Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-06-14
Atlantic to Gulf C0ndI
Association Formed 1t
Conference IN st. Marys
Governor Dorsey Who Called
Meeting, Outlines Plan for
Waterway Through Georgia
and Florida
BY BRADFORD BYRD.
journal staff Correspondent.)


OglesbY, of Quitman, was elected
chairman OF the. Mississippi Gulf and
Atlantic Canal association, which has
for it's object the construction OF a canal
from st. Marys, Ga, on the Atlantic, TO
ST Marks, Fla, on the, Gulf OF Mexico
thus making short water route from
the Alabama coal fields TO a warm At
1antfc port,& James A: Calkins, mayor
of Feruandina Fla, was elected secra7
tary of the organization .~... r.
The meeting was called TO order here
this morning by Governor Hugh NJ. Dor
sey, who is responsible for the launch
ing of the movement. In his address he
outlined the purpose of the project and
stated that it remained for this asSo-
citation to say whether or not the move
ment should be carried further.
Governor Dorsey's address was fol-
lowed by paper by S G. McLendon, of
Atlanta. who pointed out the benefit TO
the entire country which would follow
the construction of such a canal. de
pointed out the cost to be considered
and the amount of water necessary 10
supply the canal.
Theh following committee on plans
was named by Chairmon Oglesby: w. t.
Anderson, Macon, chairman; Fred I. Ell
lott, Tallahassee; John Bachlott, ST.
Marys; Charles Hall Davis, Petersburg;
John w. Callahan, Bainbridge; George
G. Crawford, Birmingham. This COM
mittee will formulate a working plan
designed to carry the canal project to
a successful conclusion. 1t is likely
this committee will recommend that
the association memorabilia congress
and then the United States department
heads to take up the matter of con-
structing the canal Immediately as a
war measure.
The governor outlined his plans in an
address at the initial business session
of the Atlantic to Gulf Canal" confer
ence which was convened here this
morning after the delegates had spent
Monday in picnicking and inspecting the
waterways in this section of this state
and northern Florida. The conference
is being held under the auspices of the
Georgia Council of Defense.
1.-The various members of the Georgia
Council of Defense" the governor said,
and other prominent citizens, of my
state, actuated by their patriotic mo-
tiveS, and realizing that their program
of usefulness embraces duty to call
attention to any fact or condition which
may prove of value in the present strug-
GLE have considered carefully our states
resources and advantages. AS result,
our people have become strongly con-
WINGED that the immediate construction,
as a war measure VI Il CANAL COhAiCSIAlS
| the Atlantic ocean and the Gulf of
Mexico would be of inestimable value to
the country as whole.
while this canal will run through the
states of Georgia and Florida, and will
utilize existing rivers in these two
states, the state of Alabama will share
almost equally in the benefits arising
from its construction. Its effect upon
! the economical and industrial activities
of these three states will necessarily be
| beneficial; yet it's greater and more far
reaching effect upon the war activities
and the war needs of the United States;.
! its great effect upon the economic and in
dustrial life of a large section of our
| country and it's relations to the after
| war problems, which will confront the
| nation, have seemed to our people of
| such paramount Importance that we
have felt justified in calling together, for
| conference, the executives of those
states of the union which will be most
quickly and noticeably benefited by the
| construction of the proposed canal
After declaring that the fact that the
proposed canal would be located in
Georgia and Florida was simply an In
cident the governor said that it had
been surveyed in 1876 by Lieutenant
Colonel Q. c. Gilmore, who, in a re-
/ port on the survey, described the canal
as starting at the entrance of Cumber
/ land sound on the Atlanta seaboard, ex-
/ tending thence up st. Marys river 81
| miles, thence by canals and locks across
! the Okefenokee swamp to the Suwanee
! river, thence down the Suwanee river
to Charles ferry, thence westward to
! ST. Marks river and along st. Marks
river to st. Marks, on the Gulf of Mex
! leo.
/ 1t is estimated, according to Governor
/ Dorsey, that the total distance would
/ be 226 miles, yet the actual amount of
I excavation work would be little over
100 miles.
The governor declared that the canal
! was essential, giving several reasons,
/ that it is feasible and could be main
tanned at small cost and could be quick
! ly constructed.
In giving his reasons why the canal
should be built Governor Dorsey said
that in his conception it appeared as an
extention of the Mississippi river TO
! the Atlantic coast.
1.-THE protected inland route through
Lake Ponchartrain, Lake Borgne ana
along the northern coast Of the GulI Oh
/ Mexico to st. Marks river and the ca
nal from st. Marks to Cumberland
sound, would extend the MISSISSIPPI "
. the Atlantic Next to the Panama ca
nal. it would, in my judgment, be the
greatest transportation deVeIopmehl
from a national standpoint that mas
been considered in recent years.
Yesterday the entire delegation was Guy
of touch with the outside world untI5
late in the evening, when they Iahueu =
at st. Marys after. most dellgh'lu u,
trip down the ST. Marys river throuGh
nc Cumberland sound and out into the
Atlantic. -,
The United States southern patrol
ship. No. 1873, met the delegation cary
Friday morning at Coleraine' polhs
on ST. Marys river, near Folkston' anu
carried them down the st. Marys rive,
ending the trip at Dungenness' Andfe"
Cearnecie's home. where dinner was
served After a plunge into the ATTAIN
tic the delegates returned to st. Mary
who're DIR. McCallie, Georgia state ge0lo-
rist. presented lantern views OF sWamps
! and canals.