The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-05-06
STUPENOUOS
ENGINEERING
FEAT WILL BE
THE DRAINAGE OF FLORIDA
EVERGLADES SURPASSED ONLY
MA cANAL-cHIEF ENGINEER
HAS BEEN SELECTED.
BY WINFIELD JONES.

| Washington, May REORGANIZATION
has been made of the plan to drain the
Everglades, which will be one of the
most stupendous engineering feats of
the century surpassed only in mag
| nitude by the Panama canal.
! Announcement was made today that
| Marshall o. Leighton, chief hydro
grapher Of the geological survey, has
| resigned to become chief engineer of
the project.
Isha1n G. Randolph, who was a
member Of the board of consulting en-
gineers for the Panama canal, builder
o the Chicago drainage canal, and as
ISOLATED with other great engineering
works, is to represent the state as it's
chief engineering authority. Leighton
and Randolph will Cooperate in the
management of the huge project.
The state of Florida is backing the
enterprise. already having invested a
great sum in it..
Several years ago James o. Wright,
an engineer in the bureau of drainage
Investigations, resigned and entered
the service of the state of Florida as
chief engineer in charge of this work
He laid out a plan, and did a large
amount of construction of canals.
Some time ago Wright left the states
have been casting about in the effort
To make certain of putting the work in
the hands Of the right people. AS it
is the biggest drainage and reelama-
ton project in the entire country, it
was determined first to make sure
whether the great swamp can be
drained, and second, whether if drained
the reclaimed land would be worth
enough to justify the millions of ex-
pense involved.
Accordingly the state has made a
contract with the J. G. White En-
gineering Corporation of New York,
under which the corporation is first to
make a detailed examination and re-
port, and then, if the state determines
to proceed with the work, will handle
the engineering and construction bust
ness. Mr.. Leighton has accepted the
place of chief engineer for the White
concern in connection with this project.
He left today for Florida for the
first examination of the situation.
81 go with an entirely open mind and
no prejudices or IDEAS" he said to-
day. ct don't know any more about
the Everglades than could be gathered
from one cursory examination of the
eastern side and such matter as I
have read"
The Everglades proposition is Of
keen interest to Washingtonians, be
cause several thousands of them have
bought lands there on the faith of the
drainage project, in the confident ex-
pectation that it would be successful
and that the lands would then be of
immense value. Lately, because of the
trouble that has involved the enter
prise, there has been a good deal of
pessimism. The states reorganization
of the whole work, in the hands of
such engineers as Leighton and Ran
dolph, and the enlistment of the finan
cial resources of the White concern,
Justify confidence that a great final
effort is to be made.
The Everglades swamp is vast
basin, set in a limestone formation.
Lake Okeechobee is at the center, and
there is a fall of about twenty feet
from the lake surface to the gulf and
the Atlantic. IS first problem is to
build network of canals that will
carry away enou<l Of the lakes water
to permit the surrounding swamp to
dry out and be made available for Gull
tivation.
But even if this be found possible,
there still remains the question of
whether :his reclaimed soil can be used.
II is a peaty formation, shallow, and
liable, when too dry, to catch fire and
burn most d1saStrously. Therefore the
is one in both drainage and
gation-to carry away just enough
Of the water to leave the land Guilt |
vable, and yet to leave enough to
keep it too moist at all timse for |
burning! Nothing quite like it has |
been undertaken before. |
The White company and Mr.. Ran |
aoIph, for the state, will spend a year |
in investigation of these questions be- |
fore, a spadeful Of construction is I'M
1ertaken. After they have made UP |
their findings and recommendations it |
must then be decided whether to pro-
ceed or to give UP the entire plan as
and unecononic. That |
the vast swamp can be drained is not
doubted, that it can be done
prohibitive expense is less GER
ain.