The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-29
FAVORABLE REPORT
 GIVEN CANAL BILL
Project Contemplates Sea- Level Canal From Atlantic
 to the Gulf
By Associated Press

Washington, January 28.--Survey under direction of the Secretary of War for a canal from Cumberland sound on the Atlantic seaboard to the mouth of the Mississippi river would be authorized under a bill introduced by Representative Clark, democrat. Florida, and reported favorably today by the House committee on railways and canals. An appropriation of $50, 900 would be made for this purpose.
 The project contemplates the build ing of a sea level canal from the At lantic across Georgia and Florida to St. Georges sound on the Gulf of Mex ico. southwest of Tallahasse. Fla. From St. Georges sound the existing natural inland waterway would be opened up at the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico westward, past Mobile bay and through Lakes Borane and Ponchartrain to the Mississippi river at New Orleans.
 265 MILES LONG
 The proposed canal would be about 26o miles in length, but by use of ex- isting navigable waters it was esti- mated that not more than 150 miles would have to be excavated. Such waterway, it was estimated, would save 497 miles between New Orleans and New York and 412 miles from New Orleans to Liverpool
 Under the provisions of the bill tn Secretary of War is required to. re- port to Congress on the cost of con structing sea level ship canal of such dimensions as to accommodate the largest sea going vessels and also q lock canal of the same size and barge canal of such dimensions as to accommodate the largest barges being used for the carriage of freight on any waters of the United States.
 ADVANTAGES APPARENT
 '"The many advantages ot canal are easily apparent the committee said in it's report to the House. "It would be the connecting link in a system of inland waterways extending from Boston harbor to the mouth of the Mississippi river and extending the length of that great waterway and it's numerous tributaries. It would enable the farmer of the great food producing states of the middle west to set his produce down at any point on the Att lantic and Gulf coasts, he might choose and at an insignificant cost in comparison with present rail charges.
 Tt would enable the manufacturer in the great industrial districts to get his product to the consumer at great ly reduced transportation rates. It would result in the reduction of rail rates throughout all the vast territory affected. It would enable the south ern farmer and fruit grower to get his produce to the great eastern and mid western markets without being de- prived of all his profits by excessive rail transportation charges as at pres ent. It would tap the great coal fields of West Virginia, west Pennsylvania and Alabama and distribute this valu- able produce more cheaply over a ter ritory approximating two-t thirds of the United States"
 AID TO DEFENSE
 '-The advantages of this canal" the report continued, from the standpoint of national defense are also numerous It would enable the army to rapidly move men and supplies along the coast and without the risks incident to travel In the open sea. It goes without say ing that such waterway would be an immense strategic advantage in naval warfare
 If this canal were constructed, 1t would be unnecessary for ships to pass through the dangerous waters of the straits of Florida in going from the