The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-10-25
THE HIGHWAY OF
OUR COMMERCE.
The TrafAe Frem Central and south
AmeFicA via Florida.


America via Florida.
In lengthy letter to the Manufactut-
er's Record. Mr.. J. E. Ingraham. Third
Vice-President Of the F. E. c. Railway,
gives an exhaustive review Of the Gen.
trail and South American Commercial
possibilities directly affecting South
Florida. He says IN part:
''By the frat OF January, 1903, 1t is
expected that theextension Of the Flor
ida East Coast Railway, now under con-
structiOn from Miami across the Flor
ida Keys TO Key West, will be complet-
ed, thus giving rail connection to the
most southerly and one of the finest har-
brs on the Gulf coast with all parts of
the United States. The line is now be-
ing completed TO knights Key SO miles
north of Key West, where facilities are
being provided tor handling freight and
passenger business this winter, and
which will be used for that purpose UNI
til the line 20 Key West is finished.
1.-The principal channels into Key
West harbor are Southeast channel,
which has a depth of water of not less
than 80 feet, and the Southwest channel
not less than "a feet, so that the en-
frances are all that could be desired to
make the harbor accessible, and it is
sufficiently commodicus to accommodate
a considerable feet of ocean going YES
sells as we'll as smaller craft.
''In connection with the Panama Ca
nal, however, Key West possesses spe-
cial advantages, as 1t is actually $50
miles nearer than Mobile or New Or
leans.
esTi - ...,,..A.;A. 20 Nont,oI ond Co,,tk
America offer exceptional possibilities
for future trade in all commercial and
industrial lines and the terminal facili-
ties at Key West will be constructed
with q view of affording not only every
possible facility for handling the trade
of Cuba and other islands of the West
Indies, but more particularly with a
view of stimulating and increasing the
trade Of the Southern States with Cen
trail and South American countries. Of
which, at present, we handle such q
small proportion. Large and commo-
dious whRrves for the prompt and eco
nomical transfer of freight and passen-
gers will be constructed, immense ware
houses erected, and ample track facili-
ties provided for the rapid loading and
unloading of vessels of large size, and
arrangements perfected for quick trans
fers to and from cars.
with view, therefore, of bringing
to the attention of Southern Boards Of
Trade, business men and manufacturers,
and all interested IN our trade eXpan-
sion, beg TO submit some data as TO
how much business the Central and
South American ports are doing, who
they are doing it with and the character
of the exports and imports Of these
countries, and thus show the vast posi-
bilitities for commercial trade and de-
velOpment of markets for the products
of Southern factories that can be opened
in this territory from the United States,
which, In a marked degree, adds much
to the wealth and commercial import
ance of the South Atlantic and Gulf
States.
Gas an example of the wonderful
growth in trade Of that section, the fol-
lowing figures are significant.
There follows a list of countries and
figures that are extremely interesting,
which we regret we cannot publish, ow-
ing to lack of space. They show con-
clusively the business that awaits the
completion of the F. r. G.. Railway to
Key West. an undertaking that is sure
of completion as soon as conditions will
permit.