Evening star., 1939-01-17
Florida and Quoddy
Projects Are Urged
By Roosevelt
President, in Letter
To Mansfield, Asks
Consideration
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
The PassamaQuoddy project for
harnessing the Atlantic tides in
Northern Maine for poUer pur-
poses ,pas abandoned in 1886.
Army Engineers had reported
that ercluSiue use OF tides Uould
be uery erpensiue poWer source.
The Florida Canal connecting the
Cult and the Atlantic 1Uas giUen
up in April, 1887 Both projects
1Cere among the most discussed
in the early days OF the NeW Deal.
BY the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt urged today a
revival of two mammoth projects of
early New Deal days-the Florida
ship canal and the tide-harnessing
effort at Passamaquoddy Bay, Me.
In special letter addressed to
Chairman Mansfield of the House
Rivers and Harbors Committee, Mr..
Roosevelt expressed hope that the
two projects would be given renewed
attention by the committee.
AS to the proposed canal across
Florida. the President noted that
surveys had been completed and
that a good deal" Of work already
had been done.
Sees Pact With Canada.
The other project relates to the
development of tidal power in the
Passamaquoddy Bay he continued,
adding:
1T is my belief the time will come
when there will be joint agreement
between Canada and the United
States for the joint development of
the larger project which would util-
lie all tidal power in that bay on
both sides of the international line.
Existing surveys are insufficient,
and it is my thought that an ap-
preparation for the completion of
test borings and a determination of
the advisability of putting a small
experimental plant on the American
side of the border would be justi-
fed
The canal, sought by some of
Florida's congressional delegation.
was strongly opposed by others who
said it would hurt the Southern part
OF the State. The project was
dropped in the last Congress by
refusal of Congress to finance it.
A start was made on Passama-
quoddy-better known as "Quoddy"
but the project was abandoned
in 1886 when Congress refused to
appropriate more funds. The build
ings at the site now are occupied
by clients of the National Youth
Administration
Protected Waterway.
The President reiterated his be-
lief that canal across Florida
would be valuable in giving the ship
ping industry a protected waterway
from the Gulf of Mexico to the At
lantic Ocean.
He suggested that it might be
built with relief labor during peri
ods of great unemployment and that
he would not object" if 10 or Is
years were consumed in its con-
struction.
1T has long been my belief that
a Florida ship canal will be built
one of these days." he explained,
"and that the building of it is JUS
tilted today by commercial and mill
tary needs"
He commented that tolls received
from ships in transit through the
canal would be enough to amortize
the actual cost. though it is
doubtful that these revenues would
take care of accumulated interest
charges"
Hearings May Be Necessary.
Representative Mansfield said ap-
proximately half the membership OF
the Rivers and Harbors Committee
would be new and hearings on the
two projects probably would be nec-
essary.
But We'll endeavor to put them
through" he added
Representative Green, Democrat
OF Florida has introduced bill tc
authorize completion of the canal
Chairman Mansfield said his com
mittee had not received a Passama.
quoddy bill.
In a 1887 report Maj. Gen. Ed
ward M. Markham, then chief oI
Army Engineers, recommended COM
pletion of the canal and estimated
the cost at $197 100000.
His report reversed findings of the
War Departments Board of Engi.