The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-29
FLORIDA NOTES.
A big Drainage scheme-The COndI-
ffOn of the Orange Groves.

A big Drainage scheme-The COndI-
tiOn of the Orange Groves.
Orlando. Fla, April Z7.-The picnic Of
the Plant system employees was held at
Kissimmee yesterday. Tables were
spread in the shade OF the maple grove
on the bank OF Lake TahOpekaliga. Ex-
eursionists came from the north on the
early train and from the south by the
regular mail train. There were between
20 and 800 present
II was just a little warm. but otherwise
an ideal day for such an outing.
w. a. Brawner Of Maitland, who was
severely horsewhipped by four Of his
neignbOrs several months ago, on the
alleged charge Of writing scandalOus let
ters iflplicating respectable ladies' OF that
place, Is in trouble again. Mr.. Brawner
had lis assailants arrested They were
tried In the county criminal court and
nned so each. They took an appeal, and
TINS part or the case Is Sun standlng.
BUT the matter was taken INTO the United
states court, and few days ago BraWner
was indicted for improper use Of the mails,
several Of the offensive letters having
been sent through the pOstofiice. He was
placed under 500 bonds for appearance
ior trial. The aggrieved parties Will no
him.
J. o. Fries, civil engineer of this place.
has for some time been in the employ Of
large tract of muck lands in the south
ern part OF this state. Mr.. Fries came
up, yesterday, after several weeks at St
sebastian, part of his mission being
10 secure sixty or seventy laborers for
immediate operations. Mr.. Russell owns
a BODY OF land amounting to $4,000 acres.
VI THIS tract 1900 acres are covered with
muck OF very rich quality. 1t is of
the kind denominated saw-grass land. The
muck is from three TO six feet in depth.
water stands on most Of IL, throughout
the year, and saW-grass covers it.
growing six to eight feet high. Estimates
nave Deen made for the drainage of this
vast tract, and Mr.. Russell expects to be-
slh TINS work shortly. AS a preliminary
step ne proposes to construct nine or ten
miles Of railroad, connecting with Mr..
Flagler's East Coast Line at or near Sc
bastian and run westward into the tract
to be drained. 1t was found by engi-
heefs that such a line was necessary in
order TO transport the material and heavy
machinery to the point where work was
70 commence. The line of railroad will
nave a further use later on in carrying
away the products of the soil when 1t is
brought under cultivation. Mr.. Fries has
Deen surveying and locating this route
anu the men he Is here to secure will be
ssinPIoyed IN grading the road bed and
laying the track Sixty pound steel rails
Tor the road was reported to have been
purchased by Mr.. Russell three of four
o week s. ago This is the Inauguration Of
prlses ever undertaken in Florida. If sue
SessIuI II Will result in opening up vast
Douy OF land of a superior quality to
truckers and small farmers
II IS now about six weeks since we
nave mad rain in this section. The drouth
seems 10 extend over the entire state
Duflhg the past week the Morning News
representative has had occasion to travel
over that portion of Florida lying between
Jacksonville and Punta Gorda. Every
Where II is the same story. Crops are be-
ing aHected by the drouth, which can but
result IN small yields. This will be es-
Peclally true in Irish potatoes In this
county the area planted to this crop was
IuIly twice as large as in any former year
Except on the muck lands the WELD will he
hght and the tubers small In this i'm
medlate section the country abounds in
lakes. But on the jaunt referred TO trims
were made across country with team and
on horseback, and in the lakeless. regions
II was difficult matter to find water for
horses. Water courses, ordinarily bank
Iuil OF water, We're delusion. 1t was
only by seeking out the home of some set
tier who had a well that water could be
obtained. ~
The best orange groves found on this
"Trip were in De Soto county, in the vi
den. Here were few groves that seemed
none the worse for their experience of
ntteen months ago. They are now full of
young fruit and will yield handsome
crops next winter. But while this is true
OF q rev places, other groves were pretty
wen knocked out, and are making new
growth from sprouts which have put up
from the roots. Taking the groves as a
whole they average as well from Sanford
southwark to Barlow as they do further
south. When they come into bearing
again in Orange Osceola and Polk coun-
ties, there will be more uniformity in size
and condition of trees and this region
VIII retain its old time supremacy as the
orange producing section of Florida be-
cause mere a smaller percentage of the
groves are Knocked out of the race.