The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-04-02
A Gigantic Land Scheme -Reclaimlng
... the Florida Everglades. go.

70 INC + 1VIlU8 LvCEHl0VOSO l
An immense transaction, involving
the reclamation of 12,O00,0 900 acres Of
land, says the Philadelphia Press, has
been undertaken by company of Phil.
adelphia gentlemen, with every prospect
of success. About one-third Of the State
of Florida is a huge swamp, termed
1.-THE Eyerglades'-a dark, impenetra'
BIZ, unknown region. No white man
has ever fully explored it, and all that is
known Of it is-a great swamp, with
number of lakes, and here and there
islands, upon which roam ferocious wild
beasts. tits par excellence the home
of the crocodile, and place of wonder.
fully luxuriant vegetation. On the out
skirts few miserable human beings-a
mongrel race of white, Indian and negro
bl00d-manage to exist in state of bar.
barism. The project Of retaining this
wonderfully rich country has been talked
Of for years, and it has long been con.
sidered feasible by many noted engi.
neers. Some time since the State Of
Florida made q move in the matter,
which is likely to eliminate in the re.
| clamation of the immense body of land
! which has lain under water for thou.
sands Of years. Under contract with
the State Of Florida q Philadelphia com.
pany is about undertaking this great
Scheme. The leading men in the en-.
terpise ate Hamilton Disston e Sons.
Associated with them, are ex,Sherih
VIM. H. Wright, w. g. Parsons, Whit
man H. Drake, A. B. Linderman, all Of
this city;, j.. Coryell, of Florida, and
others. Under the agreement already
made with the State,. the company are
required to begin surveys within sixty
days, and within six months to put d
force equal to, 100 men on the work, and
continue as 'e3peditiously as possible I'M
lit is completed It is proposed ia
drain the land by q canal from Lake
0keechobee to the Caloosakachee River,
which empties into, the Gulf Of Mexico
Another canal may also be constructed
to the East, tapping the St.: Lucie River
which flows into the Atlantic. These
canals will entirely drain the swamp
and from l0, GOO, OOOto 12,00O,000 acre:
ofthe richest land in the world will b.
: reclaimed. The company will re-
oeive for. the work one.hAlf of tn,
land recovered, and 1t is expected
that this will largely repay all expendi
I ture Of money that may be made In tn,
. work. " A leading Louisiana planter
was shown . sample, Of sugar-can
8 raised on the plants on the swamp, ant
!. he at, once said that the land whicl
would produce such rich specimen
/ was worth $3.50 per acre, and it is, sal,
3 the land viii produce twice the amour
t Of sugar that can be raised in Louisiana
Q The entire property Of the company 4
q below the frost,line, and there would b
It no such damage done orange plantation
4 as those in Northern Florida have sui
q fered this winter. Every production, {
f the tropics can be raised on this land
!, indigo, 'sugar-cane, oranges, lemon!
n coffee, jute, etc. The latter, which hs
: become a. most valuable article in mar
ufactures, grows wild, and can be PR
duced in large quantities at little 9,
/ pense. A number Of Irish manufactu
ers who use large quantities Of jul
., have already applied for stock in u
+ company, and will aid it financial,
d The eompany will organize ct once, vii
70 Hamilton Disstoni as President, It
70 proposed toisssue |, OOO, 900 shares OF stoe
Is At $40 pat value. Each share will car
D. with it the right to an acre of land! III
Q. stock will be put on the Philadelph
is Stock. Exchange, and, it lis expecte
D. will be sold readily. A number Of a
q plications for stock have already bet
be made BY prominent gentlemen in Il
it. city, The proceeds of $4,000 shar
b. will beused az the working capital. :
Of is not known how long it will take
w fully develop this stupendous schem
lis but tile gentlemen who have undertak
y, it will push it to completion as soon
'ut possible. George McGowen and Tn
he j.. tBAreer, well-known gentlemen
he this city, will1dRe for IN extended Il
sts southward on next Tuesday. Theygv
he 20 to Tallahassee, Fla where they y
10 ioohinto the tide If The State of Flori
to the Everglades, on behalf of the 60
ss, pany mentioned above. They expect
red return to Philadephia by May l, /
The prior to that time the prefminaries
ow the EvetgiAds scheme viii be pusl
ar serwardby Ne Interested parties II t
city, ssflis o ca isd III
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