The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-05-17

E1orS1n U01p C0001.
General O. L. Aasrsa Gs1l Nan
agsr Of the proi e san and
Gnlf Shin Canal sps yss( dayi n II
ssrsehs& lille u (Sjnss lWsrs ran
MD the IL Il as II ailS S>ath Of Jur
TO-. sarvs5+ sap e4ching
the St. Johns river tsfmiqus, shstt dis
lance north of Palstka~
In brief, the route ID - follows: Be-
ginning 1t Way Key, or Cedar Key, it
passes through the Gulf hammock, via
Wiilissou, SlicsnUpys north Of Orsnge
Lake, ranning sssst between the OckIa-
waha river and the Florida Southern rail-
road, crossing this railroad 1T Francis and
reaching the St. Johns river below Pa
latka
General Anderson says he does not ex-
pect 70 have any locks in this canal; that
it will be eighty feet wide, and have .
depth of water equal to that on the bar
at the mouth of the st. Johns river, and
will carry the cereals of the entire Mis-
sissippi Valley to Europe without break
ing bulk, a. we'll ~ the vast coal and iron
product of Alabama.
He has found the levels more favorable
than appeared in the reconnaissance which
he made last winter. The route now be-
ing surveyed Is known as General Ander-
CONS route, a. distinguished from other
routes suggested or run by others.
This route is only about eighty miles in
length, instead of 100 miles, which was
the length OF the line surveyed by the
late General Gilmore, which reached the
St. Johns only few miles south of Jack
sonville. While General Gilmore's and
other routes encountered great elevations
and some elevated lakes, General Ander-
sons route rms through the low lands,
or as he expressed it, runs under the in-
step Of the boot" (Floridx being likened
TO boot in shape.)
General Anderson in an interview with
the undersigned, claimed that his route
would have as little land cut as any route
yet suggested, and would have far less
Engineering impediments." He thinks
he can build the canal on this route TOR
about two-thirds what it will cost by
either of the one or two other routes sur
veyed or suggested heretofore. He said !:
This, in short, will be great in every
essential feature, except in the natural
difficulties to be encountered in its con-
struction. 1t will revolutionize values in
Florida. The expenditure of money for
its construction alone will equal the
present valuation of the State of Florida.
No transportation can compete in cheap
ness with water transportation, and this
canal will transport the corn, hay, wheat
and other heavy products of the far
Northwestern States and land them in
Europe for the present price of carrying
them by rail from Chicago to New York.
The Alabama coal and iron field is nearer
to tide-water transportation than any
other coal and iron field in America.
When this canal comes into operation
with its great steamships it will give coal
to Florida and the Gulf and Atlantic
States at less money than otherwise could
ever have it"
AS to the questions of the funds for
building this great ship canal Gen. An
derson said: ave will scarcely be re-
CURED to ask for money, as the capital
lists are already asking for our bonds,
but of course we are not ready to issue
bonds" He went on to detail the plans
and sources for securing the funds, but
rs these particulars were understood not
to be for publication I will not disclose
them.-LsterIachen correspondence Tines
Union.