Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-17
The Florida Ship Canal.

Editor Morning Nelcs. Until the ap-
pearance, during the past week, of para
graph from Nashville paper, we thought
this chimerical project had been aban-
doned, and that the good sense of the pub
lie had unanimously indorsed the ,conclu-
siOns arrived at in General GilImore's
able report on the subject, viz: the de-
STABILITY of effecting the same ends /. e.,
the junction of the Mississippi and the
Atlantic'') }, by the TAR less cOstly and more
practical method of a steamboat and bdroe
canal.
1t is quite true that General GiIlmore's
report, now lying before me, dealt in the
first instance, with the feasibility and es-
Inmates for ''ship canal" For reasons
Chat need not enter into here J, that was
the only project named in his Instructions
from the Senate, See resolution of Janu-
airy ., 1SV); "Io ascertain the best water
line OF transportation from the mouth of
the st. Mary's river, on the Atlantic coast.
to the Gulf Of Mexico" but at page IA of
the said report the greater advantage to
commerce, consequent on the adoption of
Charge" instead of a 'EahipY canal. are
clearly and distinctly set forth.
Having the honor Of the distinguished
engineers acquaintance, and been infi-
some years, ! have observed with much
regret that disIngenuous use has been
made OF many portions of his report. and
the large array of facts and statistics so
ably marshaled by hiIa aud others. when
demonstrating the enormous Importance
OF THIS great 'internal Improvement not
only TO almost every State in the Union,
but to our foreign trade,
When dealing With those statistics
(among the most wonderful in this won
derIul country, no other route acas con-
temptdted whether for ship or barge than
that pronounced unhesit3tingly by Gen.
Gilmore as Ike best aid most feasible than
that already named, and more particularly
designated afterwards by him in said re-
port, VIZ: "a water line from the mouth
OF the st. Mary's river, on the Atlantic
coast, through the Qkennokee Swamp
and the Stats Of Florida to the Gulf of
Mexico" Yet, when writing of the new
project, Gen. Gillmore's route is ignored
altogether, and one 70 be eeVolVed1 from
the ''impTActicable1 Suwaneo, and du-
bi9us st: Johns named instead.
In conclusion, let us hope that no per-
sons VIII DO found so foolish as to embark
thelf money IN speculation so patent j.,
defects, and which could only 1res,;if in
the most disastrous failure,
Gen. Gilmore has estimated the cost of
a snip canal as at least fifty millions.
WAefe4ss, Oh closer estimate, the original
COSY 0! a steamboat and barge canal,v
which had been estimated at ten millions.
mas been reduced to seven, and s1a bill
granting the right of way for said Steam
boat and Barge Canal Company, from the
mouth of the st. Mary's river to the Gulf
Of Mexico, has been approved by the Leg
islature."
While, therefore, all the recent statis-
tics point to the best results and largest
profits, for steamboat barge canal, con-
structed ON the lines and route recon-
mended by General Gilmore, and capa-
bic OF meeting the largest requirements
OF an corresponding commerce, at a
cost of only $1,000 600, il as surely follows
that ship canal, involving an OUTLAY of
from even $50, ,O00, 900 to $50, ,O00, 600 (bearing
IN mind the authority, for quoting the lat- |
ter as the most probable sum, would prove
not only chimera as to profits, but a |
disastrous failure to it's unfortunate pro- |
Jectors and commercial fiasco. Yours,
respectfully, AC
~. -HdT9PS, Ga, ,Jdnudrv 9. 1898.