The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-22
FLORIDA SHIP CANAL.
Bills I'm Congress Providing for n
Survey for the Work.

Bills I'm Congress Providing for n
Survey for the Work.
Jacksonville, Fla, Dec. Gloon
gresham Davis of the Second con-
gressional district Of this state, has in
PRODUCED in the House of Representa-
tives companion bill to the bill OF
Senator Tallaferro of Florida, provid
ing for an appropriation for a survey
Of a route for the Florida ship canal.
Senator Taliaferro and Mr.. Davis are
both confident that the bill will pass
both branches of Congress and be-
come a law.
The money mentioned in this bill is
$25, 900, but it is understood that the
bill will be reported favorably from
the committees and that the amount
specified to defray the expenses of this
survey will be increased to at least
500, 900. 1t will require that amount to
make the survey according to the
proposed plan and it is believed that
the appropriation will be made at this
session of Congress.
As yet there has not been any selec-
ton or indication as to the route Tor
the canal, but it is understood that
the government will seek to follow the
water courses as nearly as possible.
Information from Washington is to
the effect that the bill is meeting with
favor.
Figures have been gathered to prove
that the trade of the Gulf ports fur
nish the United States with almost so
per cent. of it's balance of trade, owing
to the small imports and the great
volume of the exports which are made
from the Gulf ports annually. The
balance of trade in favor of the Gulf
ports alone last year was something
over $S,o00,000 1t is argued in connec-
ton with this bill that with this great
trade the business demands this ca
nal to connect the ocean and gulf and
save the ships from traversing 800
miles and risking the dangers of the
Florida straits. The distance to be
saved by such a route would be at
least 800 miles and the owners of ships
state that the saving to them in IN
surance rates from the abandonment
of the route through the straits of
Florida would be another great item.
Those who favor the Florida canal
have other good arguments to offer.
They claim that with the canal free to
the American ships and with a charge
for all foreign ships passing through
this canal it would tend to induce the
building of American ships and go a
great ways toward the bringing about
the increase in the United States mer-
chant marine, so desired by the Presi-
dent, and some prominent senators.
At the same time they argue that it is
q Democratic measure, since 1t seeks
to offer no inducements of a direct
money consideration to ship builders
in the shape of subsidies. If the
American vessels were permitted to
pass through the canal at nominal
sum, while the foreign ships were COM
PEELED to pay a good fee for the privi-
lege, the fee would have to be paid or
the additional 800 miles traversed by
the foreign ships. The advantage to
the American ships in handling the
Gulf trade would be apparent. 1t
would mean an advantage Of hundreds
of dollars on every cargo. In addition
to the difference in the fees for the
privilege, the foreign ships would have
to pay a much greater rate of insur-
ance in the event that they took to
route around the cape.