American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-04-29
ANOTHER CANAL.


we look at the map and see the facility and advan-
tare Of uniting the great navlgabe waters, and iorm-
ing a perfect chain of inland communication from
Maine to Louisiana the more we are convinced that
the project will lie authorised and completed. In the
monlh OF September nextit IS contemplated TO com
pete the communication between Lake Erie and the
Hudson. The FIRST loan authorised by the state oil
Ohio. to complete Grand Canal OF 500 miles to
unite with the water Of Lake Erie, has been taken
10 in this city The next in order, Is valuable ca
nal of about ninety miles, to unite the Illinois river
with Lake Michigan. The state oil Illinois has au-
thorsed the survey, and the report OF the commIs-
sioners has been made. The Illinois River IS hne
bold stream with gentle current, and from the head
oI that river to Lake Michigan, the ground IS
level and favorable. Several routes have been pro-
posed, ami the aggregate cos, IS estimated at about
500 900. This canal is also chain OF our Grand
Canal. by its turning the current of trade IN Lake
Michigan from thence to Lake Erie and New York,
giving US clear water communication from this
city the state OF Illinois.
There is, however, another and most important
canal required 10 that rich and most valuable, but
neglected territory, Florida. canal to unite the
waters OF the Gulf Of .Hprco with the atlantic, be-
ginning at Vaca,say Bay il the Gulf, aud terminal
ing in the ST. Johns River, or al ST. Mays.
The distance across the lsthums IS about nlnety
miles, and from Vignoes map, now before US, there
are two routes Tor the canal, OF which will re-
quire only eighteen miles Of canal, and the other
about tcoire miles The first and most approved
route commences in Vacassar Bay, which is bold
and spacious and affording good har bour and an
chorage. In this Bay the river Suwannee emp'ies
in which the navigation be freely pursued until
it branches into the Santa Fee-irom thence into
Orange Lake, across the Alachua Tract into Orange
Creek from thence into the Ocklawaha and ST
Johns
The distance Of canang, or rather in uniting the
above nasigabe rivers by the foregoing route is said
10 ne but twelve miles, The other route commences
at the Ancl1te Keys, in the Cult, ard enters the
Amaxura River; from thence into the Ocklawaha,
ioto the ST. Johns; distance about eighteen miles of
canaiiing. The first route is crcultous, but il
commences IN fine safe bay, aud goes through a
richer tract OF countryside ST. Johns River is
plain bold river, from he Alachua ferry.
Let US for moment contemplate he importance
and value of this simple and taclle prof ect.
From st Mary's or Amelia Island to the Tortu-
gas, The distance cannot be less than $50 or 500]
miles. and after having doubled the Florida Keys il
is nearly the same distance to Vacassar Bay. A
naylg4 ion, therefore OF nearly 500 miles, always the
most difficult and dangerous, Is avoided by short
canal of 2 miles across Florida and by thus uni
ting the rivers OF that country. the trade is brought
to 81. Mary's Amelia Island, where ships OF any
dtaught OF water repair. The cotton, sugar
and other products of Louisiana and Alabama have
ino Vacassar Bay, and IN three days transport
Ell by canal boats to the mouth Of the ST. Johns
River, or ST. Marys, where vessels are in waiting
It will Immediately strike every person interesr cd |
as one OF the most easy cheap, and advantageous
projects ever attempted-it will shorten the voyage
to New Orleans Sit will curta the dangers OF ma vi
CATION, and be protection against Pirates-it will
greatly enhance The value and importance Of Flor |
d.. and the attention of government should be i'm
mediately directed to that quarter and to that pro
iect.
We have conversed with respectable citizen oil
New York, who has just acriyed from paying visit
70 ihat interesting section Of country He had II
short passage TO Charleston, and in two DAYS more
Was III ST. Augustine, and mounting his horse, he !
toak an easy ride of days over par, OF the terri
tory to the Alachua tract, all Of which he describes
a. rich cotton and sugar land and the orange trees
IN blossom covering the country. A road has been
made by the settlers, and we saw specimen Of the
cotton, raised in abundance, and without much la
DOR, abd The thread made out OF it by the female
spinners
The Talahassey lands will soon be sold by order
OF government, and il the Florida Commissioners
would expedite business, and terminate their special |
duties, we do not DOUBT, that in this age of invest
men,s, the sugar and cotton lands belonging to 90
yefnment would bring high price-at least from
ten TO twenty Ave dollars per acre The grants al
ready recognized and recommended for con6rma
~ A'sn 'aec ny .helI ptopfletors.l
w recommend the purchase Of Vignole's map
OF Florida, being the most authentic.
.Voah'S ". 4. .idrocate.
10 the Circuit Court for the District Of Colum.
ba, the cause of G. Clarke against the corporation
OF Washington City, Tor the payment Of the prize
OF 100000 dollars, drawn in the last class Of The
National Lottery, was recently decided against the
plaintiff The corporation Of Washington had sold
'he scheme to David Gillespie, and the decision of
the court goes to relieve that body from ak respon-
sbllity for the prizes drawn in the lottery, and to
make Gillespie alone responsible. Mr. Clarke