Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-02-19
IN OKEEFINOKEE SWAMP.
A GREAT AREA OF SUBMERGED
LAND IN THE SOUTH.
Noted For Its Valuable Timbers and
Its Dense Jungles-Penetrated by
a Canal.

Noted For Its NaluaDie Iinpers anu
Its Dense Jungles-Penetrated by
a Canal.
~ KEEFINOKEE SWAMP is
[ larger than the Dismal
Swamp in Virginia. 1t ex-
tends from the eastern part
of Pierce County, Georgia, to the
eastern part of Columbia County,
Florida. 1t is sixty miles in length
and twenty miles in breadth. Its
jungles are quite as thick and impass'
able as those in Africa and India.
Two-thirds of the swamp is inundated.
In it's interior are several lakes 'nnd
islands,
There is a dense growth of rose
mary pines on the islands. The black
cypress, which is used for manufactur'
ing purposes, is found in abundance
throughout the swamp. The timber
in the Okeefinokee is estimated to'be
worth nearly So, 900, 900.
The interior of the swamp is reached
by means of canoes. The depth OF
the water ranges from three to ten
feet. The mud is very deep in some
places, which makes travelling difficult!
The iungles consist of reeds, briers,
bamboos, cypress, tussocks, thorn
bushes, pine saplings, dwarf palmet-
toes, creeping vines and small trees
A pathway for canoes is made by cut
ting swarth in the jungle large
enough for two canoes to pass each
other.
An area of several miles has never
been explored. 1t is in the south
western part, near the Florida line
The surface of the mysterious place Is
covered with dense growth of reeds
and vines. A fog hovers over it con-
tinually. The surface is composed OF
ycllow-colored mud, which is formed
by decomposed reeds, leaves and vines.
Its depth at the outer edge is ten feet,
while its depth in the interior is un'
known.
The quick mud is treacherous and
dangerous. Without moment warn
ing or any sign of danger, the feet slip
and the victim falls in the mud's deadly
grip. Underlying the surface is an
underground lake. Old hunters say
that floating island can be seen at
midday in summer, when the weathet
is fair and the fog is less dense. The
place is as silent as the grave, and not
n bird can be seen. r
Several attempts have been made
during the last twenty years to get
correct survey of the Okeefinokee.
Three years ago the greater part of the
swamp was purchased from the Gov
ernment by syndicate of Atlanta capI.
talists. The price paid was very small,
as it was not known that the timber
was valuable. The syndicate organi'
zed a company, known MS the Suwanee
Canal Company. Preparations were al
once made to make careful survey Of
the entire swamp and to begin the con-
struction of n canal from some place in
the timbered belt to the st. Marys
River, for the purpose of draining the
swamp and the transportion of timber
to the wharves on the Atlantic coast.
A corps of civil engineers was EN-
ployed.
The chief engineer, with Obadiah
Barber as guide, set up camp in the
western part of the swamp. Mr.. Bar.
Der was familiar with almost every
place in the swamp, having explored
it over one hundred times. The sur
vey was made through the jungles and
mud with great difficulty. An opening
for the canoes was cut with axes and
brier hooks. When canoes could not
be used, ON account of the shallownesa
of the water, the men Naded through
mud and water at the depth of two
feet. The next survey was made from
the northern part to its southern
boundary, in Florida Then survey
was made around the swamp. This is
the only survey yet made that gave
nearly the exact dimensions of the
Okeetinokee.
The construction of the canal was be-
gun in March, 1891. 1t will be completed
early this year. 1t extends from the
st. Mary's River to 'Camp Cornelia,
near the Suwanee River, distance of
over twenty-five miles. 1t is forty
feet wide and ten feep.
The plan decided upon to get the
timber is to thoroughly drain the in.
undated portions of the swamp and
drag the timber to the canal by means
of chains drawn by machinery. The
timber will then be RATED down the
canal. Several extensive sawmill
plants will be built on the st. Marys
River by the syndicate. The timber
will be made into lumber and shingles.
The beautiful Suwanee River, the
subject of song and story, has its
source in the northwestern part of the
Okeefnokee. 1t flows in a southerly
direction through the swamp and
through the western part of Florida to
the Gulf of Mexico. The natural
scenery along the river is beautiful.
Its banks are covered with the most
beautiful flowers and trees and several
varieties of tropical plants. Numer-
GUS springs of excellent mineral water
are on its banks. 1t is believed by
some that the Suwanee Spring is
really the one mentioned by the Indi-
ans to De Soto as containing proper.