The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-08-01
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
(Times-Union)

Surveyors are at work in the famous
Everglades of Florida, working on lines and boun
daries, studying the land which is proposed to be
included in the Florida Everglades National Park
Congress having adopted enabling legislation which
will allow the Department Of the Interior to in
clude in the National Park system, there must
be a survey made and the proposed limits definitely
planned. The new park, which will certainly be
one of the most wonderful Ia the National Park
system of the country, is expected to comprise
about $500 square miles OF prmeval territory, at
the southernmost tip of the United States main
land, will be made up of lands held in title by
the State and by individuals and corporations. The
whole parcel must be owned by Florida and then
rendered the Government and considerable detail
is to receive attention before this proffer of the
be made.
Except for the matter of few small islands
in the Ten Thousands Islands group the Federal
Government now has claim in the park area.
The State, which owns many thousands of acres of
this land has been authorized by the Legislature to
acquire lands needed to make up the park. The
coming session of the Legislature will probably ar
range for additional acreage Owners of lands
that are in the proposed park may be offered ex-
change for lands outside the area, and others may
sell to the State their holdings. Probably large
part of the land needed in the park owned by
private individuals and corporations will be
donated. Some which cannot be obtained other
wise, reasonably, will be condemned, and ac-
quired in that way. There will be no hesitancy
the part of the State to secure the acreage de-
shed.
1t is understood that the Cape Sable region Of
Florida, which is practically the section which will
be the Florida Everglades National Park is about
the same latitude as the Hawaiian Islands Here
are found the flora and fauna of the semi-tropcs
and to extent the area is wilderness to an ex-
tent untrod by man. But there is the difference
between the Everglades and other wild lands that
the Florida park is accessible and be visited
without great trouble. Three railroads reach the
borders of the park and the popular cross-state
Tamami Trail crosses the n2rthern section, with
other roads and highways penetrating somewhat
into the area 81 ....ts.
1899 The park section has innumerabe streams, in
41AeS DayouSy IS DodIS o.
light draft, while approached at various points on
the side bordering the Gulf of Mexico. In this
part of the park particularly ara found wild ami
mails, and wild birds of many kinds They are liv
ing as they have lived for hundreds of years, un-
afraid Of man. The foliage and flowers, plant
lie as wen animal lfe is of the natural, print
tive variety indigenous to that latitude, and in
terestng the only subtropical section of the
United States.
All necessary and proper attention is being
given TO the work that must be done preliminary
to the acquisition of the park area by the State
and turning to the National Government The
Florida Everglades National Park, already discus
sed by interested scientists and others because of
the publicity given the efforts to secure national
adoption into the park system, will attract thou
sands of visitors to the State, more than have pre-
viously come this way. 1t will likely become one
of the big assets Of Florida, as bringing greater
crowds to the State in Winter and perhaps at all
seasons.