Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

A RAILWAY THROUGH THE SEA. 131 ONE OF THE FILLS ACROSS A SEA BREAK. On the first Island. the largest of the islands. The track here con- tinues for some 16 miles, its embankment be- ing built up entirely of coraline limestone, as is every one of the railway embankments crossing the various keys. At the south-western end of Key Largo, Tavernier Creek, which separates it from Plantation Key, is crossed by a steel bridge with concrete piers and abutments. Completely obstructing the line of grade on Key Largo was found an in- land lake not encountered in the preliminary surveys, half a mile wide and six feet deep, the bottom of which was wholly composed of peat. In order to displace this peat and sink a more stable foundation for the embankment, two dredges worked constantly for fifteen months. By this time an army of 2,800 men had been collected and distributed over the route, there being no less than thirty construction camps. Much nonsense appeared in certain sections of the press as to the hardships the labourers were called upon to endure. Their work was cer- tainly not pleasant, but the company did everything possible to make their surroundings as comfortable as circumstances would permit. No man was kept at work against his will. After a few days’ stay on the keys, hundreds threw up their jobs and went north. The fact is, much difficulty was experienced in securing the services of reliable workmen. This was no doubt due to the fact that the Panama Canal had snapped up the best of the available supply. The result was that hundreds of tough cus- tomers were found in the camps, and strict rules had to be enforced to maintain law and order. Intoxicating drink of any kind was debarred, and the strictest measures were em- ployed to prevent the men from getting hold of it in any way. Occasionally a small boat would try to escape the vigilance of the engin- eers and the revenue cutters, but it was usu- ally captured sooner or later by the revenue