Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-03-17
Draining IN. ok.nnoE.. swamp.

The Savannah, Ca, News gives an inter-
esting account of the work Of draining the
Okefinokee swamp, which a company of
capitalists now have in progress. This
great swamp lies in southern Georgia and
northern Florida, covering an area Of 40
miles north and south by 20 or 80 east and
west. The swamp consists in large part Of
a shallow open lake. dotted with many
small islands. 1t has forests Of magnii-
cent timber, and is the abode of countless
alligators and other reptiles. It is expect
ed that its drainage and the removal Of the
muck which has been accumulsting for
centuries will redeem 20, 600 acres of land
with a soil Of wonderful fertility.
Between 200 and 800 laborers are now at
work at the swamp and the construction Of
the great canal. which is to carry the wa
ter from the swamp to 81. Mays river, is
being pushed forward as rapidly as ma
chinery and human hands can accomplish
il. This canal, when completed. will be
80 feet wide and q feet deep. with fall
Of rs feet to st. Mary's river. The most
difficult part Of the construction will be
through a high knoll two miles long.
Through the middle Of the swamp another
canal 16 miles long will be constructed
I
as feeders TO the big drainage stream.
When the latter is completed two hydraulic
( pumps. with a capacity Of 10000 gallons
each per minute will force the water of
1 the swamps. while the largest inland dredg-
/ er in the world will remove the muck and
tear away the stHmps, leaving behind a
+ beautiful clay subsoil, which has become
I wonderfully rich by the muck accumula-
/ tions of centuries. This muck averages
/ six feet deep. The dredge is a ponderous
machine, 90 feet long with 40-foot beam
/ II is what is known as a combination dip
I per and stump-puller.
By April l the company will be able 10
secure timber from Okefinokee- In this
/ alone the wealth Of the swamp is incalcu-
/ liable. Its pine growth is the most magni-
Z ficent in the world in point of size and
/ quality, and its cypress deposits cannot be
/ equAled anywhere. The pines average 20
1 feet to the limb. are as straight as an ar
I row and from one to eight feet in diameter,
/ while the cypress trees are enormous in
/ size the average diameter being from 10 TO
/ L feet Saw-mill men have besieged the
| company to secure the timber. but as il is
/ Of such valuable quality, the company will
! probably erect saw-mills on the edge OF the
/ swamp and develop the timber on its own
/ account.
/ The engineers expect TO find many valua-
! bic curios as the work progresses. Already
/ they have found evidences of Indian habi-
/ tation OF the numerous small islands which
| dot the great swamp. Numbers Of Indian
mounds have been discovered on these IS
lands filled with all styles Of pottery, spec
/ linens Of which have been sent to the
| Smithsonian institution at Washington.
The most interesting curiosities, however,
are expected when the big dredge begins
its work Of removing the muck from the
swamp. The engineers believe that nam
moth wild animals, now extinct. made
| their homes in the swamp in past centuries,
and are snxiously looking forward TO the
{ turning up of carcasses 10 prove their
/ theories.
Just what length of time will be required
10 complete the draining of Okefnokee the
/ engineers are unable 10 estimate, but it IS
safe to say that there is work ahead for
several years. When the reclamation is
accomplished. though, the stockholders of
company who had the nerve TO put their
money into the scheme when il seemed a
wild yagary, will realize handsomely on
their investment. 1t may take a long time,
but 1t is one Of those things worth waiting
| for.