The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-02-22
AN AID TO INDUSTRY
Commerce and Navigation, Would be q
Canal Across the Florida
Isthmus

the Ninth Grade of the Ocala High
School before the Agatheridan Socie-
.ty.)
Resolved, A canal should be cut
across Florida. I contend that Florida
should have a canal because it would
promote the commerce and industries
of the state of Florida and the entire
United States
The proposed canal will help to form
an inland waterway, beginning at
Jacksonville on the st. Johns river.
extending down the Ok1awaha river
across by Leesburg, then crossing the
headwaters Of the Withlacoochee, on
TO the gulf. Then all of the bays and
rivers along the coast to New Orleans
will be connected by network of
canal construction. Therefore this
would complete the inland waterway
from Boston, Mass, to New Orleans,
La, which is the object in view.
The commercial values resulting
from this construction could scarcely
be overestimated vessel going from
any Atlantic port Omitted States or
European) to United States gulf
port and return. would save about
eight hundred miles each way besides
avoiding the dangers of coming in con-
tact with tornadoes in the Florida
strait or running into coral reefs be-
low the surface of the ocean.
| The building of this canal would not
be for the interests of Florida only,
but for the benefit of the United States,
and the work would belong TO the
United States government. Such a
canal would bring beneficial results 10
untold millions of the present and
future generations. The canal would
very likely pass through beds of phos-
phate which would yield a return to
no small degree, lessening the cost OF
Its construction. The markets are
ready for the products of these south
ern and southwestern states. What is
them quickly and cheaply, as can be
done through the inland waterways OF
this canal. Commerce moves In the
direction of the least resistance. 1t is
our duty to remove obstacles that in
terfere with it.
| The results of overcoming the great
sula by a canal would be, viz: the
avoiding Of the dangers of the Florida
straits and passing through eight hun
of the gulf stream; the facilities offer
ed by the safe, short canal route; the
cheap supplies of coal, provisions and
pure water; the unusually favorable
conditions available for cleaning and
Preparing ships. A little animal with
a hard shell called the barnac1e sticks
to the bottom of ships and has to be
chiseled off when the ship reaches har-
Dor. but a few weeks sailing in the
pure waters of this canal would xii
them and they would drop off. The
canal would also insure to the United
States one of the best and safest nava
Idepots in the world. and it would re.
duee the transportation cost of tn,
chief products of the country ant
develop a vast section of our territory
Therefore for the following reason!
I contend that Florida should have
canal; first, 1t would reduce the cos
of transportation. thus giving some re.
lief to the high cost of living; second
by going through this canal time, Goa
land provisions would be saved: third
lit would prevent coming into contae
with the storms of the Florida strai
or running upon coral reefs below tn,
surface of the sea; fourth, it would re
duce the insurance on the ships ant
freight; fifth, it would help to develol
our country, so that although it vii
lcost something to perfect this system
nevertheless / submit that we canno
begin too soon and we ought to begin
at once and construct it by sections
if the money is not available to builC
it all at one time.