Evening star., 1943-05-04
$2S,ooo,OO0 Voted
For Florida Canal
By Senate Group
Work Would Require
At Least Two Years,
Reybold Declares
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
A Senate Appropriations Sub
committee today approved an
appropriation of $28, 100000 for
construction of a barge canal
across Florida. Proponents had
asked for $44,00O,000.
Chairman Thomas of the sub
committee said the $2S,Oo0,Oo0 was
suggested by the Army chief of en-
gineers, who told the committee that
was all he could feasibly spend on
the canal during the fiscal year be-
ginning July 1.
Unofficial sources reported the
committee vote was 10 to 9 for the
project.
The full committee is scheduled
to act tomorrow.
Senator Thomas said no work
can be started on the canal unless
joint approval is registered by the
War, Navy and Commerce Depart
ments. The question of priorities
for critical materials also must be
taken into consideration, he said.
The canal was included in the
1914 War Department civil func-
tions appropriation.
Construction of the canal has
been advocated as a means of help
ing get additional supplies of pc
troleum and other products to the
Eastern seaboard.
AS such project, the 12-foot-
deep canal attracted support from
Senators Barbour of New Jersey
and Bridges of New Hampshire, Re-
publicans, though 1t still faces the
longtime opposition of Senator
Vandenberg, Republican. of Michi-
gan, who consistently has opposed
bisecting the Florida peninsula with
any form Of canal.
Canal Data Assembled.
During the course of the subcom-
mittee hearings, testimony of which
was made public today, Senator
Lodge. Republican, of Massachu-
sets asked Maj. Gen. Eugene Rey-
bold, chief of Army engineers:
do you subscribe to the state
ments made, assuming you got pri-
critics and material and manpower
needed, that this (building the
canaD can be done in 10 months?"
"No, sir" replied Gen. Reybold.
"What do you consider the short
est time in which 1t can be built?'
Senator Lodge asked.
1.-TWO years." Gen. Reybold an
swered.
The general told the committee
enough information already has
been assembled, with the exception
Of some data on lock foundations, te
enable work to begin as soon as
equipment can be put on the site.
He told the committee the route
for the canal, which would cross
part of the peninsula and connect
with the St. Johns River, is the
most feasible and most economical.
Insists on 10-Month Estimate.
Chairman Charles P. Summeral
u UIlc lCl 1Od Slllp Sdlldl AuGllOI AVS
reiterated his previous statement tt
a House committee that the cana
could be built within 10 months
provided adequate priorities were
granted. .- a,A~.-
Gen. Reybold estimated that Il
make the canal practical factor
in the movement of oil to the Eas
would require 300 tugboats and 1,00(
barges which would be capable o.
moving about 250,000 barrels of pc.
troleum day.
There is no need of us saying,
he added, Eve are going to cure
by means of this canal alone, al
the ills of the Atlantic Coast, be.
cause we do have pipe lines ane
railroads and they will always be
necessary"
He said water transportation was
necessary and that completion Of
the canal would link up the Gull
Coast Intercoastal Waterway anc
the Atlantic Coast Inland Water.
way.