Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-07-05

TIlE oKEFISoREE CANAL.
About five years ago company OF cap
italists were attracted by the immense
amount of valuable timber in the swamp,
and they conceived the plan of opening up
this great waste and bringing its timbers
into the market.
The undertaking was gigantic affair
and involved the expenditure OF large
amount of money, but they did not hest
tate, and after securing the necessary legis-
lation by the state purchased from Georgia
and from individuals 5000 acres, compris-
ing the whole OF the swamp.
The work done by the Suwanee Canal
company has afforded an opportunity to
learn something Of the place The Okef-
mckee swamp Is not, us il would be mag
med, q lowlend On the contrary, it Is
the highest point in that section, being on
the dividing ridge Of the country between
the gulf and the Atlantic, SO that survey
vi the swamp disclosed the fact that the
drainage process would be much more east
ly accomplished than was expected.
As the work progresses many curious
freaks of nature are being discovered
which would afford study for those who
delight to delve into the mysteries of ma
ture. One which might be interesting to
stratAs of the earth. In opening an up
proach to the edge OF the swamp an exca-
walton was necessary across a ridge so as
TO carry the water off and away into the
lowlands Here the company found about
IL feet under the surface innumerable pine
.stumps with the appearance Of having had
their trunks twisted of by some powerful
force, while they were left firmly rooted in
the ground. These stumps were encoun-
tered for distance Of about a mile through
the channel, and II Is not known how far
they extend on either side of the cut.
The plans adopted for the drainage OF
the swamp include the cutting OF canal
through the center extending across the
whole area. This work has progressed four
miles, and II Is from the deck of the COM
pany's great dredge steamer that one gets
q view which, for the magnfcence of the
scenery, Is perhaps unequaled on the CONT
nent, and 1t is all the more enhancing
when compared with the uninyitng view
one gets of the approach to the entrance OF
the swamp. But the entrance has scarcely
been made when the revelation begins 20
open. Instead OF dark, muddy ponds COW
cred with a scum Of putid vegetation, as
is naturally expected, there is vast lake
Of clear water about two feet deep, with
myriAds Of water lilies literally covering
the surface and extending for miles in cir
conference. Growing up out OF thew
is forest Of tall Expresses. There are many
islands, or prairies, a. they are termed by
the explorers, and upon these prairics,
which are sandy, covered with rich coat
ing of grass, there Ia heavy growth of
pine, satinwood and other varieties OF valu-
able timber. These trees arc all festooned
with heavy growths of gray moss, and fresh
luster is added to the picture us they arc
reflected in the water among the waving
water lilies.
To the lovers OF sport the swamp affords
ample opportunity for its enjoyment TO the
full. Some exciting bear chases have been
recently had, while deer are plentiful, not
only In the swamp, but out In the pine for
ests rs well, and hunts are frequent, and nj
ways an opportunity is afforded the novice TO
test his nerves agaiIst an attack Of buck
ague" There are wild turkeys In album
dance in the vicinity, which afford sport
30 much enjoyed by hunters.
II would be interesting 10 notice many u
the methods that have been adopted In the
canal work going on at Okeflnokec swamp.
Some OF the appliances are unique. For
instance, the excavation OF the cut through
the ridge adjacent 20 the swamp presented
a serious obstacle IN the nature Of the earth.
1t being wet and boggy and without foun-
dation to boar up the weight Of carts,
scrapera or other means usually employed,
the engineers In charge hit upon novel
plan. They constructed a mammoth roller
harrow by cutting a stick OF pine timber
about two feet In diameter Ind IN length
equal 10 the width OF the cut, and this tim
Der was filled with pointed teeth. By
means OF powerful holstlng engine aud
cablci this harrow IL drawn back and forth
over a section OF 1000 feet al time, which
tears up the earth TO the depth Of about two
feet each revolution. As fast as this earth
Is torn up II is washed out and carried OIL
into a bayou, miles away, by a stream Of
5000 gallons OF water per minute forced
into the cut by the two powerful pumps.
By this means, adopted by the engineers
and which IS entirely original with them,
the cost OF making this channel has been
red uced from IS cents per cubic yard TO
about "a cents
To see the 'leviathan,n the name given
the harrow. as II rolls through the mud
and siush. the spectacle Is like that OF some
monster serpent stretched at full length
and wGilowlng half covered In the mire,
while the teeth give it the hideous appear
anoe Of having It's body contorted BY pain
and continued suffering.
Nervous headaches promptly cured By
~. III aa.4 .f..N'