Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-15
SELECTIONS.

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letter 10 the Secretary OF War, Iointing out the
advantages that would result Florida and 10 the
Union at large, from the excavation OF canal, or
ship channel, across the Florida peninsula, and
requesting that survey and estimate may be mada
by the board oil Engineers
The Territory OF Florida, says Mr.. White, has
deienceless sea coast OF 200 miles, bounded by
me Gull oil Mexico on the West, and the East
by the Atlantic. From Swanee river 10 Tampa
bay, and from ihenceto st. Augustine, distance
D! seven or eight hundred miles, there is sale
anchorage, aud scarcely settlement on the coast
IL Is proposed, by Canal or thorough Cut from
tacassar Bay, at the mouth of Swanee river To the
81 Johns river, to connect the waters OF the Gulf
and The Atlantic. The distance across the peninsula
Is said to be about ninety miles, and the distance OF
cutting unite the waters of both is said TO be by
one route Is miles, aud by another only ~ miles
ihe Swanee river discharges Itself into the Vacas-
sar bay, which l. represented 10 he spacious Afford
ing good harbor and anchorage IL Is very pro-
babe, that, should Engineers re OFT in favor OF \
snip canal, which will be more particularly referred
10 hereafter, II may require double the distance of
csnaiiing, say "a or 80 miles, 10 avoid the snuosi-
ties oi the streams; other points more ad-
vantageous FOR It's commencement and termination
may present themselves To intelligent and skilfu
Eusineers, who may be Orderei to the snot: but
am assured the distance OF cdnalling will not coed
the last mentioned distance
The advantages OF lhis Canal will readily appear
when we consider, that the largest portion of East
i iorIdais peninsula, foIr five hundred mile,
from Tie Georgia line Oh the North to Cane Sable
ON The South, aud only ninety from East to We,,
lie produce OF the Western states rolling down
the Alisss'ppi and thai OF the states OF Aisss.ip-
p, Alabama and Georgia, and the territory of
FLORIDA, by Their numerous rivers pass into The Gulf
and along the coast OF Florida around the neninsI-
la Twelve hundred miles BY Canal or thorough
cui, the distance would be shortened about one
thousand The navigation around the capes of
Florida Is the most dangerous on the American
coast. The Touuga- bank, Florida reefs. and
shoals OF the Bahama, combined with the olepreca-
lions oil pirates, occasion 10 our citizens an annual
loss estimated al hive hundred thousand dollars I,
" You'd be needless to say that Ihis canal or cut
wod!d furnish a sale navigation, well as a short
one, ana the annual loss e now sustain would Lr
doubiy, perhaps iour-iod sufficient TO complete il,
Another consideration MIR. w. finds In the fact
that, the youthful Republic OF Mexico has already
sISnaiIzed Its independence by a projected shin
channel, connecting The water OF the Pacific and
Atlantic, through the isthmus OF Nicaragua This
done, the commerce of The southern continent
would disembosue itself IN the Gull of Mexico &
pass directly along the OF Florida Thus
not only The Western States, who trade directly
through the Gull and around the peninsula TO the
Atlantic. are Interested in the Florida canal, but
whole Eastern section OF sea-coasI and county
by shorter navigation, safer and better, through
Florida to the Gulf and through Nicaragua 20 The
PACING, viii mud an outlet for their commerce. The
mouths into the Gull oil Mexico, OF tie two chan
neis, proposed by the projectors are nearly op-
posite 10 each Other and commerce ould be saved
around the coast OF Mexico, OF Guatemala and Cane
Horn, four thousand miles oil perilous navigation
and more than one thousand around tie Capes Of
Florida.
The following is the answer of the Secretary Of
War 10 AT. WHITES letter.
Var department. Nov. 29lh, 1925.
SIR have the honor 10 acno,g edge The re-
celpt OF your memoir, dated on the 2Sth instant
disclosing The great benefits which would result
from canal, 10 be cut through the Territory of
Florida, by hicha short and safe passage MICH be
substitute eel or The present circuious and dangerous
one around the Florida Cape, and recommending il
TO the attention oil the Executive far a. to obtain
Reconnaissance OF tie country by the United States
Engineers.
IL Is due to the occasion 10 ackno ledse that Tie
view you have presented impar,s high interest TO
the subject, and Is entitled the most respectfd
consideration. But, at this time il is impossible
10 cause the inspection you request as the means
and persons under the control OF this Department
are both wanting Should it be the pleasure of
Congress TO place under the control of the EXecu-
oil our country, the measure you suggest i'll claim
us earliest attention, with every prospect lo,n it,
magnitude, OF favorable decision
am, very respectfully, Sir. our obeIisnt SER
want, JAMES BARROI-R
Hon. Jos. III. WHITE,
Delegate from Florids, now at Washington.
The question o. internal Improvement will prol,
ably occupy the attention OF Congress some time.
of e.. r
Improvement OF roads and canals, $50 far as they
may relate to the territories of the Government OF
the United States,) " particularly that highly inn
por ant canal across the Florida Isinus 10 ron,,ect
the waters oil the Atlantic with Tie (iulf Of HIrvi
co-beyon The constitutional powers of the Gen
eral Oovefnnent, relative TO STATE improvements.
we trust Congress viii not 20. We have. daily
new proofs, OF the ability OF tie several states 10
carry on their works oil improv ernent and internal
navigation (; and Congress should encourage STATE
enterprise aud the developeent Of slate resources
Admitting (says Noah) that permanent natl cnsl
iund was established Tor internal improvements
Congress must decide upon the application of dis
fund, on the petition Of the severa! states rcouir,o
assistance for roads and canas-and thus will SOW
eTegn and Independent states become .uppIcaois
to Congress Tor aid 20 improve their own TERRITORY.
a specific sum, distributed pro rata. 10 eyerv
state, according TO its population, and placed at
the disposition Of The state governments Tor objects
Oh internal Improvement, is the only mode oil
reaching the question constiutionally.
lNcio London .4iv., Dec. T.
STEAM BOAT BALIZE BURNTl
New ORLEANS, Nov. Ii.-Thc B.lize left
Port on Tuesday about noon, having in tow shin
virginia Tor Ne" York. About 10 at night, be-
ing icw miles above Fort Jackson. willie can.
tains Morrison aud Chew we've congraulafiap
eacll oller On lhe saleiY and eA nntinn ~ DO -