Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-21
THE REPORT.
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NEW YORK, August Is, 1883.
To the Hon. John C. Brown, President:
1u my last, in accordance with the resolu-
ton Of the Board of Directors, l bEgtn a
survey 10 ascerts sin whether or not the coz
structiou Of iideWater ship canal across the
peninsula of florida would be practicable,
and il SO, what it would cost. secured the
services { a civil engineer, VINO went to Flor
ida on the LIST OF last June with suthority 10
secdre engineering assistance and labor
there. He w:s we'll furnished with iusru
mepts and all obtaInsb:e infoi M alton. With
full corps of engineers he made in two
months thorough examination OF three
liues. Ga the most favorable line his ex-
animation was thorough as 10 justify
me in visiting Florida for personal sx-
animation, the result OF which was L adoptt d
it, with cedsin notifications, as furnishing
the best route yet proposed. Taxing that
route as bssls, L have computed that
tide-Water ship canal OF sufficient
width and dep h to allow the passage of two
seagoing steamers of the first class without
Inconvenience can be construcied at a total
cost OF $4,000 coo, as followe: Excavations,
S36 6,OOOOO); hsrbors al termini, "a 500 900 ;
engineering, right )f-way aud contingent i =,
$500 OOo. Tue totsl leug tf the caual
will be 1871 miles and the highest elevation
10 crossing the watershed l43 feet, but this
deep cut would only ha short distance. A
large amount can be made by steam dredges.
As a whole, L am able to report that the
engineering difficulties are decidedly less
than expected. OF the commercial advan-
tages, will mention the following as the
most important of many:
First-The great saving OF distance b.
tween the Gi.lf OF Mexico ports and the AT
laniic States aud Europe.
S=cond-The complete avoidance OF The
great danger of navigation through the
Florida s'raits. Tue saving of distance on
steam vessels between New York and New
Orleans is 800 miles, New Orleans and Liv-
erpool 4l2 miles, New York and Pens acol a
600 miles. This means that q steam
ship sailing eleven miles per hour
sonth would gain forty. five hours
in the passage from New York to New Or
leans and sams on The return trip less The
time of scanning through the canal ct Elk
| miles per hour, or about thirty seven hours
each way. Taking the present average of
! lhe round trip at twenty-one davs, including
| fur days in each port, the canal would re
duce the time for the round trip 10 eighteen
| day., enabling her to make the profits
| of at least three more round vCy-
| ages per year at no increase in ex-
pense. The gain bv avoiding the dangerous
passage through Florida straits ia very
| great. Official statistics OF recent records
show that 1926 cases were adjudicated in
| the United S ates Districl Court for the
Southern District of Florida 10 the value oi
NOR than S1l 900 900. and careful estimates
show that the present loss from wreckage is
about S3,000Ql0 a year. Although some
what out of my province ss an engineer
l may suggest that not the least important
commercial advantage Of the proposed canal
| will come from the saving on insurance
which is now much hesvier for Gulf ports
tn an for South Atlantic por.s, and the ex.
pence on large steamer is from $500 to $500
per day. Within elk weeks 1 shall bs
prepared to begin such detailed locating
surveys as will be necessary before l can re
port to your board the precise line which the
canal should follow from the Atlantic TO tbs
Gulf, but the above estimates of the costs are
more likely TO be reduced than increased bJ
| q closer examination OF the route.
CHAs. P. STONE. Chief Engineer.