Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-13
THE GREAT HATlOaAL CANAL.
From the Mississippi, Across Florida, tOthe
ST. Mary's River, Employing into
the Atlantic Ocean.
ST. MARY's, GEORGIA,
August 10, 1871.

Editors AppeGI-What, during a
period of twenty years back in the
history of the great American people,
seemed commercially impossible has
become matter Of certain achieve
tents. What has been accomplished
is as wonderful as it is gratifying, I'M
til we have reached a state OF progress
and prosperity that demands new en-
terprises and new mediums to join the
great West with the South, in order
that she may pour into Il laps her
great commercial products, and re-
ceive in return an exchange of ours.
While the Eastern States are not
only ~traVersed in every important
part with railroads, they have also
paid great attention to canals, which
not only prove successful, to a great
extent, but added in her material de-
VelOpment3.
The South has been particularly at
fault in this respect; but the new era,
resulting from the transition of sOci-
ETY., with all of its commercial cOnse-
quences, has caused a new life, with
new ideas, to develop in the South,
and necessarily, to a great extent, in
all parts of the country.
The South and West, though allied
by many ties and commercial inter-
ests. are too far apart. There must be
some connecting link to give easy
access.
1t is true that railroads are
stretching westward from our princi-
pal seaports, and the route of the con-
templated railroad from this city
westward is being surveyed, yet, like
the great East, we need canals TO join
many parts of the country, in order to
lessen the cost Of the transportation of
bulky articles.
A SHIP CANAL ACROSS FLORIDA
would, it strikes me, be the greatest
American enterprise and commercial
achievement of the age, and | am
oratified to see the interest the West.
ern people are exhibiting in the pro-
iect. it Is no new idea. Many years ago,
before the public mind was in a cOndi-
ton to appreciate it, the matter was
brought to the consideration of the
United States Government, who had
a route surveyed. L am informed
that many scientific persons, who
know every inch OF ground between
deep water on the st. Mary's
river, Georgia, TO deep water
near ST. Marks, Florida, pro-
nounce the project practicable and
say that a private enterprise could
be made profitable.
1t ought to be a public Government
matter, because it should be as free to
commerce as the t0aters Of the MiSsis-
SiDDi.
It ought not to be in the hands of
mOnop0lists.
It would be better to have a ship
canal across Florida to the st. Mary's
river, emptying into the Atlantic,
than 10 have an ordinary boat canal,
because then the Government-in case
of war, particularly, but at all times
could use it as a medium ofcheap and
rapid transportation of troops, sup
plies and munitions of war. 1t would
certainly prove Invaluable in the event
of a heavy aggressive foreign war
in the future-a thing within the range
of possibilities. Intimes of such won
sentimental rev0luti0nsasha have
been experienced, universally, Within
the last ten years, it would be
hard to conjecture what emer-
genoies may arise in government
Complications Of an internatiOn-
81 character. It Is, at any rate,
wise to prepare, In all respects. for any
contingency in this particular which