New-York tribune., 1886-02-07
DRAINING THE FLORIDA SWAMP6
MILLIONS OF ACRES TO BE RECLAIMED.

A CANAL TO ne CIT THROUGH TIE EVERGLADES
OTHER FEATURES or INTEREST.
A well known civil engineer who has recently
returned from an extended trip IN Florida has many
interesting things tell about that State. mdepeno1
eDty OF It's natural resources said he Florida Is one
OF the most charming regions that know OF lot ha.
who travels with his eyes open Unfortunately Wa
obliged to give up would have been one OF
interesting excursions. When was at OTianoo wa
invited form OF party which was Starting lto
Kissinmee to 20 by steamer down through 'he h'o.
gades to Lake Okeechobee and then westward through
tho new canal to the Cult The party was made up W
Mr. Rose, the superintendent OF tho company wb'ca
Hamilton Disston, OF Philadelphia, has organized "
drain the Everglade swamps Although my engasenchI
would not allow take the trf got much yauaps
Information about the work that this company is DONG
"The Everglades proper. as set down on the map
occupy 200000 600 acres III the extreme souheass
srn par. In the central part OF the s'a
however extending from latitude 26o 3V to latitude zs'
sV, is network OF little lakes, rivers ana s"a"p~
which was long considered unit for any OF the purposes
OF civilized life. This region is nevertheless, bet"een
forty and sixty feet above the sea level 20 tuat ther
was why It should be considered undrainaDia
The lakes and swamps have been formed by the rams
vegetation, which for centuries grew decayed and fen
into the rivers. thus dainming them up ana
partially flooding the surrounding country. The com
pany organized by Hamilton Dssson obtained from the
Government grant Of all tue lands which shou'd Dc
drained by it. The company brought down dredges ana
began its work by clearing out channel from aXe "
lake, from Lake Kissmmee " Lake okeechooe~ Ihn
whole country extremely fiat that this single cham
ne which only lowered the water In the northern axes
foot or two reclaimed about 1000 acres Of swam
land canal was then from Lake Okeechobeewe
ward to Csloosaatchee River which completes ths
system Of drainage to the Gulf IL is now proposed u
cut another canal eastward from Lake Okeechobee ID
the Aantic distance Of forty miles II the projectn
eve rcarred out 1t win shorten by about $50 miles the
sea voyage between points the Atlantic coast and
tn. Gull ports The company also intend to drain the
southeast Everglades by the same method employed IN
reolaming the northern swamps.
"This region has never been surveyed, but recently
OF the company's employees made an expedition into
the heart OF Everglades, pushing himself through
the swamps In small boat. He reports that the pro
Ject drainage completely feasible In this way the
company hopes acquire about 100000 acres moro
The Government grant included Pine Island, at the
mouth OF the Caloosahachee River the Gulf coast
This island probably destined to become point OF
considerable Importance. IL was sod by Mr. Disston
for 81 25 Tho purchaser sold for 81 so. Al
the next transfer 1t brought S5 And now ID
has been bought by capitalists. principally
Boston men. for $40 acre. 1t 10 intended 10
build on this island town, which shall form the
southern terminus Of tho Florida Southern Railroad.
The will be the line of the most direct couu
nicatioa between Jacksonville and the north and Hay.
ana There will probably line OF steamers run be
tween Pine island and Havana ship-load OF lumber.
started rom M''nr on November aud arrived at Pine
Is ard few days ago.
Levy ana Marion Counties just of the bend In the
Guli coast This is Limestone country and Ia almost
Sthont streams or lakes All the rivers are subterra-
mean There are numbers Of caves at the bottom Of
winch hear the wafer MOVING At silver Springs
one OF these underground streams esreeS abruptly and
Sorns river $50 eet wide and seventy feet deep In
the same region is Lake Wer which has 10 visible out
let n0 Inlet, but ia supplied and drained by subters
chauueis"