The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-05-08
THE GULF COAST INLAND
WATERWAY ASSOCIATION
Continued From First Pase)


body for consideration, and embodied
in the recommendations of that con-
vention. This convention should go
into permanent organization and elect
officers and an executive committee
for each state. A means for financing
the organizations agreed upon. A sec
rotary, with. or preferably. some one
who is enough interested to supervise
the work, without a salary, should be
appointed, and furnished by the con-
vention with a stsnOSrapher, station
cry and advertising material and
other expenses. The duties of this
secretary should be to carry out the
Directors Of the convention. and exec
utive committee, give publicity TO tNa
project. create interest, until the en-
tire coast IS enthusiastically advOcat-
ing the construction Of the waterway,
and demanding Of the southern con
gressiOnsl representation its authOri-
zatiOn by congress.
Call on Congress.
effort should be made. by resolu-
ton of this convention. TO get bill
through the present congress. author
ling a survey Failing 10 do that the
work should be continued until ,4e
survey is ordered. And if a uniform
plan OF improving the national water
ways be adopted. let us do everything
possible to have our waterway among
the first constructed.
This convention should endorse the
bill introduced by the Hon. JOS E
Ransdall of Louisiana, and request
congress 10 create a new executive
department TO be known as the De
partment of Transportation and Public
Works" and under one department.
place all federal matters relating in
any way to. transportation by high
ways. railways and waterways. =
This convention should endorse the
recommendations of the National
Rivers and Harbors Convention for
congress TO eXpend 500 million dol
lars in the next ten years on the i'm
prOVement of the rivers and harborS
CT the United States. and so notify
Hen. JOS. +. Ransdall. its president
and the congressional representation
of Louisiana, Mississippi. Alabam and
Florida.
This convention should endeavor to
secure the election of congressman
who are bound TO policy which will
provide for the immediate. adequate,
and uniform improvement of the
waterways of the United States, by
the federal government.
be provided from our national resOur-
ces. in addition to our present expen-
ditures- if possible. Of not. by bond
issue. or if this is not expedient. as
last resource. by reduction of eX-
penditures for the navy and army, to
the extent necessary to provide so
million dollars annually.
This waterway will connect the
mouths of the two principal rivers
emptying into the gulf and unite all
the gulf ports east of New Orleans,
fer barge and inland waterway trans
portation. giving the cheapest means
for distributing New Orleans sugar
and rice and manufactured articles
and-with the completion of the
waterway from Mobile to the Alabama
coal and iron fields-AlabaTna coal
and iron to the various gulf ports
also admitting much of the Mississippi
river tonnage by water to gulf ports.
And with the completion of the At
lantic inland waterway across the
peninsula of Florida, allowing an in
terchange of Southern timber, cotton
and naval stores, and Mississippi river
commerce, for Atlantic manufactured
articles. and New York supplies, by
sea-level inland. alIlbarge haul
In this waterway, see a band of
in separately together.
Senator MaIlory's Plan.
The late Senator Mallory of Flor
ida. an ardent advocate of this water
way. outlines the route as follows:
"A glance at map of the gulf
coast of the United States will show
that the only engineering problems of
more than very minor significance
which the undertaking presents. are
the connection at New Orleans be-
tween the Mississippi river and Lake
POntchartrain and the digging of a
canal from some point on the gulf
coast of Florida TO the st. Marys OF
the st. Johns river.
From New Orleans to the eastern
side of Mobile Bay no work would be
necessary. A canal 30 feet wide al
the bottom, with a water depth of
feet, and length of not more than
eight miles, would comet the waters
of Mobile and Perdido Bays at com.
paratiyely trifling cost and afford
easy navigation for barges of very
large carrying capacity
From the eastern border OF Per
| dido Bay into the lagoon which Is the
extreme western branch of Pensacola
| Bay, cut one mile in length would
| suffice. Some dredging would have tC
| be done at both ends of the lagoon. tC
| secure depth of eight feet, and a
! its eastern end, jetty or breallwatel
| would be necessary 10 protect the en-
trance from the heavy seas that il
! time of storms. roll in through the
| entrance TO Pensacola Bay.
| From the eastern end of the lagoor
| the waterway already exists through
! Pensacola Bay. and Santa Rosa sount
TO the eastern end of ChOctawhatchet
| Bay. To secure depth of eigh
feet in this stretch. some dredgins
| would have to be done. at severa
| points in Santa Rosa Sound. and a
! the western end OF Choctawhatchet