Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-13
A GREAT CIRCLE.
The Florida ship Canal and it's Re-
latIon 30 the mfssIssfppf Valley.
Memphis Avalanche.

MenlpAtS Avalanche.
Judge John H. Fry, of the Florida. Allan
tic and Gulf Ship Canal Company, is at the
Peabody. He has been In the city for several
days, during which time many of the lead
ing citizens have called upon him to obtain
information in regard to the projected en-
terprise. The idea of building canal across
the Isthmus of Florida is rot new one. It
was suggested many years ago, not only on
account OF the vast saving In time and dis
lance, but also by the fact that the nayigs-
ton of the Straits OF Florida is attended
with so much peril that the reefs and keys
Of that coast enjoy the unenviable reputa-
ton Of having wrecked more vessels than
any other sea line upon earth. SURVEYS were
made by the government IN 1924, 1856, 1856
and 1878, and the Mobile Board of Trade
made an examination in 1872. Although
different routes were selected the result in
each instance demonstrated the practical
bility of the scheme. The SURVEYS Of 1856
and 1856 were made under the direction of
Jefferson Davis, then Secretary Of War.
The new company was organized about a
year ago. It's capital stock is fixed at $40,-
600 600 or 9S, 900 600 sterling, or 200, OOO. 900
francs. Judge Fry states that all the pre-
liminary arrangements will be concluded
within a month. He is confident that the
government will aid In the prosecution OF a
work OF so great Importance, and that the
enterprise will prove success.
The route selected for the canal extends
from at or near the mouth of st. Johns
river, on the Atlantic coast, to the mouth of
the Suwanee river, on the Gulf. The chan
mel of the st. Johns VIII be used for con-
siderable distance, necessitating a cut
through of sixty-fve miles Of land across
the peninsula. II is intended to make the
canal 200 feet wide at the top, $50 feet at
the bottom and 80 feet deep. The estimated
cost is $4,000, 900, and the canal can be
completed within three years.
1t will shorten the distance from the Gulf
to the Atlantic ports Sl4 miles, or 1928
miles on each round trip, besides making 1t
unnecessary for vessels to encounter the
dangers of the present route. 1t gives New
Orleans and the Gulf ports almost direct
route to Liverpool, and a straight course to
the Mediterranean.
Judge Fry took up a map on which the
great currents of the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans were marked, aud after pointing out
the locations of the projected ship canals
which are intended to connect the two
oceans, said: "You will observe that the
great Gulf stream in the Atlantic, and the
grand western current in the Pacific, seem
designed by the Creator to serve as aids Ia
transporting the products Of the Mississippi
valley to Europe on the east and Asia on
the west. The completion OF any one of
the three proposed ship routes between the
two oceans, together with the Suez Canal,
and the building of the Florida Canal, will
make a circle around the world, and the
great water highway OF the United States
flows directly past Memphis and reaches
this circle. With the accomplishment OF
these great prof cts, the commerce of the
Mississippi valley will receive an impetus
which will increase its resources beyond
the dreams of the most enthusiastic"