Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-02-10
'iIhe Great Southern Canal.

The " aShlngtnM correspondent OF the Allan
ta Constitution says 1.-The bill granting lands
in aid Of the con .trlr,ion Of the Atlanta and
Great Western Canal is attracting great dca
of attention among the thinking and practical
men of Congress The bill was first introduced
in the Senate by Mr. johnson, OF Virginia,
who kindly came forward and rendered his ser,
vices al Il time when Georgia was without re,
presentation in that body. The bill is now be
fore the Senate Committee on Public Lands
but as there are no public lands in Georgia tt
be disposed Of. and precedent having been
established that no lands can be granted out
side Of the territory in which the enterprise tc
be- aided is located it may be necessary to draw
4 new BILL 1t is believed that aid Of some sort
will be given, however \ great national en-
tcrpisc should not be permitted to fail because
of such Il precedent rs that mentioned Gene
raj frubcl will appear before the committee in
the course of Il day ur two, and demonstrate
the great importance Of the projects, its feast
bilitv and the immense saving to DC effected IN
the lt-oif transportation and insurance. Ibis
route Possesses the advantages OF having plenty
of water in summer and no ice in winter. 1t Is
proposed to connect the Tennessee and Coosa
rivers by canal, and thence down the Alabama
river Oh the one hand, through the State of
Alabama To the Gulf Of Mexico and by the
Coosa and Etowah rivers OH the other hand, to
the nearest point OF contact Of the latter river
with the Chattah0ochec river. and thence by
canal to the navigabe waters of the Ocmulgee,
and thence to the Atlantic Ocean.
The greatest amount of lockage is 3Oj feet.
and the whole number Of locks required, -.
1t is estimated that the canals can be construct
ed. and the whole water line opened from
Rome to Macon, with capacity equal to that
of the Era canal for twelve millions Of dollars.
The cleaning out of the two rivers will require
about three millions more, making the total
cost $I5UuO.OOO. The tolls charged are at no
time to exceed five mills per ton; government
Ircghts to pass free. The completion Of this
great work will afford the West 4 shorter route
to the Gulf: ut the same time avoiding the
dangers Of Florida Pass, and the high rate now
demanded for insurance.
One of the proposed connections of this great
projected line of internal improvement is with
TN. james River and kanawha Canal
TIE SUBSIDY NENpcANTs In view Of the
vast number al mcnlicants Knocking ut the
doors Of CONGRESS: for their tickets for govern
mrmt Dad the Washington Patriot thinks it
would expedite business to have such matters
put III charge Ui Il separate department. created
inr the purpose 1t fears that what with the
various clcrmoSynary opportunities for 80 many
railroad Iinc< steamship subsidies. canals, lev,
cc::. schools universities, State and county
claims. pensioners. DC, there can scarcely be 4
doubt but that Congress may lc in the way Of
entertaining angels unaware.; and to turn ali
of with the cold shoulder will be Us uncharita
bic Il; to treat all applicants as honest and sin
ccrc would be foolish It's suggested that the
onIy way in which thi: dilemma can possibly be
avoided. and 1T the same time the preciou,
hours Of Congress not oyerburthencd, will be 10
establish department Of charities, in to whose
charge all these applications for relief shall be
turned, and who shall decide upon their claims
to be fed by the National Soup House