The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-01-11
ROAD BUILDING IN
THE EVERGLADES
Tremendous Difficulties Faced in
Making Road Through Big
Cypress Swamp.
PART OF The Dixie HIGHWAY
Less Than Twenty-Five Inhabitants on
Million Dollar Stretch Known as
the Tamiami Trail-Opens Up
Paradise for Motorists
and Hunters.


that great and daring projects of con
structiOn when completed cannot tel
the story Of difficulties met and over
come, instead of presenting the smooth
finished appearance too often taken as
matter of course by the casual oh
server. without Il thought as to how il
was brought about. This is going &c
| he the case of the Tamiami trail, 4
| greater part of which is over the Dixie
| highway, now being constructed
through the Everglades of Florida. The
road will extend from Tampa on the
west coast to Miami on the east, and
when completed in 1918 will represent
/ II total outlay in excess of one million
dollars. Approximately $75O000 has
| been appropriated and work is under
/ way, so that it's ultimate completion is
absolutely assured.
| Large bridge projects have been pro-
yided for at the crossing of the Mana
| toe river at BradentOwn and across
| Charlotte harbor at Puntn Gorda. OF
! the total mileage of 27G9, the stretch
! from punta GOrda 10 Miami, repre-
scntng a mileage of 1889, has been in
/ COrporated MS II part of the Dixie high
way, This is the most difficult part
of the construction, as a greater part
Of it is through the Everglades.
Tremendous Difficulties Ahead.
With the exception OF the compile
ton Of the bridges at Bradcntown and
Punta Gorda, Il well-graded road, with
large part of the mileage surfaced,
will be provided from Tampa to Marco
early in 1917. Some additional funds
are needed to surface the road in Lee
county. The highway from Marco to
Miami distance Of SO miles, will
probably require the greater part of
the year to complete, on account Of the
tremendous difficulties to be overcome
In building through Big Cypress
swamp An interesting fact connected
with the construction Of this extreme
Southern CrOSs-statc highway Is that
on the entire distance from Marco to
! Miami there are less than % inhabl-
tants, and these are mostly Seminole
Indians. Leading out of Miami the
| Tamiam trail will extend for "A miles
vest without Il curve or an angle
The contractors are now obliterating
traces of the story of months spent in
battling against terrific odds in the
muck and water of the Everglades as
they go, by sowing grass seed along
the emhankment Of the highway. Prop
crty owners are dotting the roadside
with palms and other tropical trees
and foliage, so that by the time tour
lists can travel this great highway
across the state. only canals, small
lakes and rich fertile fields will be in
the foreground, where once existed an
impenctrabe jungle with water, muck
and mud underneath.
Some idea of the 'bigness" Of the
task Of building Il road through the
Everglades may be obtained from "A
graphic account of his struggles on Big
BEND, furnished by Capt X. y. Har-
vcy, who has the contract for IS miles
of the trail from Fort Myers to Mar
| 60. "There are no rules In the book, "
says Captain Harvey, Ito fl the propo-
! siton offered by Big Bend. II was n
| case of IT'S up to you, fight it out 1t
was scrub mnngrove md grass muck.
! Think of the leaves on the trees Shak-
| ing and trembling, and the whole mass
! of muck and mud for hundreds Of feet
! in each direction Quivering and shak-
Ing like mass of jelly with each vi
! bralion Of the dredgc engine. Then
think of putting n d00OOpound engine
across. Well, | put II over, but came
out Wild, frantic and gray.headed, 1t
| tnkes every nerve one has and can
borrow, with muck and mud under
meath 10 feet deep, and CHANGING the
! slightest mistake or error Of Judgment
wouid make n buried aud tangled
wreck of 10000 pounds of steel and
machinery. Try II, and see what sleep,
less nights are
In answer 10 the question OF how he
he did IT, Captain Harvey said that he
fried plank and log crihbing, but thi,
| Wis l'b uu'tGluln anu tTfHtncfOUS
Then brush mats were made and piled
up four feet high, the track laid or
them and the machine forced over the
brush mats. "ThoSe mats" said Cap
'ain Harvey, "wcrc often washed dowr
j. the muck until the track layer,
would have 10 fish 10 their shoulder.
II the mud to get ont the rails ant
q oss ties
For Hunters of Big Game.
The tourist who travels this road, n,
he will be able to do MS far as Marco
in 1917 viii miss the thrills OF IN,
hnttle with the Everglades. The frs
travellers may see the brown bears
wild cats and other d,ui2cnS of In,
!nnglcs, which frequently come within
200 yards of the Workmcn Ia satisf,
their curiosity ms 10 what new crcn
lures have come 10 disturb their soil
tudc. Aside from catering 10 the de
slrcs of the motoriSt tu explore IN,
muchinlkcd Everglades. view In,
wonderful scenery and provide "A vas
hunting preserve accessible to huntor
OF big game, The counties involved I'm,
"A tremendously big commercial idea II