Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-18
ReClAlMlNG MANY ACRES
A Vast Undertaking in Progress In
Florida.
Land Now UntillabIe and Uainhabft.
able to BE Made Fit for Use
and Occupation.


Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star
LANTANA, Fla. September IL, ls9A
Less than 1--WE miles now remain to be cut
in the canal connecting Lake Worth with
the natural waterway of New river. The
dredge boat Matanzas is now six miles
south Of Lake Worth. with an open channel
averaging five and one-half feet in depth
behind her. For over a month past" said
capt Halleman to the representative last
night I'VE have been able TO see the smoke
OF the dredge boat Biscayne approaching us
from the south, and every day the black
cloud grows more and more distinct ex-
pect that by the last Of September each
boats crew will be enabled to make out the
smoke stack and crane of the other with the
aid of a glass. / estimate that the two
credges are now about four and one-half or
five miles apart-the Biscayne with about
ten miles OF open canal behind her. She has
already crossed the lower Hillsborough
river $50 calied). and is getting ahead much
faster than the Matanzas. My opinion il
that the two boats will come together on or
before the first day Of January. 1886: that
Is, IL no obstacles are encountered more
serious than those which have already been
overcome"
Capt Halleman is In charge OF all the
dredging and other work OF the Florida
Coast Line Canal and Transportation Com
pany south of Lake Worth As before de-
scribed In these columns, the plan of this
company Is to open a continuous navigable
waterway from ST. Augustine to the waters
OF Biscayne bay. paraE eled by the ocean
on one side and the Jacksonville, StAaelst-
Inc and Indian River railway ON the other
this. by deepening the channels of the
Matanzas. Halifax, Hilsb5rough and la.li.n
nv ,,sers ana the waters OF Lake Worth. and
by constructing canals across the land sep
arating these natural waterways. When
completed, this canal win not only open up
TO inland navigation a stretch OF land near
ly 4oo miles in length. but IL will drain and
reclaim many thousands of acres OF land
now untillable and uninhabitable. IL is
hoped that by the completion Of that nor
tion OF the canal between Lake Worth and
New river communication may be opened
this winter between West Palm Beach ard
nassau y. p, the principal Tort of the
bahamas. The route would be down Lake
worth and through this canal thence 10 the
Atlantic through the inlet at New river ON
the lower Hillsborough
The opening OF this canal is bringing 70
ngnt some OF the finest muck land In the
world-equal to. IL not superior to- that re-
claimed by the Disston companies IN the
famous Tohapekaliga region OF Florida II
Is almost wholly decayed vegetable matter
moisture has been drawn out OF ia nv ex-
posture 10 the sun. For sugar cane. rice.
cassava, cabbages AMI cIi..sr Vegetables ~
Is the finest in the world: and there are
|
transportation by rail TO the north aud
west vegetable farming In the Lake Worth
and hay Biscayne regions will be a great
and profitable industry within the next
two or three years There are also rasny
thousands OF acres of lands finely adapted
| TO pineapples and s'sai hero shich This
| canal will open to settlement
| BY the way" remarked Capt Halleman
the health of our men has been remark
ably good all through the trying months OF
spring and summer. They live on plain
| fare. and all the water that they use for
cooking or drinking is first distilled II
comes from the canal or from driven wells
and Is put through the Gender sers before IL
| is mt for use. IL is therefore almost abso-
lutely pure and the good health of the men
Is due largely TO this as well as to the
| salubrity of the east coast climate"
After the dredge boat Biscayne had cross
| ed the lower Hillsborough river on her way
| northward. the deepening of the channel
and the opening Of the canal caused the
waters of the Atlantic to rush in through
Hillsborough inlet in n mighty volume
| This is already having a good effect-deep-
ening and widening the inlet without the
expenditure of any money. Rut the gov
eminent will have considerable work 10 do
befCre this inlet viii offer a safe passage
| for vessels.