The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-01-09
SEN. FLETCHER
TALKS BEFORE
ARMY BOARD
SHOWS ENGINEERS THE IMPORT
ANcE AND FEASIBILITY OF A
CANAL CONNECTING cHoc-
TAWHATcHEE AND ST. AN
DREWs BAY.
sneciaI to The JournaI.


Washington, Jan. S.-After strongly
stressing the necessity and import
ance of an inland waterway chain or
canal along the east coast of Florida.
Senator Duncan u. Fletcher present
ed the following argument before the
board OF United States engineers for
rivers and harbors in meeting here to-
Cay. in behalf of a proposed canal
connecting Choctawhatchee and st.
Andrews bays:
Regarding the connection between
the Choctawhatchee Bay and ST. An
drews Bay. the map indicates a dist
ance of about fifteen miles of solid
cutting there. BY digging a canal be-
tween these bays, continuous inland
route, navigable for barges and tugs
and small boats, would be effected
from Carrabelle, east then to st.
George Sound to Pensacola. a distance
of several hundred miles. The district
engineer reported adversely on this
survey on account of the cost. esti-
mated to be some four million dollars.
His estimates were based upon calcu-
lations made in the office, I believe,
and not upon actual Investigations
upon the ground.
MT - n. bTun1mOnQ anu OIuSTS
contend that the route estimated on
by the engineer was not the most de-
sirable, practicable route, or least ex-
pensive, and at considerable personal
trouble and expense, Mr.. Drummond
had a civil engineer examine another
route he is satisfied would cost about
one-half of the route reported on. Mr..
Drummond is of the opinion that this
route suggested by him can be i'm
proved upon. At any rate, it is clear
that the engineers have not yet found
and considered the best and least ex-
pensive route for this canal An actual
survey and investigation on the ground
will not cost much. and it would seem
altogether unsatisfactory, If not mex
cusable, to reject the whole PROPOSE
ton on the meager information at
hand, with the substantial assurance
that we are not able to consider the
whole proposition on its real merit.
Il, therefore. insist that we should
ask the board to order a survey to
be actually and carefully made and
full investigation undertaken, in order
that we may not jeopardize an entire
system Of waterways by rejecting this
link, on incomplete and unconvincing
information.
'The engineer suggests that this
canal might be Of some local advant-
age, but he overlooks the fact that it
would be, as a part of an inland
waterway system, of great benefit to
Alabama, George Mississippi and
Louisiana, as vel IS Florida. If the
boats on the Apal chicola river could
get their coal, for instance, from the
Alabama fields by water, it would
mean a great deal to them. If cotton
can move by water at a rate per bale
which it now pays for one hundred
pounds, from shipping points to ports,
it would mean very much to the grow
er. So with timber, naval stores, as
well as sea production along the
gulf.
INJUSTICE TO GULF STATES.
las a necessary part of any COM
prehensive system, an inland water
way along the gulf must be included.
It would be unjust and unfair to the
gulf states to deny to them the COM
paratively small expenditure required
to give them an inland waterway from
the Mississippi to the Atlantic.
Again. repeat that Nature has
done her part and the entire distance
OF several hundred miles can be made
navigable and disable for commerce,
going out of the Mississippi Valley;
down the rivers from Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi Alabama and Georgia, and
arising along and adjacent to such a
waterway, by digging through sand
and mud and easily handled material,
a few miles here and a few miles
yonder, in the aggregate not exceed
ing perhaps fifty miles, from Choc-
tawhatchee Bay to the Mississippi
earnestly hope that the board will re-
gard these matters as a necessary
part of a comprehensive system Of
inland waterways. and recommend
that they be constructed"