Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-10

work ofthe Okeechobee Drainage Company
has been completed it stands at the head of
water communication with the Gulf. By
means of these canals the surrounding coun-
try has been drained perfectly, until now no
finer lands can be foundin the land.
ON LAKE ToHoPKELIGA.
Taking the brightly painted yacht moored
at the hotel dock, we are soon launched for
a ride down the lake and through the
canals. Only five years ago the primeval
forest stood on the site of Kissimmee! To-
day it is the headquarters, supply depot and
shipyard of the OkeechobEe Company. TAX
ing backward glance as we steam away
from the little city, handsome homes, pretty
churches and fine hotels peep from among
the magnolias and oaks. Kissimmee is the
entrepot to the sugar region of Florida,
and to these lands we directour course.
Approaching a picturesque island the
captain drops anchor. There we met for the
first time with florida natiseaa monstrous
alligator. Horror of horrors! how the ladies
shrieked, and how the disciples of MIR.
Barnes, of New York, Z" thought to emblazoa
their names in glory, but the screams of the
gentler members of the party seemed to be
more effective than the rife shots, and the
hideous monster, awakened from his lazy
sleep on the bank, crawled from his COM
Portable quarters and disappeared under the
water.
After noting the tropical beauties of the
island, seeing the orange, banana and pine
apple growing in luxuriance, we lift anchor
and soon the steamer is hauling down
stream. The canal is reached and we are
in the region of the "unrecIaimed lands
Large herds of cattle are feeding on the
banks, but scamper away at sight of the
little yacht. Vast plains of inexhaustible
fertility meet the eye on every side. These
are the sugar lands of Florida-the magnet
that is drawing such forces of Northern
capital to the State. Hundreds of acres are
in cultivation, and in the midst of this area
stands the famous St. Cloud sugar refinery,
the pioneer mill of the State, capable of
handling the cane from 1, 500 acres.
SUGAR is KING.
The experimental run has proved its sue
cess, and that Sugar is destined to be King
in this region is a question not disputed.
The owners of this enterprise are Northern
capitalists, amply able to make success
out of this new Florida industry. The
drainage of this immense territory has been
hereulean task and is the most colossal
known in the history of the world, But the
result of the scheme has made the Kissim-
]nSS NoAASg bAS LSHpb VI 0hS On4Ocu
States"
This, the largest single tract of Southern
lands, is owned by the Disston syndicate,
of Philadelphia, and is said TO comprise
5000 square miles of reclaimed, overfowed
areas. This company undertook to reclaim
about 1900 square miles of lands under
water, for which the State ceded it one-half
for all reciamations. These regions are
now used for farming and grazing. As
L., IL Il.
advantage over the Louisiana plantations,
inasmuch as they are more fertile, the
milder climate allowing the cane to more
fully mature before trosts.
The experimental run of the mill has
shown this season net profit of S125 per
acre, against $50 in Louisiana. From the
roof of the mill we get bird's-eye view of
the hundreds of acres of waving cane. From
these plantations it is hauled to the mill bv
OK teams. Here it is crushed by immense
rolls until it comes out as dry as powder, the
bagasse, or refuse, being used as fuel-the
juice flowing into tanks and vats From one
vat to another it goes through its various
processes, beng constantly tested by an ex-
pert, until it comes out the purest glistening
granulated.
Charmed with the art of sugar-making.
we take our boat again, still riding down
the canal Passing a beautiful Southern
nome, SurTOuuueu DE orange trees, tuXur-
liant bananas, flowers and trailing vines, we
are reminded that only three years before
boats were moored in this tropical yard, and
paradoxieal as it seems, only proves the gi-
cautic power of American capital and
American enterprise. Having passed
through the canal, we enter East Tohopke-
liga. On the shores of this lake are i'm
mense cypress forests.
A HUNTERS PARADISE.
White caps play upon the waters, and
dashing waves lap. the glittering, sandy
beach. Wild duck, crane and quail are nu-
merous; the alligator basks in the melting
rays of the MONDAY sun unmolested. Little
sign of habitation is seen around the lake,
but the Southern sky, the bird notes and
dreamy atmosphere await the coming settler.
From this point south $50 miles nayigable
channel has been formed by the dredging
system, which has already been traversed by
large steamers. Along the whole course the
scenery is wild and weird. The daring
sportsman can find all the pleasures of a
hunt, and embellish his name in glory over
captured alligators, bear and deer.
Evening with enhancing moonlight, finds
us once again lounging on the hotel piazzas,
and as the zephyr breezes fan our cheeks,