Evening star., 1943-04-04
Florida Barge Canal
Battle Shifted 10
Senate Committee
Opponents Of Project
Say 1t Cont Relieve
Oil Shortage in East
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

VII SuVsA ANSS ~ 60SN
BY GOULD LINCOLN.
The battle to win a $4,000 ,00'
appropriation for construction O
the projected Florida barge cana
has shifted to the Senate. Defeated
in the House Appropriations Com
mittee. the proponents of the prof
ect made no effort to have it in.
serted in the House.
Supporters of the canal projec'
are urging that it is necessary tt
supply the east coast States with
fuel oil and gasoline in the presen,
emergency.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican
of Michigan, one of the leading op-
ponents of the Florida canal. said
yesterday this argument was idle
that in the opinion of Maj Gen
Eugene Reybold, chief Of engineers
the canal could not possibly be COM
pleted in less than two years.
"Supporters of the canal say that
it could not be completed in 10
months Senator Vandenberg con-
tinued. Even if it could be done
and by the best authority we are
told that it cannot be done-it
would not help solve the problem
of supplying the East Coast with
petroleum products during the COM
ing winter"
Ickes Opposes Canal.
The Michigan Senator charged
that the most powerful lobby work.
ing in Washington is backing the
project. He pointed out that con-
struction of the canal was opposed
by the petroleum administrator for
war, Secretary Ickes. who has a pro-
gram already well in hand to sup
ply the East Coast with oil and gas
oline.
The drive of the canal support
ers is to have an appropriation
placed in the War Department civil
functions appropriations bill. This
measure is now before a Senate Ap-
preparations Subcommittee, headed
by Senator Thomas of Oklahoma.
Senator Thomas said that letter
had been sent to the War Depart
ment asking if the department
wished any amendments made.
When an answer has been received,
the committee will be ready to con-
slider the bill.
However" Senator Thomas said,
will be extended to the members of
the subcommittee. by the commit
tee in North Florida interested in
the barge canal, to visit the route
of the proposed canal. If it is, I
hope the invitation will be accepted,
1. for one. would like to make the
trip and have a flrst-hand under
standing of the problem.
Favored Ship Canal.
If the trip is made, he said in all
probability consideration of the bill
in committee would be delayed for
another week or two.
Il was in favor of the Florida
ship canal, which would have fol-
lowed the same route" Senator
Thomas added. The questions in
volved in the barge canal relate
to the use of critical war materials
for its present construction, the
labor required. the time which will
be required for construction"
The barge canal has the backing
of Senators Pepper and Andrews,
of Florida and of four
of the six Florida House members
South Florida opponents of the pro-
posed canal point out that there
already exists a barge canal across
the State from Fort Myers to Stuart,
and contend it is ample.
What I fear, said Senator VAN
denberg, "is that, under the guise
of a solution for the East Coast
petroleum shortage. this appropria-
ton will be slipped into the appro-
priation bill 1t is no solution.
Further. the barge canal is only the
first step. If it is constructed. the
next demand will be for a ship canal.
which would take a long time to
construct and cost upwards of
5000, 100000
A bill authorizing the construc-
ton Of the Florida barge canal
passed the Senate last year. The
vote was a tie, 80 to 30, and Vice
President Wallace cast the deciding
vote for it. Some of the New Eng
land Senators are now under pres
sure to support the appropriation
on the theory it will help their sec
ton of the country"
Fancy "Package.'
However, j. c. Richdale, chair
man of the New England States
Liquid Fued Administration, said
recently in Boston that the spon-
sors of the Florida barge canal were
trying to sell this project to the
people of New England wrapped up
in a fancy package" and if it had
any merits lit should be sold on
It's true merit rather than on an
opportune misrepresentation
Gen. Reybold. in letter to Sem
ator Vandenberg under date of Feb
ruary "a last, said that it had been
his original view it would require
three years to construct the barge
canal, but that the department had
had an independent survey made
which held that the canal could be
completed in two years.
He added. however. that this could
be done only if good priorities were
given for material and the labor
supply was guaranteed" 1t is Gen.
Reybo]d's opinion that the cost
probably would rise to 100000
for the construction if it is speeded
up. and that an average 1000 labor
ers would be needed, rising to peak
5000 at times. Furthermore, 10000
tons of critical war materials would
be required, including steel
The construction of the canal