The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-03-05
URGE SUPPORT FOR
ATLANTIC CANAL
North Florida Chamber of Commerce
Asks Floridians TO Help.

!
+, tempt to get representative attend
ance at the hearing to be held at Apa-
| lachicola March Is on the proposition
to re-survey the river and bay The
| y. f. c. of c. believes that the as
sistance of this entire section should
| be forthcoming in order that the prop
err steps may be taken leading to STAT
of work on the Mississippi-Atla
canal project.
The following statement is sent out
by Secretary Phillips of the North
Florida chamber:
Commercial development upon
larger scale depends upon improved
transportation facilities. Port facili-
ties upon the South Atlantic and Gulf
will make the United States a strong
err competitor in the worlds COM
merce.
Products of the middle west and
southern states should not be subject
TO rail congestion and cramped port
facilities as experienced during the
world war, but moved with dispatch
over shortest routes to near facilities
for export, and this can only be real
lied with the improvement of inland
waterways and intercoastal canals for
efficient handling at a minimum cost.
House Bill No 10919 of the Sixty
sixth congress by Hon. Frank Clark,
provides for the investigation Of
proposed canal from Cumberland
sound on the Atlantic. across the
state Of Florida into St. George sound
at Apalachicola and eastward to the
Mississippi river. thus affording an
tat n
southern states through their respec-
tive system of rivers direct into the
Atlantic ocean and with a saving of
500 miles passage around the Florida
peninsula This great inland water
way will afford transportation through
smoath water for inland barges deliv-
ering cargoes for either distribution
through the river systems and for eX-
port at all of the Gulf and South At
lantic ports.
"Meat. grain oils from the central
states. coal and iron from Alabama,
may be loaded upon barges and deliv-
cred to industrial points upon the
various rivers of other states. Naval
stores, cotton and cotton goods as re-
turn cargoes to tidewater for export.
"This canal, to the nation, would be
of inestimable value for coast defense
purposes and short communication be
tween the Gulf and the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans. 1t would permit the
easy and safe transportation of mu-
nitions of war and troops without ex-
posture to attack in the open waters of
the ocean.
This canal would insure develop
ment along the entire section and with
a radius of a hundred miles of its
route and that Of the rivers communi-
cable thereto, and with its economic
transportation would offer develop
ment of industrial enterprises. There
will be ready market when the prod
ucts can be delivered at minimum
cost.
This Atlantic Mississippi canal Isl
not new project, but has been in
the minds of the nation since the days
of. George Washington, and culminat
ed in 1S76-1SS0 when survey of the
proposed route was made by Gen. Gill
more, chief of the United States en-
gineers, and covering the Identical
route. now proposed as being the most
feasible. From Cumberland sound be-
tween the states of Georgia and Flor
ida, the route follows the st. Marys
river for a distance. then connecting
up the lesser streams across Florida
into the deep waters of st. Georges
sound to Apalachicola. From thence
it follows the deep waters of the Apa-
lachicola river for II miles, and from
this river a canal has been opened
connecting with st. Andrews bay. A
small amount of excavation will con-
meet the route with Chcotawhatchie
bay and into Santa Rosa sound to
Pensacola, from thence little dredging
to Perdido bay will afford communica-
ton through Mobile bay and Missis-
sippi sound into New Orleans which
is now open. Hence we see one-half
the project complete. The remaining
half through Florida low lands would
entail no great expense as 1t would
follow the many water courses across
the state.
"Apalachicola extends an invitation
to attend a hearing upon a project
providing a ship canal from her docks
along the river to the Gulf of Mexico,
through st. Georges sound directly
over the proposed route of the Allan
tic Mississippi canal. This project a
water becomes a national project.
adding fifteen miles in the completion
of the canal This, then becomes of
vital interest to the entire section. AS
has been made Of Birmingham, Ala.
the completion of this link will make
sea ports of Columbus. Albany, Balm
bridge and other points in Georgia, as
we'll as Eufaula and points in Ala
-
water rates. Steamboat service upon
these rivers will insure the establish
ment of these rates upon all commod-
tiles, thus creating inland ports of
cities 500 miles from the sea. and by
continued Improvement will offer the
same to Atlanta.
THE hearing upon the project will
be held in Apalachicola on March Is.