The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-12
THE INLAND WATERWAY
AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO
ST. ANDREWS BAY CITIES
Completion of Big Government Project During the
Coming Summer Will Bring Vast Traffic
to the Bay Country from the
Flint and Chattahoochee

The first section Of the inland wa
terway that viii eventually connect
all portions of the gulf coast is now
under construction between the Apa-
lachicola river and the east arm OF
st. Andrews bay. The construction OF
this canal has been agitated for many
years, but more particularly during
the past ten years, since its impur-
lance to commerce became apparent.
The reports Of Capt III. b. Ferguson.
Corps Of Engineers, submitted TO the
board of engineers in connection with
the preliminary survey covered three
routes, with recommendation that the
route via Lake Wimico, Searcy creek.
Weteppo creek and East bay be the
one selected. on this route the eX-
cavation necessary approximated but
fifteen miles and the recommendation
called for seven feet depth of water
between the Apalachicola river and
St Andrews bay. The estimated cost
of this waterway was S614, 900 and the
plan contemplated channel 40 feet
in width at the bottom. The eSi-
mated annual cost of maintenance
was placed at 100000 The board or
engineers reviewing the report OF
Capt. Ferguson, recommended chan
mel along the route suggested, Go feet
in width at the bottom and five feet
in depth, the idea being to make the
waterway Immediately navigihle for
river steamers, barges and small craft
further deepening to be deferred until
the canal traffic warranted additional
expenditure. The estimate of the
board of engineers was S450, 000, and
this sum was authorized. The work
was begun during 1913 and, IL is eX-
pected. the canal will be in operation
during July or August of the present
year.
Outlet for Traffic.
The construction of this waterway
gives an outlet for a large amount or
traffic from the Flint and Chatta-
hoochee rivers to St Andrews bay.
the Apalachicola river being formed
by a conjunction of the rivers men
toned. The Chattahoochee river is
navigable to Columbus, Ga, a distance
of 1853 miles and the Flint river is
navigable to BainT'idge, Ga. The
Chipola river, also tributary, is navi-
gable for 60 miles, giving 40 miles OF
navigable water that will be benefit
ted by the construction of the canal
The entrance to st. Andrews bay is
through Weteppo creek, which lis 100
feet in width and feet deep, to Ring
jaw Bluff, the latter but Il miles from
The s,aiI aaISt 81 the a: q st; A. 3. r.
tates II miles of excavation and Wild
ening, and its maintenance will not
be expensive as il will be a tide-watcr
canal throughout
The commerce of the rivers, which
flow through a rich section of Geor-
gia and Alabama, is estimated at from
ST., 000,000 to $15,000,000 per annum,
the tonnage being from 10000 to $780,
900 tons and twelve to fifteen river
steamers are now engaged in the
river trade. Half of these steamers
now make regular trips to Apalachi-
cola from the upper rivers, and the
freight includes cotton, cottonseed
meal. fertilizers, lumber grain, brick,
turpentine, rosin, molasses
and provisions. a large portion OF
the trade that would ordinarily be
handled by river steamers, now finds
an outlet to the Atlantic coast by rail-.
and it is expected that with the COM
pletion of the canal much of this traf-
flc will be diverted to the gulf coast
from the eastern seaboard, particular
ly as the river rates are much lower
than rail rates to the seaboard. over
800, 900 bales OF cotton viii be affect
ed annually by the construction Of the
canal and the effect upon 100000 bales