The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-06-15

line canals running East and West.
and a twenty-foOt width Tor the small
inside quarter section line canals run
ming North and South: the depth OF
the three different sizes OF the canals
would have to be determined by the
depth Of the muck. II would be very
easy 10 dig In that muck deposit. My
opinion is that an excavator should
be used on these canals.
estimate the total cost Of con.
structing the levee at one million,
thirty-eight thousand, seven hundred
and eighty-seven dollars 81, O38, 1877 00),
II the sand Is to be hauled from the
pine woods in on the leveA would
estimate the cost OF the levee at Ave
hundred and fifty-nlne thousand, seven
hundred and eIghty-five. dollars
(S559. 765.OO), II the sand could be
pumped out Of the bottom OF the lake
into the leVee Itemized estimates are
hereto attached and marked Seized.
ule "a.
The cost OF the canals through the
muck land, free from custard apple
swamps or bays, should not exceed
over cents per cubic yard TO con.
struct. In dredging through custard
apple swamps. the cost would be con.
siderably greater. say from 10 to ~
cents per cubic yard,
The custard apple Is a small wild
fruit tree that grows In profusion
around the shores OF Lake Okeecho-
bee, and can be utilized I'm planting
the lake wall OF the levee as a pro
lection against the force OF the waves
and also to hold the muck facing
together.
This is the only plan know OF that
will successfully accomplish the work.
consider this the best plan because
It fills the requirements from an az.
rlcultural standpc CIT for the success.
full tillage OF the soil after its reclama.
ton. The drainage OF this muck land
is not merely a question OF the re.
moval OF the water, but the control
OF the water, as II Is Just as necessary
to supply proper quantity OF water
for growing crops here as It Is In the
arid West. The question is not 80
much one OF drainage as II is Of irri.
CATION, both being necessary in any
scheme OF reclamation. The drainage
Is small item In the complete recla.
nation OF this land. II Is we'll known
that mistakes of the gravsst nature
have been made by these drainage
companies in their earlier efforts by
the removal Of all the water and with.
out proper provision being made for
the storage OF water for irrigation
purposes. These drained lands re
quire a great deal Of moisture. They
present such q large area tn evapOra
tion and the crops that they grow do
the same thing, particularly sugar
cane. and II they are not properly sup.
piled with water. and are allowed to
dry out they become worthless. There
are certain seasons OF the year when
they must be supplied with water, |
and during the ripening stage the
water must be removed and the ground |
made dry to stop growth and mature |
the crops
In my opinion. for the proper drain.
age and irrigation OF this region In |
question the total length Of the range |
line canals required Is $50 miles, of |
the section canals 1872 miles. and OF
the quarter section canals, 1876 miles; |
and the cost OF the range line canals
will be 1892 5000, OF the section line |
canals, 1892 ,3G4.OO. and Of the quar-.
ter section canals, 34,790. Ol6.O0, max.
ing a total length OF G,29S miles, and |
total cost Of tS.774, $4,000 This es
innate Of the cost OF the canals con
templates the use Of q bucket dredge. |
These irrigation and drainage canals
will also be utilized as waterways or
roads for the transportation and cul
uvatiOn Of the crops, AK all blowing,
harvesting. cutting and gathering Of
sugar cane or other crops, can be
done by cables worked by motors on
bargU3
Any system that has for It's view
the simple taking on OF the water of
Lake OkeeChObee would not fulfill the
conditions comprehended In this dc.
velOpmcnt.
In speaking OF drainage az applied
to Lake OkeechObee and the saw
grass region OF the Everglades,
speak OF drainage" with view to