Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-12
ADVERTISEMENT.
MY IMPRESSION Of
SOUTHERN FLORIDA.

HIoIlud kHOWH as the Ever.
giades, has been regarded by hundreds
OF American citizens, as veritable
jungle producing only mosquitoes.
reptiles and disease germs. Learning
tnat Secretary Bryan and other emf.
nent men had become interested in
southern Florida and had made large
Investments, l determined to visit that
part of the country and see for myself.
During my short visit made early in
; the year. spent several days wander.
Ing among the glades. I was highly
pleased with the extensive prairies OF
the glades and lands adjoining the
coast. The only reptile that I saw
was small alligator, scarcely worthy
OF the name. Among the northern
people the sentiment prevails that tha
southern portion OF Florida ia
very unhealthy region, and abounds in
malaria. Mr.. Callahan, a gentleman
who has lived in that locality for Ave
years, told me that during the years
that he had lived there he had not
known OF case of malaria. The east
coast lying between the 26th and 9th
parallels is reported by physicians ia
be unusually healthy. The health al
company of surveyors who spent
many months In that locality. was un.
usually good, notwithstanding the fact
they quite frequently slept in Vet
clothing, and drank the water from the
glades, ! was agreeably surprised to
see the water as clear as crystal. In.
side the rock rim which encloses the
everglades, there Is no stagnant water
and consequently but few mosquitoes.
was unable to secure an oficial re.
port of the death rate of Palm Beach
county owing to the fact that the
county is less than five years old. but
| learned from reliable source thar Il
Is less than one per cent or less than
10 to 1000 of the population. The
following is an official report taken
from the Official records in other 10.
calities In Omaha, Neb, the com.
parative rate is 14.3 to 1000, Chicago.
Ill.,. 14.5, Pittsburgh, Pa, 14.9. New.
York Gity, 1872, Colorado Springs.
Colo. 1862, Springfield, Ill.,, 1865, Key
West, Fla, 1876, and Charleston, s. G..
both white and blacks 29.9.
The question of climate is an i'm.
portant item in any locality. That por.
ton of Florida lying between the 26th
and 9th parallels, suffered but little
from the heavy freeze of 19O4-5. In
no part of the United States Is the eli
mate more uniform. The records Gov
ering a period of years; reveal the fact
that the highest point in temperature
reached at Miami was SO degrees, and
at FIT. Myers "a degrees, with light
frosts at both places. The precipita-
ton for the same period was at Miami
63.7, at FIT. Myers 57.9 inches. Owing
| ro1 n1 o~to
from Lake Okeechokee on the north.
west and the gulf stream which Is only
two miles from the main land at Lake
Worth, Palm Beach county this sec
ton is practically free from frost.
Lying Immediately south and east Of
Lake Okeechokee is an extensive tract
OF land known as the Everglades. This
tract Is As miles wide and 100 long
embracing an area Of $500 square
miles or 2,SsO,0OO acres. The surface
of the Everglades short distance
south of the lake Is 81 feet above sea
level and is almost entirely covered
with saw grass. The soil is a rich
black muck ranging in depth from 2
feet at the edge, to IL feet near the
lake.
The Everglade drainage project Is
the greatest work of reclamation being
carried on in the world today. This is
to be done by series Of canals with
view of lowering the water In the
| lake so as to prevent it's overfiowing
the land. Much Of this canal work has
been completed and other under con-
tract. These canals will be provided
with locks, and many dams with
sluices where they leave the lake, and
at intervals of about IL miles
throughout their entire length. This
Is done to regulate the water supply.
In addition to this the report made by
the Florida Everglade Engineering
commission bearing date of Oct. Is.
1913 and just made public bears the
signatures Of three eminent engineers
members of the commission. Ishman
Randolph chairman, Marshal o.
Leighton and Edmund T. Parkins.
This report gives assurance that the
Everglades can be drained This re-
port also states that the cost of this
drainage system exclusive of small
bitches for the entire tract will not
exceed from 1920 to 1910 per acre.
! Now that the overflow Of the lake
! is under control some Of the best
fruit and farm lands near the coast
can and are being reclaimed. Since
! the effort has been made to reclaim
the Everglades Of Southern Florida,
| that part Of the country along the east
coast, has taken on new life. AS one
! instance, the town of Lake Worth In
T; less than two years has grown from
one house to population Of 1000. A
newspaper with over 10000 circulation,
a bank doing good business, electric
| light, water and ice plants completed,
and several beautiful parks. Owing
to it's many vantage points this town
seems certain to be the main outlet
for this vast country back of 1t. With
the present outlook, and. the interest
manifested by men of superior judg-
ment. I am confident that that portion
of Southern Florida, which for years
has been regarded as a series Of
swamps. and uninhabitable is destined,
in the near future to become one Of
the most desirable locations in the
United States.
| DNIIIrER