The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-03-18
CITIZENS OF APALACHICOLA
MEET WITH u. S. ENGINEERS
TO URGE HARB9a IMPROVEMENT
Being Resurvey of hicoa River and Its
Tributaries of Deep - the Channel II


river valley and the Apalachicola river
delta gathered here Tuesday morn
ing to attend a public hearing ordered
by congress with the United States
engineers for the purposes of deter
mining the necessity of a re-survey of
the Apalachicola river and its tribu-
taries, and the ACCESSIBILITY of deep
ening the channel. The report of the
hearing will be sent to the war de-
partment.
The attendance at this meeting was
quite large and the personnel of it's
makeup was indicative of the brains
and calibre of the men who are asking
for the deep water connection with
the worlds comerce. 1t gave some
idea of the nascent wealth of an al
most undeveloped territory-of its vir
gin products which wait on such an
outlet to spring like the goddess full
winged into the financial arena.
Monday evening Major J. ]. Loving,
United States district engineer, reached
the city. He was accompanied by his
corps of engineers, which included j.
E. Turtle, in charge of Pensacola bay
and those harbors adjacent; d. E. Ire
hoochee and Flint rivers, ana -. A.
Spinny of the Montgome' Of =
Mr.. E. G. Benedict, PIX sident Of the
Apalachicola chamber of commerce,
presided There were about so pres
ent. After introducin@ Major Loving's
party and stating the purpose of she
meeting, Mr.. Benedict "alled upon
Hon. j. H. Cook. secretary of the local
chamber. Mr.. Cooks report was accu-
rate and Informative. 1t Impressed
every one with the necessity of a deep
water channel from East Pass through
the bay to Apalachicola. He said not
only the people of Apalachicola want
ed it, but It would advantage a vast
interior territory now solely dependent
on railroads.
He was followed by J. G. Ruge. Mr.
Ruge is a member of the rivers and
harbors committee of the chamber Of
commerce. His report emphasized the
crying need of the United States for
for a system of inland waterways. A
brief mention of the freight conditions
throughout the country UNDERSIGNED
his point; and brought out the impor-
lance of a port at the mouth of the
Apalachicola river, which was again
stressed.
These two speakers were Apalachi-
colians, and so Major Loving might
listen to their logic with the proverbial
grain of salt; but the words of the
next speaker proved the fact that the
demand for deep wtaer was not in the
least a local option" movement. For
Mr.. Benedict introduced ]. n. Couch.
mayor of Columbus, Ga. Mr.. Couch
that this deep-sea tonnage would give
to Columbus-the manufacturing CEN
ter of Georgia. Mr.. Couch was fol-
lowed by S. A. Spivey, secretary of
Columbus chamber of commerce. Mr..
Spivey stated that the Columbus
chamber of commerce was about to
operate it's own line of steamers on
the four rivers, and that the opening
up of Alphabetical harbor was vital
to their interest. D. A Turner repre-
scented the Merchant and Planters
Steamship company. He gave the pres
ent tonnage on the river and reiterated
the demand for deep water.
1t would appear from the serious
statements of the Columbus delega-
ton that deep water at the mouth Of
Apalachicola river was necessary to
L
ed that their line just lost the ham
ding of 100000 tons Of Cuban SUI
gar because of conditions in Apalachi-
cola harbor their interest was fully
comprehensive.
cambridge, Ga, was represented by
J. w. Callahn. He spoke for the Cal
lahan line of steamers and pledged
the support of the Flint river section.
IOz9 i II,
was also heard from, L. Mayes repre-
senting them.
Calhoun county which holds next to
Jackson county the richest timber and
agricultural lands in Florida, was rep
by Col c. p. Warren Of
Blountstown and S. A. Leonard OF
Grand Ridge. The colonel told just
how vital deep water was to the COM
life of Calhoun. He talked
WE'LL his words carried over, and as
Colonel Warren appears to be a man
that gets what he starts after, deep
water in Apalachicola bay is now more
than a possibility.
At the close of this hearing all the
delegates were invited to the Franklin
hotel where they were the guests Of
the chamber of comerce at lunch. Gov
eFS were lalu IOF ABOUT 1VV. non. j.
H. Cook was POSTMASTER and Mrs. B.
D. Morris had charge of the luncheon
Mrs. Morris was assisted by Mrs. w.
Sawyer, Mrs. F. Comforter. Mrs. H. L.
oliver, Miss Florence Morris and
others.
In the afternoon Major Loving and |
the other guests went over the route |
IF the proposed channel on Mr.. Gala |
mans yacht Recreation, which he Of |
tered to the entertainment committee !
when they found out that the S. s. |
Crescent City had broken its shaft. On !
his get-together bay party it was de- !
,ided to organize an association. This !
association will probably be known as !
he Chattahoochee River Valley In |
1rovement association and will be au-
horized to do all the work that this |
movement demands. Colonel Warren |
If Blountstown was father to the |
hought and it was enthusiastically |
accepted.
Among those present were: Major J.
T. Loving. ]. E. Turtle, D. c. Trevar-