The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-10-20

An. Esfimates 81 the size width and depth
length n1filber and locality. 0f canals suficient
III lower Lake Okeechobee and 20 care for the
average rum %. for excess Of rain fall In order
70 safciently lower the lake as 70 allow the drain
age BY proper held bitches, Ok the adjacent terri
tory. suficient for successful cultivation. a
6fh. the estimated cost OF the necessary ca
mails. Including the Necessary apparatus, and al
expenpes incident to the successful complexion OF
q System or canals To remove the surplus waters,
and provide means TO- drain the territory,
9TH The estimated time required 70 accom-
pIish the work 0utIinod--th lowering OF Lake
Okeechobee sufficiently 70 make possible. by. suit.
abe local feld dtches the ssiccessful agricultural
development OF the lands adjacent TO the lake and
' Nh reply. r1spectsuly Submit tine following
estimates. hasing my estimates on the data and
authorities cited:
to Lake Okeechobee extends from the divide
south OF Lake Apopka" In T. % on the north.
The divide separating the water shed OF tns
Observation-Disclosures" ON the northeast the "St
Johns" divide on the east. the "Withlacoocneea
divide on the northwest with the "Pease River"
divide ON the west, very definitely defined by the
United States Land Surveys, and also denned 10
special surveys, particularly those OF Gen. Z: a.
Gilmore, made In 1880, and reported to the URited
States Senate January g. 1882, by the Secretary OK
War.
The survey OF the Caloosahatchee River by
Capt Wm M. Black, U, 8. Engineers Report OF
1888
The survey OF the Kissimmee Valley. by Capt.
Herbert Deakyne, u. 8. Engineer, reported jan
uary g. 1902. Copies Of which are iled with the
BOARD OF Drainage Commissioners VI M 4
The water shed 10 indicated on the accompany
Ing map, and covers an area approximate l26 W
30 miles, or some $3.50 square miles including tle
SURFACE OF Lake Okeechobee (sorne 616 square
mies) This estimate 10 made literally, and GOV.
ers rather more than the actual water she'd gS9
End. "Rain FALL" The average rain fall OF the
State for period OF ten years has been h4.6
inches. The maximum local annual rainfalis
from 1894 to 1904 are as follows:
1894, Fort Meade, 1884; 1895. Jupiter. 72.41;
1896, Milton, 1OO61; 1897. Jupiter. S7.07; 1888,
st. Augustine, 77,02; 1892 Sebastian 1850: 1900
Fort Meade, 1888; 1901, Hypolux0. S2.67; 1908.
Fort Meade, 1912; 1904 Fort Meade, 1854 Aver.
age OF the greatest local maximums. SI.7S inches
The State averages for the same years were not
abnormal The average for Florida 10 given In the
United States Geological Reports for 1905. AZ from
so to so inches per annum. The actual average
rain fall, as given by the Weather Bureau Re
In the following estimates l have assumed 80
inches as the amount to be cared for.
With water shed Of 37SO square miles and
rain fall Of so inches per annum. the total rain
fan amounts to 19.600 100000 cubic yards per an
num- Assumed rain fall, 2O.0000OO.OOO cubic
yards per annum.
ard. "The estimated evaporation and 'run-off.'"
The average annual evaporation equals nifty per
cent OF the rain fall (Gillmcre's Survey and u
s. Geological Survey. l9O6). Or 1O0OO,OOOOO0
cubic yards annual evaporation. e|
Absorption equals twenty-five per cent, Rain
fall (U. g. Geological Survey. 19Ob) or 6O00.OOOI'
900 cubic yards per annum
'Run on" equals 5000 100000 cubic yards per
annum, to be cared for by canals and drains. or
4l6.6O0O0O cubic yards per month.
Daily 'run on" l3.SSO,OO0 cubic yards pract-
cally 100000 cubic yards per day.
The assumed averages inches per month, or
60 inches per annum-is therefore considered
ample to meet all ordinary conditions. including
excessive rain falls. A.
The daily run OF being 900 cubic yards
this amount, however, being much greater than
the water shed. and rain fall calls for.
The problem is to provide channels TO carry on
this surplus rain fall, and at the same time lower
the impounded waters Of Lake Okeechobee. to
depth sufacient to afford ample drainage to the
lands bordering the lake and canals.
4th "Sixe and Location OF Canalsr A canal
300 feet WIDE 10 feet Deep with the current devel
oped by the fall from Lake Okeechobee to tide wa
ter, at its Initial and final velocity, will have an
average OutDut n aOmN k00 O00 NnhiN Wards -