The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-05
THE FLORIDA CANAL.
It VIII be Built BY Local Company and
Not by Mr.. Aspinwall.
FLORIDA Correspondence Savannah News, !

Ihiorlda correspondence Savannah News.1
me latest rumor concerning the Aspinwal
Gan d scheme - that the projectors could no
stand the test which Secretary Of State Blox
nam went on to apply to them. The under
standing IS that he invited them, as d condi.
ton precedent to the calling Of an extra SEES.
sion OF the Legislature, to deposit $4,000 In
ne state Treasury, to be refunded to them
when the work should be actually begun on
the proposed canal, otherwise to be forfeited
to the use and benefit of the State. This they
declined to do, but have forwarded a PROPOSE.
ton OF their own. upon the acceptance or re-
lection OF which by the Governor, will depend
the question OF the calling of the extra SEES.
sion.
But this whole question Of the construc-
ton OF ship canal across the Florida pen
1nsula, after giving the big Northern capital
lists SO much trouble, after having engrossed
country without avail, after nearly becoming
the pretext for the calling Of an extra session
OF our Legislature, at a great expense, which
the people OF the State are but Ill able to In
cur, IS likely to find its earliest and most
practical solution In a direction entirely I'M
suspected heretofore.
At the last session of the Legislature there
was enacted law Incorporating the Midland
Hallway, Drainage and Canal Company,
composed of few old citizens of Florida,
1ous to benefit their State and themselves, and
who were acting In conjunction with COM
pany OF English capitalists, who had 'tpooled
their Issues, or rather their means, for the
therefor abroad. They made no application
for grants Of State land, Or other subsidy, but
simply asked for authority from the Legisla-
ture to carry on the works Of Internal i'm
provement contemplated. The charter pro-
vides for one OF the most comprehensive sys-
TENS Of drainage and artificial navigation
ever projected within the limits OF the State
involving anumberO Of railways, river channel
improvements and nayigable canals, among
which Is canal from Lake OkeechObee to the
head Of navigation on the CaloOshatchee river
and the Improvement Of navigation on that
stream thence to it's mouth in Charlotte har
Dor, on the gulf coast, and a canal from Lake
Okeechobee eastward to the most desirable
point on the Atlantic coast.
~ me t PRESIDENT Of the company, Capt. John
@. Chambers, Of Marion county, has been for
several days past In conference with the
board of trustees of the Internal Improvement
fund, in whom lies the title to swamp and
overlooked lands devoted to the State by the
general government for purposes OF internal
Improvement, and to-day concluded the terms
Of contract with the board, for the perform
ance OF the work OF dI ainage and reclamation,
provided for in the companys charter. The
contract provides for the transfer to the com
pany, upon the completion Of the work, Of a
portion OF the lands SO drained and reclaimed;
and it Is expected that the work will be com
menced as soon as the necessary transfer OF
funds from England, which has been awaiting
the cOnsummation OF this contract with the
Florida government, can be made. The
charter requires the com mencement Of work
within ten months from the date OF it's ap-
prevail as a law March 5, 1871
From Gil which it appears that we are much
more likely to have "grand international
ship canal across the peninsula Of Florida
than we had supposed. This canal will be on
tfde-Water level, or nearly 80, as there is but
twenty feet fall from Lake Okeechobee to
Charlotte harbor. Thus the problem Of a
ship canal appears to have been quietly and
practically solved By little company Of wise
but unDretentious old citizens living In the
country, and evolving" this grand and com
prehensive scheme Of internal improvement
and the construction OF one OF the most i'm
portant works of engineering In the world
out Of their inner Consciousness"