Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-05-23
THE SEA is A REMARKABLE
FEAT OF MODERN ENGINEERING

Jacksonville. ~Fla.-Special: While the
sYes of the nation are turned towards
Panama and the great work in progress on
the isthmus. there Is going steadily for
opinion of experts. offers many valuable
suggestions to tho men who are solving
canal problems. The building of such a
railroad as that now under construction
between Miami and Key West. over the
long line Of the Florida keys. necessitates
the employment Of thousands of men. the
handling Of vast quantities of material and
supplies and the overcoming of many diff
fculties due to climate and topography.
Especially in the way In which thousands
of workmen are enlisted and managed
without the intervention of contractors is
there said to be an object lesson as to the
method by which the big ditch might best
be dug.
The points OF likeness are many. despite
the apparent differences between the two
enterprises. one of which is designed TO
enable steamships to undertake the feat of
mountain climbing: the other to send a
railroad train to sea. For all practical
purposes. Key West Is as far from any
considerable base OF supplies as is the
IsthfnuS of Panama. The climate, although
h winter delightful. is almost tropical in
Bummer. Laborers. as well as maintenance
and construction supplies. must be brought
from a distance. many of hem from as far
aorth as Philadelphia and New York, and
are. therefore. unacclimatcd. Even the
water supply for both men and machin-
sry must be transported, much of 1t more
Than 100 miles. in tank cars and steamers.
There's perhaps an argument in favor
Of the governments digging the canal on
IT'S own initiative in the great undertaking
pf Henry NJ. Flage-. Not a contractor has
been employed during the whole course of
the work. Both the operation of the main
line OF the road and the construction OF
the extension are being carried on by The
company itself under the Immediate Three
lion of Mr.. Y. r. PARROT. the vice prcsi-
Sent OF the company. and Mr.. l'lasler's
sight-hand man in all his enterprises in
Florida.
A Viaduct of 1874 Arches.
The gigantic task Of building this sea-
going railroad proceeds rapidly and eff.ri-
bntly. Enormous engineering difficulties
aave been encountered and overcome.
Many miles of swamp and low ground
have had to be filled in With rock and
tanl in order to secure a firm roadbad.
Iilc y .i'loSS 'Ntlf gin VI llif
thirty or more keys which the road will
lross is built up entirely of ~coraline line
stone, the material ~ which the islands
ire formed. After leaving the mainland.
}redges were forced fairly 10 eat their
way through nearly twenty miles OF tam
yled mansrove swamp. a drelge proceed
ng slowly down each Side Of the "nl-
sankinent. digging a channel for it's own
passage. and building UP the embark
hent with the material e~Xca"ated. Two
trns of Jew,ish creek. which separates
Key Largo from the mainland. were til.ol
n this way and the third has been spanu0i
~ a steel druwbridse, which is now in
operation.
Well within the islaad OF Largo. and
completely obstructi"s the line Of grade,
In inland lake was "ucounteiei which
rad not been disclosed by the preliminary
purvey. The bottom of the lake. which
vas half a mile wild" and conJniDed *
!eet OF water. was composed entirely of
peat. To remove this peat ard secure a
lrmer foundation for the ~einbankmert.
Two dredges WORKED steadily for fifteen
months. Connecting Key Largo AID
Plantation Key across Taverr.er creek Is