Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-10-29

carried on miles from land, demands
the use Of a considerable fotilla OF
boats of various types. There are now
engaged on the work nine stern wheel
boats, three tugs and one hundred
barges and lighters, twenty-eight
launches and upward Of fifty pile
drivers, concrete mixing plants, der
ricks. pump barges and dredges.
The difficulties encountered in this
unusual construction seem to be end
less At the very outset Of the work
1t was found necessary to provide an
inland or protected route for the ves-
sells of lighter draught used In the
construction off shore. Months Of the
most laborious work were required to
complete 1t before the actual work
could be commenced. The waited used
in mixing cement and for ordinary
purposes again must be transported in
tanks for a hundred miles as well as
the fuel and supplies. The attempt
was once made to shorten this trip by
bringing It from Manatee creek, point
fifty miles nearer than Miami. A wa
ter station was established. A few
days later, however, a northwest wind
blew the water out Of the bay so that
1t was impossible for boats to get with
in two miles Of the station. few
weeks later a southeast wind piled the
water up in the bay in such volume
as to food the wells and drive them
out again.
Just before leaving the mainland the
line Of the road was obliged to cross
a complicated junction Of three creeks
which presented a formidable barrier.
At great expense two Of these creeks
were damned and their course changed
so that a single bridge sufficed.
Another curious problem was en-
countered on one of these keys, wide
lake which the preliminary survey had
not considered a serious obstacle. The
lake was half mile wide and six feet
deep, and had a bed of peat which
made 1t absolutely impossible to pro-
cure firm foundation for the tracks.
After much trouble the peat was re-
moved and the lake filled in with rock.
The longest stretch Of tracks on any
Of the keys is sixteen miles. When
the track. is not passing over the open
sea 1t traverses a high enbankment
which commands a beautiful view over
the surrounding land and sea. For
long stretches the tracks are shaded by
waving cocoanut palm, which, with
the dazzling white Of the coral, makes
an enchanting scene.
The new road will make Key West
for all practical purposes a part OF
the mainland. The distance from Key
West to Havana is only ninety miles,
distance which even the freighters
will cover In four hours. The passen-
gers and freight cars will be transfer
red to great ocean ferries holding thir-
ty cars to make the trip. The position
Of Key West being directly on the line
Of travel on the way to Panama, has
obviously great natural advantages.
The railroad to Key West Is the last
link at the south Of the great through
service along the Atlantic coast. The
completion Of the great bridge at New
York over He'll Gate which is to con-
meet the Pennsylvania with the New
England railroads will complete an un-
broken line of railroad communication
between New England and the south
ernmost city Of the United States.
The island city Of Key West is mean
while building a great harbor worthy
of its future. About ITO acres OF the
shallow water adjacent to the city Is
being bulk-headed and filled In with
immense dredges. This newly acquired
land will be used for yards, stations
and wharves. The new wharves Will
be 800 feet in length and 100 feet wide,
with basins 200 feet in width and with
depth of from twenty to forty feet.
This improvement alone will make
room for docking over forty vessels
with an average length Of 400 feet.
II is believed that the Florida east
coast extension will be complete TO
Key West within two years.