The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-05-27


Florida needs first class commercial port with
sufficient depth OF water TO receive the largest
ship of commerce. Nature, and those causes
which invariably produce their effects, has
closed practically the mouth of the ST Johns
river SO that from time immem0ra there has
been a low water depth Of about eight feet and
tidal rise OF four feet only, giving a practical
sea way OF about eleven feet. The same natural
causes have opened an outlet OF the St Mary's
river at Fernandina to twelve feet at low
waller with tidal rise of six feet, giving prac-
teal sea way OF about seventeen feet Logically
the commercial port would be where nature
placed it.
BY system OF artificial jettes the natural
outlet at Fern tndint bar can be increased in
depth and made sufficient for the large ships
which commerce now demands. The harbOr of
Savannah has been deepcncd to meet these re-
quirements 10y Fee ieral appropriations, and she
has become HE commercial port not only of
Georgia, but has largely taken away the COM
mcrce of Florida presenting equal advantages
Of depth Of water
The st. johns river has on its banks the
1ourishng and prosperous city Of Jacksonville
built up by interior trade Without reference to
The depth of water at the entrance of the river
the strength OF its position is in the trade il COM
mands from the river population. On the other
hand, the people Of the interior are directly and
vitality interested in having a commercial port
from which to send out their products As cheaply
and as rapidly as possible For the purposes of
the present and growing population of the PENN
sula portion ct Florida, comprising all the cOun-
ties except seven on the ST. Johns river, deep
sea harbor is of vital importance.
They have now an outlet for large vessels
only at Fernandina, and Savannah, with its
greater depth o water and more frequent de-
pariures of steamships, receives that business
which should 60 to Florida port, and that
port would be- logically and naturally Fernan
dina
Let the ST Johns bar be improved for the
benefit of the enterprsing city of jacksonville
and the people on the borders OF that river but
ii cannot be made to answer the place OF the
improvement of the Fernandina bar because it
does moi contemplate, so far any report OF
the Engineer Department has been made, to
permit more water than now exists at the En-
trance of Cumberland sound
The State, therefore, outside of the St. Johns
river, has no special interest in that improve
mcnt. What the State needs is port of suffi-
Gent depth of water to receive vessels of the
draught of those now used in foreign commerce
Let Jacksonville be the commercial mar, the
point OF distribution if you choose, the head
quarters of the traveller, the tourist etc. and let
The port of Fernandina be the outlet for the pro-
ducts Of Florida its deep sea harbOr AMI then II
will not have to be said that under existing cir
cumsances our products and our wealth 20 to
pay the taxes Of Georgia."
The error OF the Times Union is in dcprecia-
ting the great interests of The State in having a
hr,tcasS commercial port at The mouth of the
ST. Mary's connected by rail with every portion
OF the State and with The trans Mississippi and the
Pacific, and nrglecting Fac true interests of the
81 johns in connecting itself with that port by
the certain and sure means of deepening the in
land passage aud mixing Cumberland sound its
own commercial port and the real outlet of the
s.; Johns
II may have II EN- mistake of nature in Dlac-
ing the deep W i'cr at the mouth of the ST Marys
river, Int rs it happens to be there, the part of
true wisdom is 20 take advantage of and improve
it, natural advantages for The common interests
OF HE State