The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-06-02
FLORIDA'S new
SEA RAILROAD
Mr.. FlagIer Confident Road Will
be Complete in January
SPLENDID ENGINEERING
But Two Important Links Remain UncOn,-
piete in Steel Chain That Binds Key
West TO Mainland of Florida

The Savannah Morning News had the
following to say regarding the arrival
of Mr.. Henry M. Flagler and party,
who passed through there in their pri-
vate car Saturday, en- route to New
York:
After six months sojOurn at his
winter home at Palm Beach, Henry M.
Flagler and party of friends on his
private car passed through Savannah
going to New York via the Atlantic
Coast Line railway yesterday.
"Mr. Flagler was in excellent health
and spoke enthusiastically of progress
that is being made on the extension in
to the sea of his Florida East Coast
railway to Key West. He saw rep
resentative of the Morning News.
"Our engineers assure me that with
favorable weather conditions this fall,
the extension will be completed and the
railway will be in operation to Key
West by January l, next year." said
Mr.. Flagler.
"As the world knows, we suffered
series of serious setbacks last fall.
There were three severe hurricanes
during the storm season and all of them
damaged our construction work. We
are now. hoping for kind treatment from
the elements this year, and II we re-
ceive it there is nothing more to fear
as the rains may come and the winds
may blow, but finished concrete con-
struction withstands the combined
forces of the elements.
Trains have been operated to Knignts
Kew for some time. The terminus OF
the eXtention, Key West, is forty-five
miles south of the hey, and while the
tracks bridge the water between a
chain of islands, the entire route IS
practically built in water. There are
miles upon miles of concrete viaductlng
constructed in the ocean.
"But for the storms of last fall we
woult have completed the road ere
this" sal ! Mr.. Flagler. "But we have
no complaints to register. Inc con-
struction is a remarkable piece OF en-
gineering work, and on the whole, we
have met with fewer obstacles than
might have been expected under such
difficult circumstances.
During the past few weeks work on
the Florida East Coast railroad exten,
sion has progressed so well that all
doubts have been removed that the road
will be opened the first week in January
next, The steel and concrete forces
have been increased and the Bahia Hon
da bridge, from West Summerland to
Bahia Honda key has been the scene OF
increased and marked activity.
For sometime it was feared that this
steel truss structure would be the one
piece that bid fair to block all plans to
but the road through. The structure !s
but trifle over a mile in length but
the water at that point is the deepest
and the tides are the strongest OF any
place alo " the keys:
AS far as the Flagler viaduct is con-
cerned, reports show that this stretch,
seven and one-half miles, is remarkably
well in hand. Of the two hundred piers
to be driven on this work, about one
hundred and twenty have already been
done, and ninety.five have been con-
creted: This means then that arch con-
struction can be rushed as fast as the
time for allowing each arch to set will
permit. Twenty arches are already nm
ished. In less than six months fully
one.ha|f of the work, the hardest part,
has been completed. THERE'S no doubt
that in the renal ing seven months all
of it can be completed.
While the concrete work has been GO
ing on with such marked rapidity, the
steel gangs havekept right up with the
progress. Ties and rail have been dis.
tributed all along the line and the steel
Orders placed wherever 1t Is possible.
The extension management is exert
ing every effort to get additional labor
ers and skilled artisans and the best
prices are being paid in order to have
the work done ahead of time If possible
instead of on schedule time.
1t is generally understood in railroad
and shipping circles that the Flagler
line will be strong contender for ship
ping business to and from the far south
when the Panama canal has been fin
ished. On this subject Mr. Flagler re-
fused to talk further than to say that
this matter is little too far in the flu
ture yet. 49,
AS the Flagler road at Key West is
the farthest point to the south in this
country it is expected the United States
mails will be handled by rail to that
poipt and from there forwarded by wa
ter. If the steamship line makes d.
rect and prompt connection at Key
West with the Florida East Coast the
mails will be sent that way, very like
", and where ever the mails g., COM
merce, seeking the most rapid trans
portatiOn, will follow.
In Mr., Flagler's car were Mr.. Flag
Ter, j. W. Mitchell and his two secre'
tarles. J, C. Salter and w. e. Smith.