Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-19
SHIP CANAL ACROSS FLORIDA

the pen of-G. r.. FAIRBANKS, of st. Augustine,
| Florida:
The project of ship across the Peninsula of Flo
fua Is OF long standing The dangers Of the intricate
navigation among the reefs aud sunken rocks which encr-
Gle the southern end of the Peninsula well as the
ensve detor to reach the gulf ports long made it
desirable 10 the commercial world find some means Of
ooyatng these dangers and difficulties. ship canal
mas IN the hrst instance, been naturally suggested
these obstacles
ny glance at the map it will be seen that the PENN
suia OF Florida extends degrees of latitude south
wardy along the Atlantic coast into the Gulf and
quenty The commerce of the valley of the Mississippi aud
he great West is obliged to make long detour the
southwark and thread intricate channel amid reefs
and shoals in order reach the Atlantic OF commercial
ports passing several hundreds of miles their direct
course with great loss of time and exposed to dangerous
risks
This it will be seen would be entirely obyiated nv n
connexon OF the Gulf with the Atlantic by means of an
arncla channel carried the upper or northern
poruoh OF the Peninsula, and most fayoraby to drec
~ .ne points where the Peninsula formation begins
Ihese points are presented the Gulf the harbor
%. Marks Cedar Keys, Tampa Bay, and the Allan
NC coast by the mouths of the St Johns and ST. Mays
rivers VI these harbors, in their present situation,
tampa Bay the most southery of those named is the
most suitable on the Gulf of sufficient depth of
water ana Tor like ST. Marys is the most suita
bic ON the Atlantic side These two harbors at their
noss proAmate points, are two hundred miles distant
from each other The harbors each side nearest to
each other are those of Cedar Keys the Gulf and St.
oonn on the Atlantic, but neither Of these will adj
nit vessels drawing more than twelve feet 1t is how
ever conectured that the bar of the ST. Johns river NAV
be considerably improved at moderate outlay 1t is
not probable that any increased depth of could by
any practicable means be obtained at Cedar KEYS. If
the entrance to the St. Johns river could be improved
then Tampa Bay would in respect the necessary depth
OF water be the most available point of connection
at the nearest practicable points would be distance of
one hundred and thirty miles.
suggestions have also been made of making artificial
naroors at lhaian river and St. Augustine But refer
ring TO those in existence it will seen that the only
harbors now possessing the requisite depth of
tampa Bay aud St Marys, two hundred miles apart.
Inc next question which presents itself is to whc
tnef the nature OF the country through which such
channel would have be constructed affords the requisite
supply OF water, and is in other respects practicable for
such work.
AS has been remarked, the Peninsula of Florida
tends souhery about four hundred miles with average
width of about hundred The only rivers of much
Importance within this Peninsula are the ST. Johns and
It's tributary the Ocklawaha This most singular river
the heads in the southery portion, due
north, parallel with the eastern coast, and empes into
the Atlantic, about latitude 30o It's tributary the Ock-
lawaha, likewise from theSouth parallel for a long
distance with the St. JOINTS and emptes into that river
ABOUT one hundred and twenty niles above its mouth the
sources each, of most Of the Peninsula streams
10 De found IN cyprus swamps and wet ayannahs. They
have but little current and the ST. Johns is affected by the
toe Tor one hundred miles romits mouth and resembles
more an arm OF the than ordinary river Upon the
Gulf side few small streams having their at
great elevations above dewaer their short
siuggishy and empty into the The highest point Of
elevation OF the surveyed country is found few miles
west OF the st. Johns and is hundred and sixty feet
range or ridge OF sand hills extends along parallel with
the ST. Johns from the ST. Marys hundred and
nifty or two hundred miles souhwardy. On the summit
OF this range large number Of small lakes ponds
found, without my apparent connexion with each other
and the larger number without any visible outlet inlet
The soil of this ridge is for lie part loose
sand constituting sand hills of most barren and unpro
ductive description Further to the west limestone
formation presents itself Of loose kind, with flint rock
In this section sinks and rock wells abound
numerous small streams disappear in these sinks, and
there is evidently disoned subterraneous formation.
1t seems not to be generally understood that exam
nation and Typographical survey by board of engineers
was had IN 1877 and 1928 under the direction Of Gen.
Bernard The country explored and lines of level
run in several directions, embracing ST. Marks the
most horthery westerly terminus and Tampa Bay the
most southery The capacity OF all the lakes and
which might be used to supply canal estimated and
a full report accompanied with large map, was made
by them and published by Congress in 1929 1t is sui
Client TO that they reported "favoraby in reference
TO ship canal the ground of deficiency Of water upon
the summit levels to supply canal of the required size
They however reported that canal Of ordinary size and
deph might probably be constructed From the results
OF personal observations Of the face of the country be-
tween the St Johns river and the Gulf of Mexico the
writer entertans but little doubt of the of the
conclusions arrived by the board Of survey although
he would gladly be convinced otherwise
At the last session of Congress the subject Of ship
nal across the peninsula of Florida brought up before
tho Senate by Senator BRooKE Of Mississippi and ia
yorabe report made upon the by the Secretary Of
the Ircasury an appropriation of $50 600 thereup
on made, and we presume during the coming winter,
new survey viii be made upon other proposed lines than
those which have been already examined but
tain no expectation that any will be found which
will afford any thing extensive than boat canal
Two routes have recently been brought before the pub
he, the one contemplating cutting through from Tampa
Bay Indian river and the other from the st. Johns
st. Marks for both of which routes sufficient supply
of water is claimed In reference the first named it
may be remarked that neither the upper ST. Johns nor
Indian river possesses much depth of water which diff
Guilty it is proposed to obyate by the construction Of
artificial harbor at Indian river Whether such harbor
laying aside its cost can be constructed which would
be affected by the storms of the Atlantic, is question
not yet believe, solved by experience in any similar
locality The second route from ST. Johns to ST. Marks
admitting the conectures to quantity Ct water at
NIT levels labors under the disadvantage Of having suit
able harbor at neither end and requiring the expenditure
OF large sums Of money to make and improve harbors at
both ends Of the route.
But admitting there are any other plans to be phys
caly practicable there other extraneous difficulties
in the way Of the accomplishment Of such gigantic plan
the construction of ship canal costing probably not
less than hundred millions Of dollars. The first of
these is that the object in pc-unary view, is not cqui
yalent to the expenses and secondly that the aid of the
General Government cannot be obtained. The work would
be Southern one and although in all respects national
object yet the past legislation of Congress has shown that
the South never has and probably will obtain the
aid of the Government in any extensive works Of public
Improvement The Florida reefs, bordering national
and worldsed channel have been left but scanty light
ed for years. in face Of the urgent solicitations Of the
commercial world and they have been indeed but recently
surveyed OF the annual appropriations for rivers and
harbors but pittancc to the South The political
influence Of the South is not and will not be very
sufficient to obtain from the General Government the
funds for the construction of such work have seen
estimate Of its expense but in the November number
Of this Review estimate Of ship canal Of