208 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



has closely watchod (ho dovoh)pnient of its (h'ainage, in his report to 

 the Illinois Society of P2ngineers and Surveyors, at its annual meeting 

 in lJ)0-4, says: 



The drainapo of this tract is a diffifult prohlom. and ongineors. as well as 

 owiuM's. differ pivatly as to the hest methods of doiiij; it. The methods most 

 generally advocated are, Hrst, to widen, deepen, and straij^hten the river; 

 second, to levee liic river and make large drains parallel with it carried down 

 nntil some nnnsnal formation of land jtermits them to inerj^e into the river; 

 third, to levee the river and erect pumping stations. A single system, though 

 it may not be the best, is better than a nniitipiicity of systems, some of which 

 must necessarily be poorer than others, and when a failure of a part means 

 pretty nearly a failure of the whole. More than .*i;.")0(),00(» have been expended 

 in digging large ditches, yet the magnitude of the marsh makes this work 

 appear as but the l»are commencement of its reclamation. 



In the course of our investigations this is found true. It will be 

 our object to continue this work until we are prepared to outline a 

 plan which we can recommend to the various organizations and land- 

 owners controlling the marsh country, backed up by such facts as will 

 induce them to unite and proceed with the Avork along lines which will 

 secure to them efficient drainage and be equitable to all parties con- 

 cerned. As yet only the upper half of this great valley has been 

 examined. Existing drainage channels have been mai)ped and their 

 effect and value to the land noted. The most difficult feature of this 

 problem is yet before us, since it relates to a plan for taking care of 

 the drainage water of the upper portion of the valley and delivering 

 it safely into the Illinois River at Kankakee Avithout injury to the 

 lower lands. 



One of the most unique and stupendous agricultural drainage prob- 

 lems of the country is the reclamation of the Everglades of Florida. 

 At the last session of the legislature of that State a law was enacted 

 creating a State board of drainage commissioners which was author- 

 ized and empowered, under certain regulations, to establish drains 

 and canals for the reclamation of lands in that State. Steps have 

 been taken by this board to commence the excavation of a large chan- 

 nel as the beginning of work for the drainage of the Everglades. 



It is estimated that there is an area of 6,000,000 acres of swamp 

 and overflowed lands now unfit for cultivation, 3,000,000 of Avhich 

 belong to the State. In the district established by the board of 

 drainage commissioners a levy of 5 cents per acre l^as been made to 

 defray the expenses of constructing ditches now projected. It is 

 reported nearly the entire area of this swamp land i)ossesses remark- 

 able fertility, and if drained Avould add greatly to the prosperity of 

 the State. 



The State board has requested such assistance from this Office in 

 engineering and the working out of plans as we may be able to render. 

 The magnitude and importange of this Avork and the fact that the 



