The morning news., 1894-05-27
TAMPA'S WONDERS.
Some Remarkable Things in the ViCin-
ity Of That Magic City.

Evidences of a Great Water Supply
System-Indications That the City's
Site Contained an Immense Popula-
ton Ages Ago-stranEe Finds That
Interest the Speculative Mind-Nu-
muerous Excavations and Many
Trails OF Hard Material That Lead to
Islands-ThinEs for Tampa's People
to Think About.
Tampa, May 25.-In the Washington
Post of May is long but very interest
ing description of the discovery of an in
dian mine, in which numerous tools and
signs of very intelligent working of the
mine were found.
Out west discoveries of the work of the
cliff dwellers have been interesting the
ethnologists, and in rooms far beneath
the dwellings of the cliff d,wellers, inter-
esting finds have been made ...
Near Carchi, in Ecuador, subterranean
dwellings have been found, so extensive
that they would accommodate a far larger
population than now occupies the surface
of that country.
These, and many other discoveries of
the kind, seem TO indicate that an era of
archaeological discovery is upon US.
Well so be it. Tampa is prepared to
rise to her feet and say, ME too, please"
venture the assertion that within a
radius of twenty-five miles around
Tampa, there is a richer field for an
archaeological and chronological explora-
tlon than can be found on a similar area
of land anywhere else in the United
States
We have in this area miles of ancient
canals. numerous artificial lakes, nume-
rous mounds, subterranean works; and
the expert in Indian lore would find our
tree records, Indian trails and village
sites, etc, paradise to him.
There is strong probability that
Tampa is built like ancient Rome, over
the site of long forgotten city Spanish
Town creek is an ancient. artificial inlet;
every old tree in the reservation was
planted for a purpose, and bears the
record OF 1T, who will read and trans
late!
Ballast Point has its breakwater, and
landings; and is rich in,records.
Port Tampa city covers the site of an
ancient city.
On the Gadsden peninsula are numer-
Gus excavations; there are trails of hard
material across boggy marshes trails TO
islands, trails TO landings, and so many
l0clIS VI INTEREST await JDG competent
searcher, that Tampa might invite all the
archaeological societies of the Christian
world TO come here-give them abundant
room to look, and then have room for
more
But, it will be asked cui bono. Beyond
the mere curiosity of the thing, where is
the good Of it, Well let little troupe
of Ifs dance tune on that one string
If there were cities, there were many
A.aI
much water; If much water was used
there was system of supply; ifa supply,
1T was probably large enough 10 meet the
demand If an adequate supply, it must
have been constant; if constant, there
must have been reserve basins: If water
from the river above the falls was used,
there must have been settling tanks If
IT came from springs, it would need no
settling; If the artificial lakes among the
hills TO the north of Tampa are the col
lecting basins for the sources of supply TO
ancient mains, are the mains at this day
still conducting the waterl If Krau's
spring, Swingley's spring, Magbee's
spring and other well known
gushing springs are the relief
outlets of a large hydraulic system, is
not Tampa to-day supplied with the
water from that systemi If so, are Port
Tampa and Ballast Point included in the
system2 If some expert archa ologist will
locate this system can these places also
utilize it? If this is all proved to be any
where near correct, is it not of more value
to the community at large than an acre Of
flint tools, bone shovels, and stone ham
mers or even gold and silver ornaments
worth million dollarsl
Don't these ifs dance as pretty tune,
even if it is one string Let them dance.
They may do some good; they cannot do
much harm.
have enjoyed this fascinating study,
and assure any one else so inclined that
the field here is rich, and will well repay
a properly equipped explorer for an ex-
tended visit.
make here this prediction. viz; that
Tampa's name will be familiarized
throughout the world by the wonderful
and important discoveries Of ancient work
that will be made in her vicinity