Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-09
DRAINING FLoR,DA's swAMPs.
A Canal to be Cut through the Ever
giades-other Fea urea of Int crest.
From the NeaO York Tribune.

From the Nea0 York Tribune.
A we'll known civil engineer who has
recently returned from an extended trip
in Florida has many interesting things to
tell about that State. Independently OF
its natural resources" said he, Florida
is one of the most charming regions that
l know OF for man who travels with his
eyes open. Unfortunately, was obliged
to give up what would have been one of
| the most interesting excursions. When
was at Orlando was invited TO form one
OF party which was starting from KIs-
slmmee TO 60 by steamer down through
the Everglades to Lake Okeechobee, and
then westward through the new canal to
the Gulf. The party was made up by Mr..
Rose, the superintendent of the company
which Hamilton DisstOn, of Philadelphia,
has organized to drain the Everglade
swamps. Although my engagements
would not allow me to take the trip, got
much valuable information about the
| work that this company is doing.
| 1.-The Everglades proper, as set down
| on the map, occupy over 10000, 600 acres
in the extreme southeastern part OF the
State. In the central part of the State,
however, extending from latitude 70 deg.
80 min. to latitude % deg. 30 min., is net
work of little lakes, rivers and swamps,
WntOh W 90 luIk COuSiAlHiCi uuHb AOA 0hJ
of the purposes OF civilized life. This
region is, nevertheless, between forty and
sixty feet above the sea level, so that
there was no reason why it should be con
sidered undraInable. The lakes and
swamps have been formed by the rank
vegetation, which for centuries grew. de-
cayed and fell into the rivers, thus dam
ming them up and partially flooding the
surrounding country. The company or
/ al hu To fhf
from the government a grant of all the
| lands which should be drained by it.
/ The company brought down dredges
| and began its work by clear
ing out channel from lake to
| lake, from Lake Kissimmee to Lake Okee-
| chobee. This whole country is so ex-
tremely fat that this single channel,
which only lowered the water In the
northern lakes a foot or two. reclaimed
about 4,00O, 900 acres Of swamp land. A
canal was then cut from Lake OkeechO-
| bee westward to the CalOosahatchee
| river, which completes the system of
| drainage to the Gulf. 1t is now proposed
| to cut another canal eastward from
Lake OkeechObee to the Atlantic, a dis
lance OF forty miles. If the project is
| ever carried out, it will shorten by about
250 miles the sea voyage between points
on the Atlantic coast and the Gulf ports.
| ne COMPANY dlsp lUI6uuS W dlu tue
| southeast Everglades by the same meth
cd employ ed in reclaiming the northern
swamps.
| This region has never been surveyed,
| but recently one OF the cOmpany's en-
ployes made an expedition into tn heart
of the Everglades, pushing hims II
| through the swamps in small boat. He
reports that the project of drainage is
| completely feasible. In this way the
| La, 70 fr-r a
| 100000 acres more. TIE government
grant included Pine island, at the mouth
/ OF the CalOOsah atchee river. on the Gulf
coast. The island is prObab y destined 70
| become a point of considerable import
ance. 1t was sold by Mr.. Disston for
81 % an acre. The purchaser sold il
TOR 50 90. At the next transfer it
| brought IS an acre. And now II
has been bought by some capitalists.
| principally Boston men, for $40 an acre.
| 1t is intended to build on this island a
town, which shall form the southern ter
minus OF the Florida Southern railroad.
| Fhe town will be on the line of the most
direct communication between jackson
vile and the North and Havana. There
will probably be a line OF steamers run be-
tween Pine island and Havana. A ship
| load oflumber. with which the first houses
OF the town are TO be built, started from
/ amt On NONs . anu esAAANCO dbL AAC AbAa III
a few days ago.
''One of the most interesting districts in
Florida is Levy and Marion counties, just
east of the bend in the Gulf coast. Ihi4
| is a limestone country, and is almost
without streams or lakes. All the rivers
are subterranean. There are numbers OF
caves at the bottom of which one can hear
| the water flowing. At Silver Springs one
of these underground streams energies
| afar rs,fIn r-fN Dat mi a
and 20 feet de D. In the same region il
Lake Weir, which has no visible outlet
nor inlet, hut is supplied and drained by
subterranean channels"