The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-08-22
General Stones Views on the Pro-
posed Florida Ship Canal.
The Enterprise Thoroughly Practicable
and to Rank Among the Greatest
OF the Age.
Testimony Before the Senate Com
mittee on Labor-The Woes
of Female Operators


Probable Cost of it's Construction-One of
the Greatest Enterprises of the Age.
NEw YoRK. Aug 20-The meeting of the
Board of Directors of the Florida Ship Canal
and Transit Company adj burned to-day after
a SESSION of four days. Among those present
were Hon. John G. Brown. President; Hon.
George c. GOrham, Secretary; Governor
Cameron. Senator Malone, General Grover
and A. w. Jones, of Virginia; Townsend
Cox, Michael Jacobs and S. T. Meyer, of New
York, and Senator Mann and Charles II.
Jones, Of Florida. The meeting was called
for sctiOn upon the report Of Chief Engineer
Stone as to the practicability and cost of the
canal. The report was entirely satisfactory,
containing detailed estimates, and was
adopted after careful examination OF map
and statistics General Stone furnishes the
following summary of mis- report for publi-
cation.
NEW YORK. Aug IS, 1883.
To Hon. Jno. C. Brown. President
Iumy last in accordance with q resolution OF
the Board of Directors began my survey 70 ascer-
tain whether OF not the construction OF tide
water ship canal across the Peninsula of Florida
cost secured the services OF A. s Hill. civil en-
gineer, who vent 70 Florida on the Isl OF last
June, with authority 70 secure engineering as.
sistaI ce and labor there He was vel fur1ished
with instruments aud all obtainable information,
aid with the aid of four corps Of engineers
msde fn two months a thorough examination
of the three lines the most favorable line. His
essmip alton was so thorough TO justify me in
visitii z Florida for a personal examination. the
result of which Was | adopted IL. with certain
mocifcaiions. as furnishing the best route yet
pfODO ed. Tskipg that route as a basis, have
esmputed that tide.water ship canal OF surcent
Wioth and depth to all passage 70 sea-going steam
eTs of the first class. without inco venience
constructed at total eCst Of si6.0oO 90 as follows:
excavations. $1,000 OOj; 6aTD0rS ~ TIE termlhl,
81 so, eco: eDzinseriDg right of way aud c)nten-
gfDeeE S5,5(OOO0 Total length of the canal to be
ls71s miles and the highest elevation IN crossing
The water she'd I43 feet but this deep cut wOuld
be only for short distance large amount of
the els valon can be made BY steam dredges- As
hole I am able 20 report that engineering fii-
cnitits are decidedly less than expected OF com
mercisl advantages. will mention the follow
Ing the me- 81 important of the many: First. the
great saving of The dlstsnce between the Gulf of
NexiCO and the ports OF the Atlantic States and
Europe; second. the complete avcidance OF the
ertet caneer CT navigation through Florida
sTrsiis. The saving of the distance steam yes
sels b. tween New York and New Orleans Is so
miles: New Orleans and Liverpool. 4l2 m lles: New
York and PensacOla, 6rO miles This means that
a stef mSnip sailing eleven miles per hour would
gain about fortydve in passage from this city TO
New Orleans and the same on the return trip.
with less steamiDg through the canal at six miles
per hour, or about fortytwo hours each way. tax
ing the present average Of round trips at twenty
one days including forty. lay days in each port,
would reduce the time OF the round trip to eighs :
a. 81" % least shIee % more e round Voyages
per year az no Increase in expense. The gain by
avoiding the dangerous passage through the
FloIioa straits Is very great Official statistics OF
i've recent years show go salvage cases were
jnoicated 81 the United states District Court for
the Southern District of Florida, 20 the value OF
more than S11 900 900. and careful estimates show
the present loss from wreckage 70 be about S53.
00OfC0. Though somewh hat out Of my province
engineer. l may suggest that not the
least important commercial advantage
OF the proposed canal viii come
from iaying on insurance. which Is now much
heavier for Gulf ports than for South Atlantic
ports, and in expense, which large steamer
Il fICm $50 10 500 per day. Within SIX weeks
shall be prepared % begin such detailed locating
of the surveys win be necessary before can
port 10 your Board the precise line which the
cana should follow from the Atlantic tn the Gulf.
but the above estimates OF costs are more likely
20 be reduced than increased by closer examina-
ton of the route
CHAs. p. STONE. Chief Engineer.
Governor Brown was seen this afternoon
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and in response
10 an inquiry as to the prospects of the en-
terprise, said while not prepared now to
disclose the precise plans OF the Company,
he would say things were taking practical
shape and the outlook was very bright. The
enterprise would take rank among the great
est of the sge of great enterprises. and the
initial steps must be taken with care and de-
liberation.