The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-18
HENDERSON ON
THE FUTURE OF
APALACH|C0LA
THRIVING CITY WILL RAPIDLY
DEVELOP NOW THAT CHANNEL
IsTo BE CUT TO THE GULF.

Leland ]. Henderson, secretary OF
the Mississippi to the Atlantic Inland
Waterway Association, is firm be-
lever in the future greatness of Apa-
lachicola, and believes the thriving
little city will advance rapidly now
that a channel to deep water is to be
cut. Speaking of Apalach to Journal
representative yesterday Mr.. Hender-
son said:
"Apalachicola, at the mouth a the
Apalachicola system of rivers, occu-
pies an exceptional position of advan-
tage, and will now rapidly develop in
commerce, population and Importance
The rivers and harbors bill which
passed the house Monday provides for
a survey for deep ship channel from
Apalachicola to the gulf; it also in
Guided an appropriation for harbor i'm
provement now being made.
The A. N. railroad, which has been
continued from Apalachicola to st.
Joseph, 20 miles distant, gives Apa
lachicola immediate deep port rates
and ocean transportation to the world
The situation is similar to Tampa and
Port Tampa.
II ID Ouly OU 1lOIu ApuioSll
cola to deep water in the st. Andrews
Bay by way of the inland waterway
also provided for in the present rivers
and harbors bill.
Immediately, Chattahoochee valley
products will seek outlet via Apalachi-
cola and st. Joseph Bay. When the
connection with st. Andrews is made,
Alphabetical will receive the benefit of
competitive ports, even before her own
deep water connection can be com
pleted. All the commerce seeking St.
Joseph or the inland waterway will
go through or be transferred at Apa-
lachicola. This commerce now goes
to Atlantic ports. Thus cotton going
to st. Joseph will be delivered by the
river boats to the cotton congresses
at Alphabetical and by the congresses
loaded on the cars for shipment to ST.
Joseph.
The Import Business.
I'm return, imports will be shipped
via st. Joseph in unbroken cargoes to
Apalachicola and there be distributed
to the river, the railroads and coast
wise, making Apalaehicola a whole
sale and distributing point Of great
importance.
"Al river territory products will be
largely manufactured at Apalachicola.
For instance, timber, Of which there is
IS billion feet Of pine and three billion
feet of hardwood, that is tributary to
the river for shipment, will be floated
in the log to Alphabetical and there
be manufactured into lumber, shingles,
furniture, and the manufactured ar
ticle receive the benefit of water COM
petition both river and ocean on the
rail haul
Every indication is that the next
rivers and harbors bill will contain ap-
preparation for the construction of the
remainder of the inland water from
st. Andrews Bay to the Mississippi
river, which, when completed, will
make \ Alphabetical the distributing
point of the river territory for grain
and Mississippi valley products, also
Pennsylvania coal and iron.
with the completion of the work
on the Warrior river, enabling Ala
bama coal and iron to reach the inland
waterway on barges and thence all
points on the waterway in unbroken
CaTgOes, Apalachicola will receive coal
at $1.50 to $500 per ton, which will
furnish cheap fuel and with the great
native resources back of her should
make her a manufacturing centre
Apalachicola is also in the radius OF
electric energy generated by water
power. AS soon as the inland water
way is open to the peninsula of Flor
ida, Apaiachicola will distribute phos-
phate to her territory. Undoubtedly
the Alphabetical river and its 800 miles
of navigation gives Apalachicola a
great natural advantage.
Also her oysters are famous. Her
fish business is large. The soil of the
neighborhood is of exceptional fertil-
ity. She is on high land safe from
storms, almost surrounded by water
which for winter vegetables and citrus
fruits gives her the same frost line
as Arcadia in DeSoto county.
Commerce Sure to Come.
These advantages and the commerce
sure TO come to Apalachicola will
hasten the day when her harbor will
be sufficiently deepeaed to admit
ocean going vessels of deep draft. 1t
must not be understood that Apalachi-
cola has no ocean commerce. 1t
amounted to more than three million
dollars during 1909 but like most gulf
ports. the harbor needs improvement.
the relationship between Pensa-
cola, st. Andrews Bay, all West Flor
IDA and Alphabetical is to be much
more intimate with the completion OF
the inland waterway. 1t means deYel.
opment in the entire territory, which
means also unusual DEVELOPMENT for