The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-03-20


tain supremacy, or even standing, in
markets abroad.
all the rail rates on wheat, corn and cot
ton from the interior to the ports. There
is no sentiment in trade and commerce:
but is question of economy, time and
expense. We must accept and utilize the
most prompt and economical methods of
products in order TO meet this increasing
competition in agriculture throughout the
world. For instance, it costs $40 to
to Chicago, distance of 775 miles but
with SIX feet of water in the Missouri the
cost would probably. be zoe, and the
grower would save the difference.
The cheapest freight movement is in
large, well-filled vessels is generally con-
coded, and it is equally true that the
cost OF transportation are generally taken
out of the pockets of the producer. 1t
is said We have expended four hundred
canals during the past eight years. But
the saving of freights through the 500
Canal last year yielded a five per cent
dividend on that expenditure.
THE ROUTE FOR WESTERN
PRODUCTS.
1t is claimed the problem of the cheap
now reqIsred by the southern, western
and northern growers is solved absolutely
when the United States Gulf ports are
opened and the Florida Ship Canal, on the
lock system, is constructed. This will
give. the shippers a short. safe and eco
nomlcal passage, accommodating the pro-
corn, and other cereals. meat, minerals
and numberless others. The requirements
for cheap transportation, to-wft: ability
to carry large quantities of freight in full
loads, long distances without change and
at rapid speed, will thus be met 1t
is asserted that there are eighty thousand
barrels of flour in Minneapolis every day
ready to go south on the Mississippi.
Whatever is done to multiply the pro-
duction of the. soil should be, done. and
with that must go the creation of the
means of distribution. The produce of
the farmers has but local and restricted
value without the carrier. 1t is necessary
to secure and employ the most economi-
cal methods of transportation if the
growth of the country is to continue and
or be maintained Freight moves by
water at Is to lis of the cost by rail
The The ,, producer kr manufacturer who
less cost than his rival has an immense
advantage over the latter. 1t is believed
he raises for two years, which would
find its way through the canal, it would
and he would thereafter reap a benefit
annual, of from three to five times as
much much as his investment for all time.
passing out Gulf and South Atlantic
THE PROPOSED CANAL.
survey of conditions we may now be
more specific. Engineer CaIfall tells us that
That from the earliest this history no Of it tHe
navigation of the Gulf stream through
the Straits of Florida, the attention of
the maritime world has been directed to
the commercial Importance. and, I may
say necessity. of a Ship Canal across the
Peninsula of Florida. 1t is conceded that
hundred miles the route from the Atlantic
ocean into the Gulf of Mexico especially
to the Gulf ports of the United States,
and entirely avoid the dangerous naviga-
ton of the Gulf stream through the Strait
OF FLORIDA The present route from New
Orleans to New York is 1890 nautical
miles. by the Florida Ship Canal would
be 1898 miles, saving four hundred ninety
seven miles.
1t is the one solution of the problem
of cheapest and best transportation. at all
seasons, of the chief AGRICULTURAL and
miner mineral products of this country to. the
home and foreign markets. That natural
obstacle. the Florida Peninsula. to the
economical and profitable interchange of
commerce between the West and North
Atlantic Ocean, will be overcome by this
route"
=, Great as the benefits will be from the
Panama Canal. they are not comparable
to the pre- eminent and advantages to the
commerce of the United States and the
foreign countries. requiring the use of the
Gulf to be attained by this canal 1t
would mean saving in time. in coal. in
expense and a vast saving in freights and
traffic.
In the United States Senate report on
Transportation routes to the Seaboard.'
1T IS declared: In National point of
view. the Importance of the Florida Ship
Canal cannot be overra ted. The pas
sage around the southerly point of Flor
lda. which vessels engaged in the North
Atlantic trade. entering and leaving the
CUT, are compelled to make for about
tlVe hundred miles, is narrow, subject to
tornadoes, and is beset with concealed
reefs. upon which rapid current has
tendency to carry vessels"
The straits of Florida begin at Cane
Canaveral, on The Atlantic coast. and
running in Z circ-1lar form. Il distance
of five hundred miles. terminate at Dry
long. The peninsula extends over $50
miles south of the general coast line of
the United States. There is a broad
belt of KEYS and coral reefs living be
tween the main land and the ship route
making the la&ter much LONGER than the
coast line. TIM straits between these
keys and the West Indies islands form
passage justly dreaded by mariners
which has earned the title of '"Fhe Flori-
da Marine Graveyard
Congress has heretofore made apuro-
prIa tons for the survey of shin canal
routes across the Peninsula Of Florida
Four routes under the direction of the
secretary of war have been surveyed
and estimates of cost made thereon To-
wit: In 1921. 1875. 1876 and 1880 Tho
Mobile Board Of Trade before the year
1872 caused a survey to he made
''AlI these SURVEYS and numerous av
aminations of various routes estah1isheI
the fact uuirp clearly tI,1f n SI,jl 80 !
across this peninsula is fea sib,f fro,Ir
engineering noint of yfev- hat W ' e. al
I