The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-14
FLORIDA SHIP CANAL.
, Scheme That viii Require the Out
Law Of Many Millions Of Dollars.

vrroDe without Breaking Bulk-A
Co,aI From Cedar Keys to st. Angus
ti,a-some of the Men Who Are In
+orested in the Undertaking.
(CopyrightJ
New York, Aug. 12-While Gov. Waite
and other agitators of free silver are at
tim. the attention of the country by
.hefr wild harrangues against the rail
.o,d corporations and the "gold-bugs" Of
Mall street, a far deeper and more signif-
..nt movement is going on, which is in
ended to bind the south and west in
closer relations, and enable them to form
on alliance which win completely enamel
,ote them from eastern influence and rem
dow them independent of eastern capital
The details of the scheme, which involves
the investment of millions of dollars, is
beipg quietly talked over among the
western and southern members Of con-
orass Plans are about perfected to
ntiIize the great natural highway, which
runs the whole length Of the coun-
trv north and south, (the Mis-
.issinpi river) and by artificial
aid 10 provide short route by way of
New Orleans and the Gulf, whereby the
nroducts of the west can be shipped di-
root from St. Louis to Europe without
braaking bulk, and without the expensive
railroad transportation across the CONT
nrnt. Robert NJ Cafau, chief engineer
of the Atlantic andGulf Ship Canal Com
many of Florida, is now waiting for Or
ders to make the final survey Of ship
l. do ,ir1c 10 n nd ie
hacking applications for employees at his
office in the Stewart. building, No. $50
Broadway. New York. = For years the
company has been quietly preparing for
the construction of a canal, three hun
dred feet wide and nearly one hun
dred and fifty miles in length,
which will shorten the distance
from New York to Liverpool by 1000
miles. and enable vessels to avoid the
dangers Of a voyage around the Florida
KEYS and Bahamas, by reason of which
enormous rates of insurance are now de-
handed
Eleven years ago Charles H. Jones, who
has lately succeeded to the editorial con-
troll Of the New York World, began his
career as the editor of a daily newspaper
by establishing at jacksonville, Fla, the
Florida Daily Times, now the Times
Union, and the leading newspaper of the
state He became intimately associated
with A S. Mann, a State Senator from
one of the gulf counties, and a lawyer of
ability. In his fertile brain the
idea Of building ship canal
across the state originated. A COM
pany was formed and incorporated, and
Mr.. Jones doomed the enterprise in his
newspaper. Owing to a lack of means
the enterprise fell through. The idea
was taken up, however, by other parties,
new company was formed and a number
Of millionaire capitalists both from the
east and west were induced to take stock
in it. Judge James G. Spencer, a we'll
known member of the New York bar, be-
came president of the company, which
Office he now holds A suite of offices
were rented on the fifth floor of the Stew
art building, No. 2S0 Broadway, and
during the past few years the operations
OF the company have been directed from
the New York Office. Among the prom
iuent men connected with the enterprise
Is Senator John p. Jones, of Nevada, to-
gether with other magnates interested in
the production of silver ore and the main
tenance Of double standard of gold and
silver
The design of the promoters of the en-
terprise is not only to provide a means by
which the west will have cheaper and
more direct communication with the
markets Of the old world, but the vast
outlay necessary for the construction of a
canal and the improvement of the Missis-
slpl river, would create a demand for
labor. The difference between the cost of
the direct shipment in whaleback
steamer from ST. Louis to Liverpool and
other European ports, without transfer of
cargo to that of transporting the same
by rail 10 the SeabOard, again to be re-
handled, Is estimated in itself to be suffi-
Gent to pay handsome dividend on the
cost OF the canal and the Improvement of
the Mississippi. Fortunately for the sue
cess Of the venture, the promoters of the
snip canal were not obliged to face the
powerful railroad lobby at Washington in
order to obtain a charter. AS the pro-
posed canal is entirely within the confines
OF one state, it was unnecessary to go to
congress and 1t was an easy matter to
OBTAIN charter from the Florida state
legislature.
The business of the company has been
carried on so quietly and with so much
secrecy that hardly anyone except those
Immediately Interested have been aware
Vi us Importance or the powerful back
ing which it has received. The reports
Oh surveys and other details of the work
nave not been made public and the
only been sent privately to the officers
ana stockholders. This report is full of
intensely interesting reading, and reveals
me depth and scope of the undertaking.
~ Tue construction of canal proper no
Help IS required of the national govern
i1ehJ but congress will be asked to insert
l. Jhe river and harbOr bill an apprOpria-
Won Tor constructing a deep water harbor
u , ga'1 OF the terminal approaches.
VT Caftall has submitted plans for a
G "a iSl built on the lock system beginning
a. SJ' Augustine on the Atlantic coast
guy SI5 entering the gulf at a point near
~ ludr heys on the west coast. Bytakiug
LIS SliS route, they have secured the power
80 ana va OF Henry NJ Flagler, treasurer of
Wv, -u9 Standard Oil Company, who has in
ocs'ed millions of dollars in St. Augustine
q IIu VINO owns one of the pricipal lines in
i.orIIa and holds stock in several others.
-,-I' Il Iagler is deeply Interested in the
n ,,;.s OF the enterprise and has already
Zen III his Endorsement and promise of
t,-tluer assistance The harbor of St. !
80 - ostlne is well adapted for a
f-'lAV rclal port, and is capable of float
- au immense amount Of shipping. The |
MI n|l' however, IS of shifting sand and va
~ 80 from II to Is feet in depth. A care |
i Pr. survey was taken by William NJ |
S. a. captain Of engineers in the United |
H., Ig,s- service, while he was in charge Of !
No.. E loflua division. Captain Blacks re- |
r.. 70 Vhe government was TO the effect !
M NOV inc deepening of the channel, by
IL. ~ oI letties, to the depth required,
Re-. =, Ieet, was perfectly feasible. This
i5a53O was subsequently approved by a
for tb vi United States engineers appointed