Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-10

IT.
sard dol,ars would be more than sufhcient 10
effect the whole work of opening this line OIL
communication The accomplishment, al 80
,riflinc an expense, Of the PROJECT indlcateo'
would extend oursine OF steamboat communi-
Gallon along The southern coast for near thou
sand miles, and within reach by Short pas
sage of the Island Of Cuba, the whole West In.
dian Arcbipelapo. the coasts Of the Gulf OF
Mexico, and whatever passage may be opened
to the Pacific. Il
The map of the globe may probably be
searched in vain for a combination oil silnna,
natural advantages, requiring SO little artincia,
aid, to be turned 10 such proihc account o.
private and public benefit. 1t is confidently
hoped that Congress will pursue the course
they promptly struck out last winter, and enter
ON the execution Of these most suspicious OPP
erations, in which the National revenue, the
sale of the public domain, the population OF
territory, the opening of new markets OF de-
mand and supply, the security OF our coas'"lse
navigation in all its extent, and our command
of large branches Of commerce, in which hlth-
er,o We nave only participated, are but portion
of the great objects TO be attained. ne map
which have the honor to enclose VIII isrnish
the COMMITTEE more accurate idea OIL me TO-
calties Of the country than any description that
could be given Ii was made with view oil
presenting each point, and Is marked IN refer
ence 10 them IN such manner as TO iurnish inc
most satisfactory information upon The hrst IN
speclion. My predecessor, Gen. Hernandez,
who first introduced the subject OF this interior
nd, iga,ion 10 the attention of our Government,
has furnished me with copy OF letter wrl;
ten to one Of the Departments here several
years ago, in which an Interesting account Is
given OF Captain in the Spanish service, VINO
was sent by the Provincial Government with
dispatches to the Captain General Of Cuba IN
lsl2 in a canoe, with foui men, through those
sounds and rivers, and occasionally at sea, from
the mouth of one inlet TO another, until lie ar
rived at Cape Florida, aud from thence through
the keys, is said to be a safe navigation 10 the
Tortugas, and from that point 10 Cuba Is only
about sky miles.
The Committee will also derive much insor.
nation of this country from the interesting re-
port Of Col adsden, who was charged with the
survey Of the road from St. augustine TO Cape
Florida. This line of communication from the
southern extremity Of our continent TO South
Carolina, derives an additional importance from
the contemplated connection Of Charleston Har-
Dor with the Dismal Swamp Canal, which will
furnish an interior passage, al very lrlflng ex-
pense, to the Seat Of Government Of The United
States, and TO all the points Oh our southern
coast come tpd by their numerous rivers, with
this communication. If may be permitted TO
anticipate the completion OF this work, and TO
refer to the advantages il would secure, it pro.
misses results the most astonishing to those who
have never reflected on the subject, and deve
opes the advantages we shall derive from the
&C ouistion Of that much neglected Territory
coded 10 US in the late Treaty with Spain. The
Island Of Cuba, in its geographical extent, is
very little greater than Of our largest states,
and we, the exports Of that Island are about
,wo-thirds OF those Of the whole twcnty-four
states. This great cisproportion is in conse-
qdence Of The greater value 0! thei productions
in exchange, or for market. The Territory Of
Florida, which Is capable of producing nearly
all the articles OF Cuba, has scarcely attracted,
in FIVE years, which it has been in possession Of
the United States, any attention, in consequence
Of the desolation occasiontd by the invasion Of
1912, from which il is but ust now recovering
The unadius,ed slate OF land lI!es, from the de.
lays Of our government the very limited infor-
NATION of its resources, and the want Of this
communication, BY which its valuable produc-
tlOHS CuuIo NC iio" WV So"'hS'b AsS-
nifty Of the peninsula, 10 Savannah and Charles
ton, and from those places TO the eastern cities,
in their numerous and regular packet ships
and merchant vessels or TO The centre OF the u.
mon, by means of the Dismal Swamp Canal,
before alluded 10.
There are annually gathered at 81; Angus
tine, abou, twelve hundsed thousand oranges,
and IN the vicinity, about three hundred thons-
and more. There are some trees supposed 10
! be about 40 years old, which bear at this time
four thousand oranges This quantity does
not supply the United States with one-twentielh
par, Of the consumption Of this valuable article
of necessity, as well as luxury, and we are COM
PEELED to depend on Portugal, Spain, Sicily,
France, the West Indies and South America,
forahis delicious fruit, as well as lines, lemons,
ci,ron, and olives, when they can be cultivated
in Florida, in quantities sufficient to supply the
whole demand of The Uniled States. 1t is esli-
mated that an Orange Grove ften acres, which
| requires The attention OF but two hands, will
produce as much as cotton or sugar planta.
ton, by the employment and labor OF forty -
The inducement TO such cultivation will soon
stimulate the activity and enterprise Of those
who are no, SO welded 10 old habits, as to resist
the impulses Of interest and the convictions Of
reason need not mention to the Committee,
| the valuable staples Of sugar, rice, indigo, aud
Sea Island, or the long staple Bourbon cotton,
I.,s1 l..