The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-01-04
The Florida Ship Canal.
rom ne Loaisuille commercial.

Meeting the Atlantic ocean with the
Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean
Sea In a straight line, will attract
deserved attention. Under resolu.
ton offered by Senator Call, prelim>
mary surveys have been made in the
southern part of the State, and Sena-
tor Jones will shortly put the Senate
in possession of all needful informa-
tion bearing upon a measure of such
importance. 1t will be remembered
that at the National Cotton Planters
Association, held In Atlanta on the
7ih, this subject was fully canvassed,
and resolutions were unanimously
adopted favoring the canal. At this
meeting the hazards of the Gulf
Stream, and the losses to shipping
thereby were emphasized, and the
opinion expressed that the millions
detroyed by this dangerous route
would be saved to the commercial
world by the construction of the
canal. Indeed, it has been pretty
fairly ascertained that the losses on
the coast of Florida during ten years
was five millions of dollars, and the
insurance alone for Gulf port is one
per cent. greater than for Atlantic
ports. The canal would greatly
shorten the time and sailing distance
from all Atlantic ports of the United
States and of Europe to and from
all Cult ports, and the westerly ports
of the Caribbean Sea and HAVANA,
in Cuba. At the cotton convention
it was asserted that all international
commerce and the coastwise trade OF
the United States using the Gulf
Stream route around said peninsula,
would be shipped through the canal
because of the great saving in time,
money and saving distance. Such
canal, it was claimed, would save the
dangers to ships and cargoes, and
extra high insurance, extra supplies
aud wages, ard wear and tear of
vessels.
We give four OF the. resolutions
passed at the convention in regard to
the proposed canal.
'lt will be the shortest, cheapest and
best water route to the Atlantic sea-
board possible, for all that vast SUR
plus commerce of the Mississippi
Valley and the Gulf States, now
seeking cheaper and better route,
and tor which the United States
Government, by it's improvement of
the Mississippi river, is aiding to es-
tablish all outlet by that route to the
Atlantic ports of the United States,
and tor the markets of the world.
The $200,000,000 worth OF produce
that now perishes annually for the
want OF means OF transportation
would thus be saved, and thereby
that immense sum added to our pro.
ductive wealth.
at is the shortest and cheapest
ocean route tor tranS-continental
commerce to and from the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans, which will be
carried over the Southern and Texas
Pacific railways, having their termini
at or near the port OF New Orleans,
and also over the railroads across the
isthmus OF Tehuantepec.
''IJ Is the shortest and cheapest
route for the inter~ oceanic commerce
to and from the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans, through the proposed Pana-
ma or Nicaragua Ship Canal and the
Eehuantepec ship railway.
ut will always make New Orleans,
Galveston, Mobile, Pensacola, Vera
Cruz, Havana and other Gulf and
Caribbean seaports, great and direct
trans,shipping ports from the land TO
sea and rom sea to land markets;
and to the Gulf States it will afford
The only feasible export route TO the
Atlantic Ocean markets"
A strong reason urged for the con-
struction OF the canal is that it would
give to the United States very
great advantage for the defense and
protection OF the Gulf States, and
Tor the safe protection of the army
and navy in case OF a war with a
foreign power threatening the South
ern portion OF the Union and the
commerce OF the Gulf OF Mexico.
AS matter of course, it would prove
OF much value in developing the
resources OF Florida, but it is per.
haps mainly as a military measure
that it would strongly appeal to the
sympathies OF Congressman. The
Cotton Convention, however, attach
ed muon stress to its commercial
importance, as is indicated by these
declarations:
1.-The United States Government
has declared this Mississippi river |