The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-13
DRAINING TAG EVERGLADES.
Progress of @ Great Work Now Going
On in Florida.
From the Neto York Tribune.

EEO2A6CS Vi u 0ISaS w OIA NOW 1OlA4S
On in Florida.
From the Neto York Tribune.
The lower Everglades, running down TO
the point of the peninsula, are also a saw
grass jungle, but cut up by countless water
avenues into thousands of islands. Toward
the southern end there is a perceptibis tide,
and the gulf and Atlantic shores are lined
with a rock rim that impounds the water.
This large territory, hitherto considered
useless, is now being made available for
agricultural purposes by gigantic drainage
system. of which correspondent gives
some Interesting particulars.
According to these, Hamilton Disston, the
Philadelphia saw manufactures, is the NOV
ing spirit in the enterprise. Mr.. Disston, as
the story goes, after careful examination
and consultation with Col. James K.
Kreamer, his engineer, decided that it was
also necessary to diminish the water supply
from the northern lakes that served as
feeders. These lakes. moreover, he knew
were bordered by marshes worth draining
for their own sake. So he went to the legis-
lature and in 1891 secured permission to re-
claim all lands below line drawn across a
peninsula few miles north of Kissimmee
and east of Peace creek, which debouche in
Charlotte harbor. The tract embraced
5000, 200 acres. Four million of these, how
ON6I GAIs OAaoCoH was COl41polAo0 W 10TH
separate company to buy to lift state
mortgage.
Then the work began. AS the map
shows, the lakes, as they occur southwark
on the sloping peninsula, are Tohopekalga,
Cypress, Hatcheenehaw. Klssimmee and
Okeeohobee. The water-level follows the
laud slope, Tohopekahga is sixty-four feet
above the sea, Hatcheenehow sixty, Kissim
NEE tifty-hine and Okeechobee only twenty.
Canals cut southwark to Lake Kisslmmee
and the strengthening of the very crooked
river that links lakes Kissimmee and Okee-
chobee have, therefore, relieved the upper
lakes by a steady flow, while cuts from
Okeechobee southwark into the ever
glades and eastward to the Caloosahatchie,
that empties into the gulf near Punta
Rosa, have lowered four feet the surface
of that great lake. The piercing of the
rock rims on the coast is expected now to
release the water accumulated in the Ever
glades. Meanwhile, in the north end of the
chain, lake east of Tohopekaliga has been
connected with the northern Atlantic coast
by way of the st. Johns river, TO relieve the
pressure there. So far about eighty-five
miles of canal are cut. The trenches vary
from twenty-five to 105 feet in width, and
hold from six to ten feet of water.
KissImmee owes its existence to the drain
age company. A few years ago the shore of
Tohopekaliga at this point was a cypress
swamp. But Capt. r. z. Rose came there
60 build a dredge, the water level was low
cred seven feet, a wide breach was uncov-
cred, docks and ship yards were built, and
now the town has a big hotel, brick court
house. and 500 inhabitants. The company
has made this its field headquarters. At
Southport, at the opposite end OF the lake,
you can ramble through a large banana
plantation and see tobacco and sugar cane
growing where the land was once all under
three feet Of water.
The canal mouths are protected by
wooden jetties. Sandbars form across
them, but are easily removed. The current
is about three miles an hour, and in the wet
season there is water enough for light
draught navigation. A Mississippi steam
boat in 1884 assembled to Kissimmee from
the Gulf. a distance of 800 miles. Only
white men have been employed on the
dredgee. Their uniform good health is re-
markable.
One curious result of the engineering
work Is its effect on plant life About Lake
Okeechobee, for instance, the margin is
covered with great areas of morning-glorv
vines. which have all sprung up since the
tapping began to destroy aquatic vegeta :
ton. From the lookout of dredge the
contrast is striking. Before her stretch
green tangles of saw-grass and aquatic
plants, with the brown water pouring in a
spumy torrent over the head of the canal.
In the rear, where the dredge has cleared q
watery path, the canal banks are firm.
PUSHES and water lilies lie dead and Drowned
In the sunshine, green, ediole grass sprouts
spontaneously, and herds of cattle Craze in
placid contentment. On one side is desola-
ton, on the other endless promise