The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-03-05
Will Eventually Become the Garden Spot OF
the SoUfh--SoH is More Fertile Than on,
Great Plains OF Western States

and much has been learned of these
extensive marshes. Sufficient for us
TO know that they are capable of being
drained; that they are free from ma
laria and healthful; that the soil is
remarkably fertile. suited for the cui-
ture sugar cane, rice, corn, hay, early
garden vegetables, pineapples, citrus
fruits and numerous forest trees.
Comparison with the West.
Half a century ago the plains coun-
try of Missouri, aggregating a million
square miles. was considered as the
great American Desert. part of this be-
ing plated by geographers as such,
and described by travellers as a region
unfit for cultivation. Yet within this
vast expanse Of supposed desert have
been created ten magnificent states
and territories, the homes of millions
OF happy citizens. And before another
fifty years shall have passed the Ever
glades and surrounding swampy lands
viii have become the garden spot of
the south, and have a population far
greater than the entire state of Flori-
da now contains.
With the rapidly increasing popu-
lation of the United States, the avail
able lands having passed out of con-
troll of the nation, there must of neces-
sity arise a greatly increased demand
for lands suitable for cultivation, ami
especially such extensive culture as
this grade of soil will admit of, and
when after drainage it shall attain
proper conditions, it will become the
home of multitude of people.
OF Vast Extent
The Everglades extend from Lake
Okeechobee southwark. practically to
the south end of the FloTidian PENN
sula, one hundred and twenty miles
A distinction is made by separating tae
Everglades proper, especially, the Man
grove swamp on the south, and the big
cypress swamp on the west, extending
to the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the
large areas on the east. which have
been surveyed and plated, yet all
these require drainage before they will
attain to any value, still, all will be
suitable for cultivation when once It
has been reclaimed from the water
TIE peninsula has a foundation OF
coraline limestone, highest in the cen
ter the divide extending north and
south, with a general declivity to south
ward.
Great Bed Of Muck.
at has been upheaved very slowly,
and as it has emerged from the sea the
coral gradually become covered with
grasses. which in time have formed
deep bed of muck, varying in depth
from two to fifteen feet.
The principal growth is the saw
grass. growing from four TO ten feet
above the shallow water, yet there are
other grasses, some of which now at
ford grazing for many cattle.
Here and there are keys, or small
islands. a few inches above the water,
which are covered with tropical shrubs
and trees.
when the keys are four or five feet
above the water; such trees as cabbage
palm. cocoanut, rubber trees and few
pine trees occJr,- as well as bay and
numerous shrubs.
There are FISH, alligators, deer, AMI
some bear. and innumerable birds Of
various kinds inhabiting the Ever
glades.
East Coast Development.
Along the east coast is a narrow
strip of sandy land, thrown up by the
ocean outside of which is the Indian
river. a long. narrow, saline channel,
into which the tides pour through sew
eraI inlets, while still without this
channel is a narrow strip Of ocean
sand.
1T is along this inner strip of sand
that the Florida East Coast Railway
Company has built its fine track "a Bis
cayne Bay, where the magic city, Mi
ami has been constructed within eight
years.
it is along the east coast that this
railway company has built many no.
tells which are veTit9ble palaces, and
from the railway terminal have been
established steamship lines to Cuba
and the Bahamas.
From an uninhabitable sand spit
through the indomitable energy of this
company. the east coast has been re-
claimed and populated with prosper
Gus class of fruit growers, who are
shipping large quantities of oranges
pineapples and early vegetables to the
cues of the Northern states.
But no habitations by white men
have been made within the Everglades
proper: although they are but a few
miles away.
Millions of Acres.
The Everglades, with the included
cypress swamps, cover an area of some
5000. 900 acres, but the entire drain
age area which pours its waters down
upon the 'glades is of far greater ex-
tent. being 1900 square miles. The
precipitation in this region is "a inches
per annum, while the outlets from
the Everglades are few in number and
of Insignificant capacity.
The annual rainfall of this drain
age area would be an equivalent OF a
column Of water one square mile IN
surface, and fourteen and one-half
miles in height, which must flow over
the glades, meander through tortuous
channels in every direction, while the
densely growing grasses and reeds
continually retard its progress.
During the dry season large areas
are drained and left so dry they may
be plowed and cultivated, but with
the recurrence of periodic rains they