The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-09
FLORIDA's SHIP CANAL
An Interview With General Anderson
as to his Plans.

90 w A@Ao AbA1Ss
Interldchen Bld.) Correspondence Jacksonville
Times Union.
Gen. C. L. Anderson, General Manager
Of the proposed great ocean and Gulf Shir
Canal" spent yesterday in Interlachen
while his engineers were running the line
about mile south of our town. The sur.
vey is rapidly reaching the St. Johns river
terminus. a short distance north of Palatka.
In brief, the route is about as follows:
Beginning at Way Key or Cedar Key it
passes through tho Gulf hammock, via
Williston, Micanopy, north of Orange Lake,
running east between the Ocklawaha river
and the Florida Southern railroad, crossing
this railroad at Francis and reaching the st.
Johns river below Palatka,
Gen. Anderson says he does not expect to
have any locks in this canal; that it will be
eighty feet wide, and havea 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 Mississippi valley to Europe
without breaking bulk, as well as the vast
coal and iron product of Alabama.
He has found the levels more favorable
than appeared in tho reconnaissance which
he made last winter. The route now Icing
surveyed is known as Gen Anderson's
route, as distinguished from other routes
suggested or run by others
This route is only about so miles in
length instead of 120 miles, which was the
length of the line surveyed by the late Gen.
Gilmore, which reached the St Johns only
a few miles south Of Jacksonville. While
Gen. GilmOre's and other routes encountered
great elevations, and some elevated lakes
Gen. Anderson's route runs through the
low lands, or, as he expressed it, runs un-
der the instep of the boot (Florida being
likened to boot in shape)
Gen. Anderson, in an interview with the
undersigned, claimed that his route would
have as little land cut as any route yet sug-
gested, and would have far less engineer.
ing impediments" He thinks he can build
the canal on this route for about two-third-
what it will cost by either of the one or
two other routes surveyed or suggested
heretofore. He said: This canal, in short,
VIII be great in every essential feature ex-
cept in the natural difficulties to be en-
countered i'll its construction. IL will
revolutionize values in Florida. The ex.
penditure of money for its construction
alone will equal the present tax valuation
of the State of Florida. No transportation
can compete in cheapness with water trans
portation, and this canal will transport the
corn, hay, wheat, and other heavy pro
ducts 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 tidewater transportation
than any other coal aud iron field in
America. When this canal comes into ope-
ration with its great steamships it will
give coal to Florida and tue Gulf and At
lantic States at less money than they other
wise could ever have it."
As to the question of the funds for build
ing this great ship canal Gen. Anderson
said: 1--WE will scarcely be required to ask
for money, as the capitalists 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 tor securing
the funds, but rs these particulars were un.
derstood not to be for publication will not
disclose them.