The Republican journal., 1909-03-04
THE FLORIDA EAST COAST R. R.
An Interesting Letter From Mrs. Charles +
Shaw
Correspondence of The Journal

MIAMI, Fla, February 21st. Last
week we went down over the F. r g.
extension to Knights Key, the presen,
terminal, and it was certainly the most
interesting railroad we ever rode over
The Florida East Coast railway is owned
and operated by Henry M. Flsgler of
standard oil fame. It is said that one
afternoon as he sat smoking under the
beautiful palms at his palatial home in
St. Augustine he dreamed of a railroad
to Cuba, and as he was always in the
habit Of having dreams come true he inn
mediately began plans for the construc-
ton OF his now world-famed extension
The terminal then was at Miami. and If
is now thought that in less than three
years from the time of that famous dav
dream through trains will be run from
New York to Havana.
Twill try to describe to you that most
interesting road. We left Miami at II 70
a. m. The very first part of the trip
was interesting. Until Homestead was
reached, some 80 miles distant. we went
through the tall, stately pines for which
all the south is noted. They do not grow
very large, at least in this section, but
are tall and as straight as an arrow and
not branch until near the top. The
ground is covered with dense under
growth of palms. | do not know the
kind, but they seem to be of small
variety. Soon after we left Homestead
we were in the everglades, where the
road runs more than IL miles, and after
seeing what we did there it seems to me
greater proposition to drain the ever
glades than to build this famous rail
road. After leaving the everglades we
came to the first Key, or island, as we
call them. Here is a long drawbridge
called Jewish Creek bridge, and from
there on to Knights Key, more than 60
miles distant, the work is built from one
Key to another. Some of the way there
is only piling, that will be filled in with
rocks later, and in fact that is being
done as fast as possible The longets
viaduct is at Long Key. 1t is of con-
crete and is 2.6 miles long. 1t does seem
So strange to be on train Of cars out of
sight of land, for whichever way one
looks no land can be seen. and for joke
down here they tell you that the engineers
have to run by a compass. | know the
passengers would feel better if there
We're also life preservers in the car.
Now just word here in regard to the
beauty of the water. Ihave many times
heard of the color of the water in the
tropics but could never realize what it
was AS one looks far out across the
sea it looks just like a rainbow, the soft
beautiful tints seeming to change even
as you look
Upon arriving at Knights Key, the
present terminal, we had chance to see
the work of construction of the long via
duct there, which is going to be of steel
This was very interest
ing to u.s. First the holes are made for
the spiles with what is called steel
punch. The bottom here and in fact all
of the lower part of Florida, is of coral
formation. After this steel punch is
driven down as far as possible, which
varies from to 10 feet, as Mr.. Coe, one
of the civil engineers, told US, then the
spiles, about 80 in number are driven.
Next a Golfer dam is sunk over them
and pumped as dry as possible and about
3 feet of cement is put in. Then the
spi!es are sawed off about 3 feet
above the cement and after the cement
is put even with the spiles the pier form
is put on and reinforced with steel
bowels. After the pier is hardened it is
ready for the steel superstructure. These
piers are 80 feet apart. The cost of the
viaduct at Long Key was 81, 000, 00G. 1t
is expected now that the remainder of
the extension will be completed in one
year. 1t is III miles from Miami to
Knights Key and 40 from Knights Key
to Key West. After this wonderful road
has been completed it is proposed to run
the cars on to ferry boats and run them
to Havana; and after seeing all that has
been done we feel sure this will be ac-
complished. MRS. CHARLES F. SHAW.