Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-12-01
EASTERN INTELLIGENCE.
AGreatC Canal for the state
of FIsxEda.


Canal 8e4eme 8eeana 0mly g
NEW YoaK. Nos. ea-Tha Pest says:
a syndicslte is Ia process of formation
20 carry Gqf the plans Of the Atlantic &
Maxi1An 9ulf CanaI Compauy, which
Feasixed fresh charters this year from
tie Legislatures Of Georgia and Florida.
tngstheF with grants Of valuable iands
and gansz power charters issued 10 Gov.
George A. DreW Of Florida and his as
soeiates. anlOna whom are Gen. Finley
Il Florida, GsofRs 81. T0mpkins of
Georgia. and @ 4 Rogers OF the GsorQia
Cenfral RaIlsag. Alexander Curtis Of
0eoEQia. ahe Secretary, 10 nov In this
city on business connected with the
composition Of the syndicate. Curtis
today gave an aoco1nk Of the oomuanyAs
pro1set - the following eject. The
route OF the proposed canal has been
surveyed By Gen. Qaincy A. Gilmore,
Assisted By officers Of the United States
Engineers. under q resolution Of Con.
Rfeas diFeeetBg measures 70 .'asOertain
the best wAtsr line for Transportation
fr8m the mouth Of st. Masy's river on
toe Atlantic coast thr0nah Okeefenokee
swamp and the STATE Of florida e. the
Calf Of Mexioo.s The imporfanee Of
the proposed canal as a National work
vas urged By President Grant in two
messages TO Congress, IN which be
declared that valuable ~ the opening
OF this great internal water way would
be IN time Of peace. is txistenos and
custody - time Of war goald be Of ab-
soautely incalcniable value 10 the Ma
tion. saFveys made By General Gil
more we're extended over two years, and
their results caused hin 20 report tbs
canal scheme emiaenlly fsasibls. Az
evidences Of the Importance Of tie en-
teFpriae 70 the eOuntEy ak large, be
stated that no less than twenty two
States and Territories we're vitality in
terestsd in the opening Of the water
way, the practical results Of which
would involve most Of she trafiio Of she
Mississippi Valley and its tributaries.
General Gilmore stated taat the pro-
duets along 5000 miles Of rivers and
waterways already teeminR With CON
meroe. colld IN this way be borne 20
safe and eommodious harbers, and that
only BY this route vas il possible 10
avoid the heavy and almost prohibitOFy
taxes On commerce Becaasitated BY the
approach 70 the mouth Of the Misais
sippi River through the Gulf Of Mexico.
The canal, In the language Of she CON-
pany's charter. sis TO be Of such dimen-
sions ae shall be deemed sufficient, and
capable Of being used By all such boata,
steamboats,, tuga, barges and other crafts
as navigate The Mississippi River above
New Orleans. Beginning at the moath
Of 81. Mary's River, which ferns ths
dividing liBe between the States Of
Georgia and Florida, 10 10 10 run through
Okeefenokee Lake, which is 10 be used
as the summit level Of supply; thence
70 Sc. Marks, on the Galf Of Mexico;
thence il will follow the already exist
ina liBeof water ways which extehd al
most unbFoken from that port 70 New
Orleans. The advantages OF this route
will be q saving 10 e0mmerce Of heavy
rates Of Insurance made imperative by
the dangerous navigation Of the BAHIA
mas and the reefs OF Florida, and in the
ooaslinQ service, saving in distance from
800 30 800 miles. Ofiioial statistics 20 ts
show the average tax on commerce
through high insurance, etc.. over the
present route Of about e, ,000, 900 yearly
Ffsm this Il Woald appear that deepen,
ING tie passes at the mouth OF the Mis-
sissippi BY ietties, however great q loca
saceess, does not detract in aay way
from the importance Of this canal, as
the speeisl difficulty TO be oveFo me lies
IN the Bahamas and Florida reefs.