Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-05-22
With Other Editors
EAST COAST CANAL.

ida East Coast canal or of construct
ling parallel canal.
! From the interest displayed in
>these hearings it may be fairly said
that the people of the east coast are
becoming aroused over the long de-
lay in furnishing adequate transpor-
tation over the canal, which was
built by state aid, but which has been
operated, more or less, by a private
corporation.
Long years ago the state of Flor
ida granted to the company now own
ing and operating the Florida East
Coast canal something like one mil
lion three hundred thousand acres of
lands as subsidy for constructing
the canal. The canal was, after
many years, finally completed, in a
manner, but it cannot be said that
it is kept in condition that war;
rants attempts at its navigation,
even by boats of the shallowest
draught. AS a matter of fact, so far
as. being convenience to the people
Of the state, the canal does not exist,
for it now serves no practical pur-
pose.
There have been various attempts
to compel the operating company to
finish its contract as provided in the
original agreement between it and
the state. The matter has been be-
fore the legislature one or more
times in an effort to have the con-
tract, or franchise, declared forfeit
ed on the ground that the company
has never fulfilled its part of the
agreement. These efforts have been
successfully blocked in the legisla-
ture, up to this time.
With the rapid development of re-
cent years along the east coast of the
state, there has come a situation
through which the present railroad
transportation facilities have become
entirely inadequate, and the future
development of the same section
promises to create still worse sit
uation, unless some provision is
made by which the farmers, and
growers along the east coast can get
their products to market.
Sensing this condition, and realiz-
ing that within very few years, I'M
less something is done to prevent,
there will come time when all pres
ent transportation facilities will be
overwhelmed, leading men of the
east coast have taken up the propo-
sition to place the East Coast canal
in condition that will make it avail
able in moving the products of the
section to the markets.
Through an item inserted in the
last rivers and harbors bill authority
was given by congress for the prop
err officers of the government to
make such investigation as might be
necessary to ascertain whether the
taking over of the present canal or
the construction of another by the
government, would be practicable
and desirable. The hearings to which
to which reference has been made
have been held for the purpose of
carrying out those instructions.
One of the things the government
is anxious to know is as to what CO.
operation might be expected from
the people of this state in the con-
struction of any proposed canal
along the east coast.
In all probability this really means
what will the people of Florida
throuhg its legislature do to assist
the government in acquiring the
present canal, for it would look as
though the widening and deepening
fthe present canal would be much
cheaper than the securing of new
rights of way and the construction
Of an entirely new waterway.
This question, contained in the for
NAL QUESTIONABLE, brings the matter
squarely before the people of the en-
tire east coast and for a large part
of the state, besides. Will the people
of the state Of Florida cooperate
with the federal government in Sc
curing this great waterway and plac-
ing it in condition to serve the great
population that is gathering along
the east coast of the state and in the
southern extremity thereof? They
will when they fully realize just
what this great improvement means
in the way of development for the
state, and how much property will be
added to the resources and the taxa
Bile values of Florida.
That question should be met by or !
ganization all along the east coast,