large and elegant hotel.
Another improvement not so extensive
as this, but which bids fair to be Of
almost as great advantage to Florida, as
it certainly will prove of immense benefit
to this city, is proposed canal between
the ~ OOuA AANClb. 1t
Indian river is a salt water stream which
receives large volume of back wateI
from the ocean, into which it empties al
a point east of Lake Okeechokee
The proposed canal will only be about
two miles in length, and can be con
structed at small cost. When completed
it will virtually convert the Indian anC
ST. Johns rivers into one stream. A;
result, the people of South Florida
and along the line Of the proposed cana
will have water transportation to the
for their produce throughout nearly the
entire length Of the State, and this por
ton of Georgia will also be easily sup
piled with rare and desirable vegetables
at all seasons of the year.
These two enterprises will prove Of
inestimable benefit to the Land of Flow
ers, and indeed to the entire South. VIZ
congratulate our sister State on their
prospects, and hope speedily to announce
their successful completion.