The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-12-16
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by engineers to determine whether
such road as he imagined could be
constructed. When the voluminous re-
ports, estimates, drawings and blue
prints Of the engineers were sub
mitted. Mr. Flagler glanced at them
hastily and turning to Mr.. j. R. Par
rott, vice-president Of his railway and
bis rightnand man in all his Florida
undertakings. said:
"All want to know Is whether the
road can be built
Yes, It can replied Mr.. Parrott
Then 60 ahead and build it, Mr.
FlagleF directed.
That was In 1905. SINCE then the
dirt has been flying ceaselessly. I'M
mense pile-drivers have been sinking
foundations, huge dredges have been
sucking up sand from the bottom Of
the sea TO construct a roadbed. and
an army Of between 5000 and 1900
men has been pushing its way stead
lily southwark from Miami out over
the waves and the tiny islands toward
Key West
There was no precedent in the his
tory Of railway construction for the
building Of this sort Of road, Con
sequently the difficulties we're many
and the problems to be solved un-
usual. In the first place, Il was nee
essary to assemble a yeritable navy,
including steamboats,. tugs, lighters,
hundreds Of barges and bateaux,
launches. floating derrlcks. pumps,
pile drivers and repair shops. for
since this was to be a railroad at sea,
seacraft had to be utilized chiefly In
It's construction. The Florida keys
trarersed by the line are mostly un-
inhabited, and afforded neither shelter
nor support for the army Of men en-
ployed. It was necessary to establish
camps. transport supplies. build hos
pitals for the sick and to establish
reading and club rooms In which the
workers could find relaxation from
the monotony Of their isolated lives. In
some cases big houseboats OF floating
dormitories were anchored in pro
tected spots 10 serve as living guar
ters. Even the drinking water must
be transported in huge tanks on
barges a distance Of a hundred miles
or more.
At the northern end Of the line the
route for a number Of miles is on the
mainland and extends through the
,borders Of the Everglades. Here II
was impossible to use ordinary means
OF land construction and barges were
employed. The water was so shallow
however. that the heavy boats could
not be fioated and canals had FIRST &
be made for them. These canals ex
tend along either side Of the railroad
and through them the barges worked
their way. digging their own channels
as they moved along and throwing "
al one side the earth taken out, 50 al
10 form the roadbed Further down
where the railway crosses to Key
Largo and begins It's real career as al
/ ocean going line. problems Of another
sort presented themselves for solu
ton. Even the building Of the roas
across the different keys was not /
simple matter. for there palms, vine
and various tropical vegetation grow
ia such lnxuriance that they formed
dense Jungle that had to be cleared
away before digging could begin
Where long, open stretches Of waite
yere traversed. Il was necessary 4
put down caissons OF to build cofieE
dams in which the men worked Will
laying the foundations for the hug
concrete viaducts that carry the rail
over the sections of the route.
Although the road. from the natur
Of its construction. is one Of the mos
expensive ever undertaken. cosunl
approximately 100000 per mile, "a
task Of financing It Is being borne er
tirely by the man who planned and !
building It. It represents an expend
ture Of between $4,000, 600 and s20
600. 900 for the realization Of an idea
the linking together Of Cuba and tn
United States by the peaceful bu
effective bond OF the steel highway.