Evening star., 1937-04-04
MARKHAM URGES
MORE EXPENSIVE
CANAL IN FLORIDA
Chief of Army Engineers, in
Opposition to Board, Asks
$197,921,O0O to Finish.
SCOUTS IDEA WATERS
WILL DAMAGE TREES
Recommendations to Congress and
Attached Findings of Board May
Be Made Public Tomorrow.

% OAt n IuOOND-
The Florida ship canal project
supposedly originated at the White
House, and, 1Uith the PaSSdnld-
Quoddy tidal basin poWer project
in Name, ,DdS understood to stand
high on President Rooseuelt'S list
OF 1Dork relief programs.
The canal plan met bitter oppo-
Sition in some sections OF Florida,
1Dhere citrus fruit groUers feared
it might imperil their tresh-Wdter
supply. This and Republican oppo-
Sition on the ground that it Wds
economically unJustifed resulted
in defeat tor the proposal in the
Seuenty-tourth Congress.
Construction of larger and more
costly ship canal across Florida than
was originally planned. was recon-
mended to Congress yesterday in a
report by Maj. Gen. Edward M. Mark
ham, chief of Army Engineers, in
which he disagreed on major points
with findings Of the Board Of Army
Engineers for Rivers and Harbors.
Gen. Markham placed the cost Of
completing the project at Sl97 ,92l 900,
exclusive of interest charges. He re-
jected the boards fears that construc-
ton of the proposed sea-level canal
would spoil the underground fresh
water supply and make the Federal
Government at least morally liable
for numerous claims for property
damage.
Instead, he took the position that
the flow of salt water in the canal
would cause no appreciable amount
of damage to the valuable fruit and
agricultural lands of the region.
Urges Wider. Deeper Channel
While the board was understood to
have described the project as eco
nomically unjustified, Gen. Markham
recommended that it be completed,
and that it be enlarged to provide .
channel having minimum bottom
width Of 400 instead Of 240 feet and
a minimum depth Of 33 instead Of 30
feet. flared and deepened at the Gulf
entrance. His recommendation was
sent to Speaker Bankhead yesterday
by Secretary of War Woodring and
probably will be made public tomor-
row, together with the attached find-
ings of the board and the division and
district Army Engineers
Reopening the controversy which
arose when President Roosevelt al
lotted S5,000,00o of Public Works Ad-
ministration funds to start the prof.
ect and which led to the halting of
work last year when Congress refused
to authorize its continuance, the con-
f1icting reports are expected to fur
nish heavy ammunition for both sides
in new political fight over the canal
Those favoring its completion al
ready are beginning to build their case
for an appropriation on Gen. Mark
hams recommendations, while those
who oppose it because of its pros
pective large cost and fear of the ef-
feet of the salt water on the water
supply in the porous underground
limestone are preparing to stress the
boards findings.
Would Wipe Out Defeat.
1t is regarded as certain that ad-
ministration leaders will seize on Gen.
Markham's recommendation in a drive
to wipe out the major defeat ad-
ministered to President Roosevelt last
year when Congress refused to author
ize continuance of either the Florida
ship canal or the 100000 Passama-
quoddy Tidal Basin power project in
Maine, on which about s7,O00o0O of
P. w. A. funds were spent. They