National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-12
The Florida Everglades.

The Florida Everglades.
Not the least interesting among the notable
achievements of modern times have been the
important aud valuable additions to our
knowledge of the remote and obscure regions
of the world which have been contributed
through the enterprise of newspapers. The
New York Herald has the honor of having
been first and foremost in this particular. To
its enlightened enterprise and liberality the
commercial world is indebted for the discov-
cry of the vast, rich, and populous Congo
valley, and the world of science for the solu-
tion of problems that have been the puzzle of
ages But tho Herald does not stand alone
in this honorable field of distinction. One
of the brightest and best of our southern
contemporaries, the New Orleans Times Demo-
crat, by the explorations carried on during
the two last seasons in Southern Florida, I'M
der its direction and at its expense, deServ-
eddy takes high rank in the same line.
1t does not seem strange that in the wild
mountainous regions Of the west there should
still exist portions Of unexplored territory,
but it is rather anomalous that in tho state
where is situated the oldest city on the At
lantic coast there is region as wild, as un-
wa 80. :. -,
= romantic shores of tho "Land of Flowers"
Yet the vast morass, known as the Everglades,
covering q superficial area equal to the state
Of Connecticut, has, during the three CEN
turtles Florida has been occupied by the white
man, been until now as much a terra incog-
nita as the center of Africa. That this is no
longer SO is due to the liberality of the
Times Democrat, and the energy of its brave
attaches in successfully prosecuting very
difficult and laborious exploration.
Last year tho Times Democrat sent an ex-
petition that went by water from Kissimee
City down the Kissimee river, and thence
through the canals cut by the Disston COM
pany from the river through several minor
; lakes into the great inland lake, Okeechobee.
Thoroughly exploring for the first time this
large body of water they proceeded through
| LHc Chndl lEOlu blO luhS W bHO
river, and thence to the gulf, bringing with
them valuable data as to the character and
value of much hitherto untrayersed territory.
1t has long been supposed that parts of the
Everglades were elevated fertile lands, capa-
bic of being made accessible by drainage of
the surrounding swamps. The great value
attached to Florida lands Of late years
through the development Of their capacity
for the production of tropical fruits served to
vest this suppostion with new interest.
To settle this question and the practicability
of building telegraph line across the pen
insula to Point Jupiter on the Atlantic coast
among others, the expedition Of this year was
sent out Starting from Punta Rosa the
party went up the Caloosahatchoe by their old
} ing it in canoes by one Of the minor streams
flowing from the south, they made their way
T with great labor into the saw-grass country.
This is o rank tropical production, growing t.
great height and having serrated, cutting
} edges to its blades. They got through it by
firing it in front of them. Oul
readers will recall that it was reported
for a time that the members of the expedi
ton had lost their lives in the burning set
, Of saw grass. Getting through this the party
, made their way south through flooded
I swamps, interspersed with lakes full of ALI
9 gators and splendid fish, but nowhere die
o they find any land that can ever DO made o.
: value Striking Shark river they made thu
best of their way down stream, reaching it
!. mouth, where it flows into the Gulf o
r Mexico near Cane Sable, having made dis
D lance of about 800 miles in their canoes ate
t leaving the lake. Some idea of the labor in
b volved may be gained from the fact shat OF
a several days the best efforts of the part
r could advance them no more than half mil
i from the mornings starting point
t This expedition dispels for good the hop
it Of luxuriant and fertile lands within tn
bosom of the Everglades The region is
T vast SPONGE where it is not even practicabl
: to run a telegraph line. The adventurou
It spirit of the hunter, lurcd into their fast
n nesses by tho marvellous abundance of gam
y and fish, will in the future reveal TO us tn
rs secrets OF the parts untraverssd by the eSp'
1t ditiOn; but the Times. Democrat has ended a