The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-04-20
FLORIDA SUR CANAL. AND cupA.

gacl,y and tried patriotism seem prepared
To encourage the Government to enter The
market with $50, 100000 OF pocket change, I
and guarantee OF at least eye 900, 900 more,
should il be needed, fer the purpose Of ex.
tending the area Of freedom and enlarglng
the Boundaries Of our country. The scheme
/. tsuiy magnificent; and confess like the
MiaeAess and grasp OF mind necessary 10
conceive and seize hold Of an enterprise 50
vast and imposing aud like the frank way
of pricing the article and pronerins the cash
IN pawn mt for il, But il we are prepared
for this vas; ard costly purchase, the pur-
chase Of 4 medium sized continent, which
great many wise and prudent statesmen think
Weuld prove to Us troublesome elephant
Why NAV We not spend a lew pennies. COM
paratNely speaking, in another direction,
and thereby accomplish many Of the most
important objects aimed al in the pur-
chase Of Cubai Fora comparatively trlling
expense We can ignore that island altogether
We may cut it loose and drift it further of.
IfCaha was as far of as Jamaica we should
not care farthing for it. Bus If we get out
Of the supposed annoyance Of Cuban guns,
by making the island our own, for the same
reasons we must procure the squadron OF
islands that lies east Of Cuba, or we would
be as much in danger Of annoyance as ever.
But il we drift the Queen Of the Antilles
further Cd, and ignore her present relations
10 cur commerce, because she is the key I"
to the Gulf, se should by the same measure
get rid of all the other keys to the Calf
that hang at the girdle Of other great mari.
time Powers Can not the Whole body OF
them be put out Of our way And may We
mol 81 tie work for tenth-par OF the cost
Of the purchase OF Cuba, and in manner
that will augment the strength, prosperity,
and glors Of our whole sOuntry! This is
our opinion.
great Ship Canal across the peninsula
o. Florida will fulfil all these conditions.
Open a canal capable Of accommodating all
the ships that non navigate the waters OF
the Cult. with due consideration Tor the iact
that the number will be doubled IN less than
thirty years. and it will Affect Cuba as cut
Cd a. the Mississippi river does town when
its waters pass its wharyes no more. 80 tar
as the island may be regarded as mere for
tifeation, We should then feel wholly indif-
iereut; il would become the Japan Of the
Western hemisphere. II would have the ef
feet Of floating the island further of Then,
too. our whole vast and growing commerce
would escape the perils of the dangerous
navigation around the Cspes Of Florida, the
loss of much valuable time, and large sums
uaid for insurance. Besides, IS . measure
Of national protection and defence. il would
seem as Unsuitable an undertaking for the
Government as the building Of fort or the
construction uf floating battery. Let II
be considered in this light alone, and we
think no public improvement 10 more mr.
gently demanded al the hands Of the General
Government.
As for the practicability Of the enterprise
we doubt nothing. IN a few words, il is
merely TO cut ditch one hundred miles Tor
le.s1 ia length. Possibly il might cost sf0,
900 900. Very well. Congress ought TO
discuss the prOpriety Of the outlay. after q
survey has demonstrated its feasibility. about
a. long a. a Seotchman would debate the
propriety Of taking pinch Of snuff. sim.
liar canal Is to unite the Mediterranean and
Red Seas AZ no very distant day and the
time will come when canal will unite the
Pacific Ocean and the Gull u Mexico. The
world is not finished. Somebody will cut .
canal across Florida before many years. II
the General Government declines the under.
taking, il Is an enterprise about the size and
cost ana power TO arouse the energies o.
seine brave company which will spring into
existence before long. and be found at the
Legislature Of Florida asking for charter,
and she will grant il, and ne york isia 3.
done.
Bat the na,isn owes il to herself TO make
I, Al her own cost, and turn i over TO the
behOof &c commerce. navigation, and naval
protection. Less tnan one-thIrd Of the ut.
lie purse proposed To be put into the Presi.
dents market basket. 20 enable him TO visit
the shambIes u the Queen Of spain, will sui.
hee, We presume, 70 accomplish the under.
taking. But il Il requires s3D,OOO,ODO We
ought not to hesitate, provided the work can
be made TO meet the purposes indicated and
a. the idea il not new, and many intelligent
citizens Of Florida have long deemed Il .
work VI easy performance. We presume there
il 90 serious impedimeht 10 the way.
A carefully prepared table Of statistics.
showing the amount Of shipping that would
pas through such a canal, with the state.
msnt Of time and insurance saved, with many
other collateral questions and facts, would
form most valuable communication. VIII
not sons person posted in these matters
furnish snch en- eIhIots
We owe Il TO ourselves TO give attention
10 ne claims Of the Florida canal. aud Il is
TO b, hoped that they may be fairly tested,
AID at an early day.
Not having the report Of Lieut.. Smith
made few years since 90 the proposed ca.
nsl. I lack some information that d-eumen'
ioab,lsss contain, but. Il ] am correctly
informed. he was instructed 70 explore one
route univ. and that 70 begin al Espirlta San
IL Dsy. deem that too far south. and should
thihs canal ought to begin not farther
seslh than Cedar KEYS. and perhaps north
Of that and thea il ought TO lie as nearly n
line across the peninsula as possible, and
not Wind about 10 creeks 70 save lev dol.
lsp. Let IL be the great canal 81 the world.
! beg leave. 10 conclusion. g az that ny
oni, motive fgf calling attention 70 this sub.
u. 4 FL e.. ssa knsra Ia