The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-03-05
EXPERT DECLARES 1T POSSIBLE
TO DRAIN FLORIDA EVERGI AIDES

quickly led away through these chan
nels to the sea, and this great basin of
more than five million acres become
suitable for cultivation.
Since there is considerably more
than twenty feet elevation at interior
points, and the distance only from
thirty to forty miles each way to the
sea, there should be no great difficulty
in constructing drainage bitches.
Tortuous Channels.
Throughout the Everglades the
varying elevations of the underlying
coral formations, together with the
density OF the abundant saw grass,
the sheet of water which spreads OUT
over the glades to flow in very irregu-
lar and tortuous channels which couT-
ses are known only to the Seminole In
dlans, but are guarded by them with
the greatest secrecy, so that the white
man is totally ignorant of their direc-
ton or depth.
On either side the tall grass is so
dense and impenetrable nothing can
be seen from the surface, or from the
little canoes which are the only means
OF navigating its passageways, the
height OF man who propels the canoe
with pole, and not with paddles, be-
ing too low to see more than a few
feet distance
A Healthy Region.
such white men as have penetrated
this water prairie have found the re-
gion to be very healthful, with pure.
clear water purified by the water
plants which abound, while all report
the soil to be exceedingly fertile and
! capable of reclamation.
About Lake Okeechobee the dig
ging would be through earth and loose
/ fragments of coraline rock, with an
abundant fall to insure rapid flow Of
water in a straight open ditch.
AT Miami the Miami river Joins
Biscayne bay. -Four miles from its
mouth it pOurs over the limestone
ledge in rapids having a descent of
ten feet in less than a quarter of a
mile. From the head of the rapids
| there are several channels through the
glades, more or less INSTRUCTED with
water lilies and various plants.
/ The Seminoles enter the Miami riv-
! er and traverse the glades, reaching
/ Fort Myers and other points on the
! Gulf of Mexico in a very short time.
| threading their way through the mar
row passages unknown to the whites.
Results Obtained.
Il came into view of the Everglades
! at point some ten miles from Miami.
and as the water was low passed over
quite large tract which has been part
ly reclaimed and which was being
planted with oranges and vegetables.
Il procured the best pineapple and
the largest which l have seen, from a
plantation in the edge of this reclaim
ed glade land, while near by was the
best grove of grape fruit 1 nave ever
beheld.
From an elevation ! was enabled
to see over the 'glades many miles, and
am convinced that by the expediture
Of a moderate sum in bitches. the
tract may become of great value to the
state and to the people who will en-
JOY it
Built on a Rock.
Miami is situated on a substantial!
foundation of this coraline formation.
The streets have been made as solid
and smooth as any city in the country
as also have miles of couu-
try roadway from this extensive coral
deposit, which is similar to that of
which is the reef of keys extending
southwark from the Biscayne bay to
and beyond Key West are composed.
In composition this is principally
limestone and mari, varying some
what in hardness, although usually it
is easily loosened with pick and mat
took. the crushed material being of ex-
cellent character for the growth of
trees and vegetation. Upon all this
there is a surface covering of dried
muck, forming a rich soil
The value of these lands are quite
high. owing to their specially favora.
bic climate, fertility, and capability of
producing a high quality of fruits and
vegetables.
Sugar cane thrives to perfection in
the reclaimed glade lands, as here we
show from one stalk, eight feet in
length, grown near Lake Okeechobee."