Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-09
Seven Parallel Reefs.


THE peninsula of Florida" Mr.. Mere
dith. the consulting engineer Of the new
Flagler railroad to Key West, explained,
Consists of seven parallel coral reefs,
formed one after the other through count
less ages, and then covered up with sand
and decaying vegetation. Between these
reefs are lakes. rivers and deeps deposits of
vegetable much, marine mari Cor dfsinte-
grated coral ground up by the waves) and
sand. Between the reefs nearest the sea
the gaps have been filled with sand which
has formed the level plains now covered
with pine forests. The ridge upon which
the East Coast railroad runs, is one Of
these reefs. Another has since been formed
parallel with the coast, and the strip OF
water known as the Indian river, which
stretches more than half the entire length
of the state, is another. If Florida had re-
NAMED unnha bited, it is probable that the
Indian river would eventually have become
filled with sand, and then another reef out
side the present coast would be formed, for
those busy little insects never rest. Ihey
work slowly and take no holidays.
1--WE do not realize how much they ac-
complish. They are working all around
the Florida coast. and In some future age
probably the thousand and one ISLANDS now
called keys, along which we are building
the railroad to Key West. will be con-
nected with each other and the mainland.
and become part OF the me. state sod BECAUSE Sae
of the lakes within these reefs may be
lower than the ocean or the gulf, and some
of the rivers which drain into them may
also be lower in places. The coral ridges
run from three to ten feet higher than
tidewater. That upon which the track OF
the East Coast railway Is laid Is ABOUT
five feet higher"
cided difference of opinion among engineers
whether drainage is possible or not Some
good authorities insist that several OF
the lakes are lower than tidewater, while
others assert that all the land and all the
water within the coral ridges which inclose
the Everglades are from three to six feet
higher than the ocean. Probably both are
right. AS Mr. Meredith says. 1t would be
perfectly natural II certain portions Of the
area inclosed between the reefs should be
lower.
The Governors Theory.
The governor. in his attempts at reclama-
ton, is proceeding upon the assumption
that he has only to cut ditch or two to
let the water run out II this were posi-
BILE 1t would be simple matter to reclaim
the entire area, which is 100 miles long and
sixty miles wide. and is covered with what
Is considered the richest soil on earth. In
certain places muck has already been
taken out and sold for fertilizer, bringing
as high as $40 a ton. 1t 10 the richest sort
Of vegetable muck mixed with marine
mari, which carries 70 or 90 per cent of
lime.
within the Everglades are large tracts of
open land, dry and capable of cultivation,
although difficult Of access. and numerous
"hummocks," covered with palms, cocoa
nuts. rubber trees. palmettos. pines. and
various other trees and shrubs. The rivers
abound In nsh. alligators. crocodiles. turtles
and all sorts of marine life.
The Seminoles.>
The dry spots are reached by tortuous
channels known only to the Seminole In
diana who guard them with the greatest
vigilance for fear Of invasion by white
adyenturers. On either side OF the chan
nels the saw grass Ii SO dense and iupsne-
trable that nothing can be seen from the
surface and none but an experienced In
dian can find his way through the lahy-
rinth.
The seminbles in Florida are now re-
duced to about 900 In number. and they live
BY farming, hunting and fishing. They are
q miserable people and have gradually de-
generated since the whites came into this
country. chiefly because Of that arch enemy
Of All sayaxes-rum. Many Of them have
never been out OF the Everglades. The
chiefs and heads Of families come out pc
riodicaliy to Fort Lauderdase Miami and