The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-08-18
fXCAVATOR IS
NOW AT WORK
uuqe Ditching Machine in Action
On Fort Pierce Farms
TO DRAIN LARGE AREA
Nj, Waterway and LateraIs to Extend
Ih;,,y MiIes--De Development Project OF
G,pst Magnitude ard Importance

Tho vast development project under
,.tan by the Fort Pierce Farms comp.
snv has been referred to at length on
sayaraI occasions in this paper, and de-
isiIed description given of the magni-
,ads of this gigantic colonization enter
uriss involving tract of some 36, OOO
ssrss embracing what is beyond doubt
' 1 finest body of undeveloped land in
Elor,da. Additional interest is lent to
tho nroiect now that the work OF con-
structlng the immense drainage ditch
= well under way. marking the incep-
tiOn Of a series of plans for develop
ment which will result in populatlng
This entire area with a colony of sue.
sessful farmers, whose fields will pro-
dnee abundantly of diversified crops.
Though the courtesy of j. +. An
drews sales agent of the company, the
TRIBUNE representative was driven
oyer the tract in Mr.. Andrews touring
car, Monday. After general tour OF
that portion of the land which is clear
ed Of timber, parceled off into forty
acre tracts and now on the market. a
visit was made tn the point where the
excavating machine is at work. The
main ditch commences on the south
east portion of the tract, thence will
run due west several miles, thence
north and north west, 50 that with its
hterals, the main ditch will reach the
uttermost portions of the large area
which is cleared and ready for settle
ment. A concrete dam with wing
abutmehts, measuring some forty feet
over all, has been constructed where
the ditch intersects Taylor creek, and
the latter stream is being widened out
50 as to really accommodate the en-
tire drainage flow; the creek emptying
into Indian river. The dam is Of mas
sive co structlon, its foundation being
sunk hve feet below the ditch bed, and
the abutment wings serving as an
effectional barrier against sand being
washed into the ditch from either side.
The main ditch, which is twenty feet
wide at the bottom and has slOping
walls extending the width at the top to
amaxmum Of forty five feet, is being
cut with considerable rapidly, consid-
erng the handlcaps usually experienced
commencing tins character of work
and adopting the facliters to existing
conditions, The huge eXcavating ma
chine, in charge of Engineer McKinzie,
Is femOvlng soil at the average rate OF
lWocubc yards each twentyfour hours,
working both day and night shifts. 1t
sa wonderful piece of massive mechan-
ISM, mounted on short section Of
track, the engine proper surmounting a
revolving pedestal which turns to either
soe at will of the engineer, long
steel beam from which swings the ex
eaVatlng bucket, controlled by steel
cables This bucket, a recent improve.
ment In digging apparatus, has four
petals snapped sections, curved in the
form Of claws, which as the bucket
uescends to the earth are driven deeply
; u; the soil. closing solldly and gather
n.y. compact mass of earth which is
ai'ed RAPIDLY, swung to either side and
JUMPED by all automatic opening Of the
sueket Jaws. The solidity of the soil.
~. presence OF stumps or roots, moth
ag apparently bars the way of this in
sss,a.e monster which is rapidly and
ssssauy clearing the earth on its way
s wmalds cohsummating project which
WV rebound to the benefit of thousands
ance.
some some Idea of the magnitude of this
,, s.stway can be gathered from the
Lsslieht that the main ditch and
s,s sia's now in contemplation and in
M ,sueu IN the present contract, will
oi ,.aule tnlrty miles, draining an area
r. io,oOO acres. The lateral bitches
so NC constructed One-half mile apart
fcn,s Tue me OF the main ditch, will be
iS s;' ieet wide and five feet deep,
sm,, 'ocstlon being such as to furnish
rsst drainage to each forty acre
ior s. y, the area which is now offered
eom 'Hs: The contract calls for the
bv Ip'el'on OF main ditch and laterals
January l Of next year.
vidas ! ,oe intention of the company to
ths I mn .ne main ditch later on, making
ton - vV.!om forty feet and the width of
estsna sue walls sixty-tive feet, also
prti"n u to the extreme western
pssaS oi the tract, which will also be
On ths VI The market. The lowest point
cOmns s vast area Of forty acre tracts en-
Ir sssed by these drainage bitches is
TIM 81 above the bed of the bitches,
assuring ample fall and unfailing
nvt i ALSO the intention of the comp.
4 v - provide facilities for irrigation
sev =, sh y drainage, and with this in
ntdi 10y wlli secure a well-drilling
kcto,ss nd bore artesian wells on all
trmsss on the tract wherever the
dors aesile them. This work will
iii ~. a the minimum of expense,
onf.ss sug made possible nv the thar-