The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1906-11-30
THE DRAINAGE
ATFORTP|ERCE
uomeseekcr Writes Interesting
Accoun, of Our Prospects
future CfLfRYSECTION
n, Now Canal viii Make Five Thousand
Ares of and Available for Fruits
and Vegetables

Two years ago the Florida East
rOast Railway commenced the drainage
Al a large body of land lying west OF
Fart Pierce. A canal was eXcavated
i,Om the Indian River to point at OF
near Five Mile Creek. After complet-
mo this work it was found that the ca
nal was not deep enough for the sue
,pssful drainage of the prairie lands. the
hOttom of the canal being about level
with the prailie. This was of consider
able benefit to a large acreage pillow pine
ands on either side of the canal and
mantities of land was sold and put into
uhiyation. These lands proved to be
yey fertile and large crops of vepc-
tables were grown in close proximity
% the canal
Mr. Alfred Newlandcr, an expert
secineer of the Land Department of
me Florida East Coast Railway, was
directed by Mr.. j. f. lngraham, who
has charge of the industrial work of
his department, to resurvey the line
and find out how much fall there was
tetween the prairie and the Indian
River. This Mr.. Newlander did and it
vas ascertaned that there was -four
eet or more fall, which is ample for
irainage purposes.
The matter was taken up by the
apartment, which resulted in making
contract with Mr.. King to dredge the
Mginal canal to a depth which will Sc
nn perfect drainage. According to
Mr. Newlander's survey the canal will
h lowered from two to seven feet. 1t
believed that this will perfectly drain
bout FIVE thousand acres of land, part
prairie and part low pine land. When
his work is completed this will be one
VI the richest bodies of land along the
bver East Coast.
For some time Mr. King with his
pverfu dredge has been at work and
he compile ton of the canal is looked
toward to as great advance IN the
iamnginterests of Fort Pierce and st.
l&ie county.
During the past two years over hVe
aasand acres of lands which are al
isted by the drainage have been sold
md many acres are now under cu't-
nton, bringing rich returns to its
'mers. The low pine lands were too
m for successful cultivation before
ah partia drain was put in. Although
ae work is not complete, yet many
xres of pineapples have been planted
N these once wet lands and growers
" rejoicing over their success, hav-
%@ strong healthful plants as can
pssibly be grown.
0thers have planted orange anu
mpefruit trees and they, too are
apN in the prospect that within
Iar Or two they will have quantities
sthe real Indian River fruit to SELL
These low pine lands are especially
Mapted to growing vegetables OF All
tlnds, also for general farming pur-
poses We believe they cannot be eN-
'elled. Corn, oats and hay will be
among the staple products grown there
We have great faith in those low
pine lands, when properly drained, for
p'ducing celery in great quantities
1--WE are not mistaken, or over-san-
silne, We believe that the Fort Pierce
's'on will within few years be a
s0se competitor with the Sanford sec
NM in producing this valuable crop.
The Fort Pierce Concrete Company
@ recently been reOrganized anc
s'''ered as a stock company. +. III
,~, e. 7. mccarthy, C. M. Horton ant
49, Brewer are the stockholders. Al
recent meeting of the company,
age amount Of new machinery was
apefed' The company will manufact
@enot only cement building blocks
w brick and do all kinds of worl
'aeFe cement is used. The compan!
"m safe hands and will be a success.
us reported that a company is be
" formed for the purpose of buildin,
~ as'ectric light plant. 1t is said tina
~ pant will be of sufficient power t.
:$ssn lights to the residents six o