New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-05-12
A Ship Canal Tbroueb Florida.

The Semi Tropical, of Jacksonville,
Florida, for May, notices General Gill
more's report on canal from the mouth
of St. Mary's river, on the Atlantic,
through Okeefenokee swamp to the Gulf,
to avoid the dangerous navigation around
Cape Florida and in the Gull. One al
tentative plans waterway for barges
across the peninsula, continued west
through the coastwise sounds and bays,
and is pronounced feasible. The other,
contemplating ship canal across the
same land is not favored. The cost of a
survey for the first would be about $50, coo,
and the canal must be eighty feet wide at
the bottom and nine feet deep to accom-
modate the Mississippi grain barges, and
would draw its water supply from the
great swamp. This swamp is 1875 feet six
inches above the level of the sea at its
highest point, descending to ITO feet six
inches, and has its outlets through the
Suwanee and s.. lIarys rivers. Its area
is 625 square miles, and the whole basin
covers 944. One-third of the swamp is
islands, prairie and hummocks, and the
prairies are covered with only one foot OF
water. The largest island covers eighty
acres. The Suwanee must be part of the
route. 1t 400, 600 acres in the swamp are
reclaimed they would bring 81, $40, 600,
at average value for Georgia lands; and it
is proposed to have the United States con-
struct the canal and take the lands in
payment An English lady, who ascend
ed the Oclawaha river in the Okehumkee
steamboat, with a charming middle-aged
Philadelphia couple, Florida historian
and others, was greatly sgitated by a
barrel of petroleum on board and the
constant shooting OF sportsmen, but en-
joyed her trip, and thinks Northern capt.
tai will enrich the State. Northern capital
lists are invited to consider the pine lands
lands of the South. Florida has 1000, 600
acres of good pine and Georgia larger
supply, and all of it is accessible by water
OF by rail. The cost will be returned two
or three times by the turpentine, without
iniuring the timber, which is worth 50 per
thousand more in Philadelphia than that
shipped from the Gulf and Mississippi.
The lands can be bought at prices VARYING
from seventy cents to two dollars per acre.
Yellow is worth more than white pine
land. Phelps, Dodge g. Co., own 800, 600
acres in Georgia, and have created viii
lage of six hundred inhabitants. Various
estimates show the value of the lumber
JIdu6 III L lOIluh anu OSOEBlds Ou6 paper
recommends the Florida bear grass as
equal to Manila hemp, and thinks that the
South has many articles which will be
valuable for the manufacture of paper,
Irvine, cordage, etc. D. Fl. Jacques shows
his proficiency as physiognomist by as
sorting that sin the physiognomy of Chief
Justice Chase there was something of
Washington's lofty, self-poised calmness,
breadth and depth almost Websterian,
and kindliness as genial as that of Lin
coin, and generally defends the American
face. Sam Fairbanks sings the glories of
West Florida. There is something about
about oranges, and much information
upon various points. II immigration
doesn't roll into Florida it will be because
the Semi Tropical is not read or believed.