The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-12
MORE ABOUT THE FLORIDA SHIP
CANAL,

W.
slant, we published detailed account of sur
veys and other facts In connection with a
contemplated ship canal through Florida
Since that publication we have had an inter-
esting interview with our much esteemed
citizen, Capt A. K. Miller, and received some
valuable information about third route
across the Floridas. Having also access to
some papers on the subject, we are enabled
to give to our readers the following interest
Ing particulars of how third route may be
accomplished, and one that appears more
practicable and less expensive than the two
suggested by the government surveyors.
Mr.. Lloyd Aspinwall has not given o wide
publicity Of the route the company will
adopt, but we have reason to believe that the
following statement will point the way. IT Is
less costly than the other routes and pre-
seDts less difficulties to be overcome by en-
cheering skill. II our readers will refer to
our map the route we shall now indicate will
be made the more comprehensive.
The Withlaeoochee river empties into the
Gulf Of Mexico about six miles south Of the
twenty ninth parallel of north latitude, and
from Its mouth to the Atlantic ocean extends
II valley or marked depression OF the land.
from which the surface rises to the south to
the summit Of the plateau upon which the
Withlacoochee and Ocklawaha rivers have
their sources, and, 10 the north. to the high
lands which extend beyond the northern limit
OF the State.
Upon the southern plateau lie the lakes
and ponds from which three rivers Kissem-
NEE, Ocklawaha and Withlacoochee
The first flows south into Lake Okeechobee
and the two last north until they reach the
valley" at which point the Ocklawaha turns
to the northeast and empties into the St.
Johns river, and the Withlacoochee running
a little southwest, flows into the Gulf Of
Mexico. This valley as well as being the
greatest depression Of land, Is at the mar
rowest part Of the peninsula. On the east
ern side Of the fridge lies Silver Spring, q
subterranean river bursting to the surface at
what 10 called the spring. and Its source Of
supply, mainly IL not entirely from the lakes
and ponds, lying upon the northern plateau.
The volume of water voided by this stream
has been estimated at six hundred thousand
cubic feet per minute. This spring and the
Oklawaha river, which runs about two miles
ties It's waters, are on the summit feeders ,
and there is no perceptibls variation In the
quantity OF water voided by the spring
throughout the year. One-haif or this water
taken to feed the canal to the westward, we
have sufficient to fill lock OF three hundred
feet length by sixty feet wide Twenty -four
miles from Silver Spring, in q direction
little south OF west, lies Blue Spring, another
subterranean river forcing itself TO the sur
face In the valley which divides the northern
and southern plateaus. The volume Of water
voided IS believed to be greater than that of
Silver Spring, and continues undiminished Ia
the flow during the year This spring fur
nlshes more than @ sufficient supply of water
for the remaining distance of fifteen miles
To the Withlacoochee river at Fort Clinch
From Fort Clinch to the mouth Of the river Is
nine miles, and twenty feet of water can be
had throughout.
Eight miles seaward from the mouth Of the
Withiacoochee lies q coral reef running paral-
lei with the coast, and forming natural sea
wall to the harbor. The reef shows on the
surface at low water, and has passage
through 1t affording twenty-three feet Of wa
ter. The channel at the mouth Of the river Is
obstructed by oyster bars, soft and partially
disintegrated limestone. These distractions
can be easily removed, and, as the Withlacoo-
chez brings down no debris, the channel, once
opened, would remain 50 for all time The
two springs just alluded to appear to be the
same level, and they are not more than ten
feet above the waters OF the Gulf.
From Silver Spring to Pine Island is thir-
teen miles, through low, flat region, but
little elevated above the water level, and pre-
the Ocklawaha at Pine Island, we have dis
lance Of five miles to Lake Kerr. also through
a flat country. Lake Kerr Is deep, and re-
quires neither dredging nor excavation. The
distance through the lake is five miles, and
from its eastern shore to the st. Johns river
five miles more. The total length Of the e1ca-
walton from the Withlacoochee at Fort CIinch
to the st. Johns river is as follows:
Miles,
From Fort Clineh to Blue Spring ......... IL
Blue Snring to Silver Spring. ............. "a
Silver Spring to Pine Island .-..-..-s....... l3
Pine Island to Lake Kerr Observation-Disclosures. s
Eastern shore OF Lake Kerr to st. Johns /
Total. Observation-Disclosures. 50
Taking the average depth Of the excava-
lions to be thirty feet, the width at the bot
tom to be one hundred and fifty feet, and at
the surface two hundred and ten feet. we have
q total excavation, through light soil, Of
5ixty-tive million four hundred and seventy
two thousand cubic yards
Whether In uff ha ~ GA