The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-25
CANAL ACROSS FLORIDA.
Conference Of the Promot-
ers Of the Project.
A FRANCO-AMERICAN COMPANY
Charter and Guarantees
Asked from Florida.
THE ROUTE DETERMINED ON
Views of General Gilmore Of the
Engineer Corps.
FEASIBILITY OF OTHER ROUTES.
Commercial Advantages to Ac-
crue to the Country.
Charter and Guarantees
Asked from Florida.
THE ROUTE DETERMINED ON
Views of General Gilmore Of the
Engineer Corps.
FEASIBILITY OF OTHER ROUTES.
Commercial Advantages to Ac-
crue to the Country.
[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
WASHINGTON. July "a. 1879. ,
An important conference the subject of the pro-
posed ship canal across the State of Florida held
at the Ebbitt House. in this city. to-day. 1t seems
that Franco-American company has been organized.
with q capital OF $4,000 900. which amount is fully
subscribed and is in hand ready to be expended as
soon as the company get the privilege Of beginning
work The foreign branch Of the enterprise is syn
dictate Of French capitalists The American corpor-
ators and directors to whose charge the preliminary
business of securing charter has been for the
ent committed by their French fellow corporators,
comprise Messrs. Lloyd Aspinwall. General NJ. I.
Mcmahon. H. Osterburg and number Of other well
known gentlemen of New York. Mr.. Aspinwall is
virtually president chairman Of the organization
for. business this side of the Atlantic.
CHARTER QUESTION.
Last winter the company solicited and obtained
charter under the general laws of Florida governing
the incorporation of such an undertaking. but this
charter not wholly satisfactory to the French
syndicate. AS matter of protection to the COM
pany against undue taxation Of the completed work
1t asked that the charter should be amended SO
to exempt the company from taxation for q GER
tain number of years. Some other special privi-
leges also claimed, and these latter were made
closing days of tho session. but the bill failed to be-
come a law, although it passed the State Senate.
Since the adjournment of the Legislature the French
syndicate have become impatient Of the delay and
are now quite anxious to go to work, but as they
were informed that the Legislature not sitting.
and would not meet again until 1881. the sessions
being only biennial. the suggestion has been made
that Governor Drew shall exercise his constitutional
prerogatve and call the body together in extra
son-a proceeding warranted by the important in
terests to the State involved in the enterprise
CONFERENCE WITH aovERSoR DREW.
Accordingly conference arranged to be held
In Washington where Governor Drew invited Sena-
tor Jones and Attorney General Raney. of Florida.
and Messrs. Aspinwall and General Mcmahon. of New
York, to meet him. The conference brief and
ended Enthusiastically. The gentlemen from Florida
quoted the constitutional provision of that State for
bidding the Legislature making such an exception in
the matter OF taxation as the syndicate insist upon.
and they satisfied the gentlemen from New York that
Il would be of use to call extra session long
IS the constitution prohibited tho exemption. This
was substantially the result OF the conference.
Governor Drew went back to Florida this evening.
It remains to DO whether the syndicate will be
willing to begin operations under the general
charter
THE ROUTE SELECTED.
The route selected for the canal if shall be built
eventually. which contingency. 1t will be seen. de-
ponds now upon either the very improbable chance
of constitutional amendment or the relnquish-
ment by the syndicate OF the demand for
exemption from taxation. is up the st. Johns
River to BLACK Creek. up Black Creek
twenty miles. thence across the country below
Jacksonville to the Suwanee River. which will be
entered forty miles from it's mouth. The navigable
portion of this route is already deep that ship
fo,r >f all
from the ocean to the Gulf, except at the mouth Of
the Johns River bar Of which would have to be
cut to deepen the channel there. The channel
on this bar is thrteen feet and could be sufi-
GENTLY improved by artificial devices to allow the
largest vessel TO sail it.
AN OLD PROJECT.
Tho project for a canal rather series of canals,
the peninsula of Florida has been before Con-
gress for u lifetime. number of surveys have
been entered upon. but nothing very definite
elusive rs to q ship canal was done by the United
States authorities until 1877, when General Gill;
more. Engineer United States Army in charge
Of the river and harbor improvements on
that portion of the line of coast. which en-
braces the shores of the States Of Florida Georgia
and South Carolina. submitted report in answer to
resolution of the Senate directing the Secretary Of
War Ito communicate all information in his posses
sion concerning water line of transportation from
the mouth of the St. Marys River, between tho
States Of Georgia and Florida. through Okcfenokee
Swamp and through the State of Florida to some
suitable point the Gulf of Mexico embracing the
probable nature and character OF such water line
and the extent Of country and population to be bon
Gifted by its construction. and estimate of tho
cost Of the necessary surveys or examinations
therefor
REPORT GENERAL orILMoRE.
This report of General Gilmore Is exhaustive Of
the subject and is the standing Official authority
upon the question of the trans-navigstion OF the
State of Florida. The General in his report. which
IL dated December 80. 1876. ssys:-
The points to which my attention especially
directed in the letter of instructions are tho follow
tng-
Fust-Tho character and nature Of the project Of inn
povcment tho nature and probable extent Of
interests will be benefited by tho Improvement when
Ssoni-The probable attending
or an examination sufficient 20 determine the Feasibility
1Ad-fhe Of such survey win DO required for
detailed estimate OF cost.
The main purpose sought to be attained by the
proposed water line is assumed to be cheap means
of sending eastward the products of the Mississippi
Valley over route that shall shorten the time aud
avoid the danger Of the trip through the Gulf OF
Mexico and the Floridn Straits.
Two methods of accomplishing these objects sug i
gest themselyes:- !
1. BY a water line Of bargcs across the PENN ua
OF Florida, continued westward to the Mississippi
River by another inside barge route through the :.
land-locked sounds and bays bordering the Gulf OF
Mexico in the states of Florida. Alabama, Mississippi
and Louisiana.
.. by ship canal across the state of Florida of
dimensions sufficient to pass large ocean going
sells.
BARGE WATER LINE.
In determining the western terminus for q venn-
sula barge canal from st. Mary's River. through
Okefenokoe swamp. to tho Cult of Mexico the ad-
vrntages offered by the harbor Of ST. Marks become
1t once apparent whether considered with respect
either the inside or the outside eonnecton west.
From st. Marks westward To Lake Borppe or
Lake PonUcbertrsin there exists a nearly con
tinuous natural land-locked water route, by
means Of tidal sounds. bays, aud connect
Ing strcsms, acquiring improvement by drcdg-
ing In some placcs, IL IL true. but only q COM
psratively short aggregate length OF solid cutting
The selection OF terminal point TO the eastward OF
~. Mask's would render ths connection with this