Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-02-02
DRAINING A BIG SWAMP.

How the Work at Okefinokee Is Pro-
gressing-A Mine for the Investors.
The work of draining Okefnokee
Swamp, the most stupendous undertak-
ing of it's character in America, which
will eventually reclaim 10000 acres OF
the finest agricultural land in the
country, is progressing at remarkably
satisfactory rate, One of the engineers
in charge,of the work was in the city yes
terday, and gave the Savannah Morning
News an Interesting chat about the
scheme which will open up section
which for centuries has been under
water and muck, the home Of alligators
and various other reptiles.
One hundred and fifty laborers are
now at work at the swamp, and the con-
structlon Of the great canal, which is
to carry the water from the swamp to
st. Mary's River, is being pushed for
ward as rapidly as machinery and
human hands can accomplish it. After
January l this force will be doubled,
the other at night, 80 that next year s
results will be twice that OF the last
twelve months.
This canal, when completed, will be
$50 feet wide, and 63 feet deep, with q
fall of l25 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 sixteen miles
long will be constructed with small
branches, the whole to act as feeders to
the big drawing stream.
When the latter is completed two n.y.
draulic pumps, with capacity of 3d.
600 gallons each per minute, will force
the water Oft the swamps, while the
largest inland dredger in the world will
remove the muck and tear away the
stumps, leaving behind beautiful clay
subsoil, which has become wonderfully
rich by the muck accumulations of CEN
turtles. This muck averages six feet
deep. The dredge is ponderous
machine, 80 feet long with a 4O-foot
beam. 1t is what is known rs a COM
bination dipper and stump-puller.
BY April the company will be able
to secure timber from Okefnokee. In
this alone the wealth of the swamp is
1ncalcuiable. It's pine growth is the
most magnificent in the world in point
Of size and quality, and its cypress de-
posts cannot be eQualed anywhere.
The pines average 70 teet to the limb,
are as straight as an arrow and from |
to S feet in diameter, while the cy-
average diameter being from 10 to -
feet Saw-mill men have besieged the
company to secure the timber, but as
it is of SUCH valuable quality the COM
pany will probably erect saw-mills on
the edge of the swamp and develop
the mber on It's own account.
The engineers expect to find many
valuable curios as the work progresses.
Already they have found evidences OF
Indian habitation of the numerous
small islands Which dot the great
swamp. Numbers of Indian mounds
have been discovered on these islands
filled with all styles of pottery, specl-
mems Of WHICH have been sent to the
Smithsonian Institution at Washington.
The most interesting curiosities, how
ever, are expected when the big dredge
begins it's work of removing the muck
from the swamp. The engineers be-
lieve that mammoth wild animals, now
extinct, made their homes in the swamp
In past centuries, and are anxiously
looking forward to the turning up OF
carcasses to prove their theories.
Just what length of time will be re-
ouired to complete the draining of Oke-
finokee the engineers are unable to es-
innate. but it is safe to say there is
work ahead for several years. When
the reclamation is accomplished
though, the stockholders of the COM
pany who had the nerve to put their
money into the scheme, which, when
first preached, appeared to many as a
wild vagary, will realize handsomely on
their investment. 1t may take long
time, but it is one of those things worth
waiting for.