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42d Congress, \ HOUSE OF REPBESENTATIVES. ( Mis. Boo.
2 d Session. ] (No. 110.
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SHIP-CANAL THROUGH FLORIDA PENINSULA.
JOINT MEMORIAL
of
THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA,
relating to
Ship communication between the waters oj the Gulf of Mexico and the
Atlantic Ocean by ship-canal through the Florida Peninsula.
March 11, 1872.—Referred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed.
To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled :
The joint memorial of tlie senate and house of representatives of the
State of Alabama in general assembly convened, respectfully present to
your consideration a subject which they conceive to be of great national
importance, and to which they pray your honorable body will give early
attention. Your memorialists believe that but for schemes of public
improvements equal in importance, the opening of a ship communication
between the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean through
the Florida peninsula. They show that if such channel were opened
suitably to accommodate the passage of vessels engaged in the com¬
merce of the Gulf, a long, tedious, difficult, and dangerous navigation
would be avoided; that thereby a great saving of time, of property, and
expense would accrue to the parties engaged in that commerce, and the
interest of the whole country, and every portion of the country, would be
advanced.
The ship-owner of the North and East would have the security of his
vessel in commerce with the Gulf enhanced. The planter and mer¬
chant of the South, whose property, in the shape of the great southern
staples, is in course of transit to the northern ports and to Europe,
would find their cotton and sugar relieved from great danger, and its
value increased by the saving of time, freight, and insurance; in like
manner the farmer and merchant of the great food-producing AYest
would find similar benefits and advantages in the transit of their pro¬
duce from the valley of the Mississippi to the ports, whether of Europe
or America, on the Atlantic.
These advantages, great almost beyond calculation, in time of peace,
HH3 95"
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SHIP-CANAL THROUGH FLORIDA PENINSULA.
would be still further increased in time of war to the citizen, by having
his property, during the whole time of its passage, almost immediately
under the powerful protective arm of the nation.
Moreover, a ship-canal across Florida, being wholly within the United
States, could be used by foreign vessels only during such time, arid on
such conditions, as the Government prescribed; a jurisdiction and author¬
ity that would be invaluable in time of war with any great naval
power, or in which the West India Islands should be hostile. In another
point of view, and in connection with another great .work, which will
probably be accomplished at a period not now distant, a ship canal
across the neck of Florida is of the greatest national moment. If it be
important that authority over the Pacific coast of the United States and
the sea there be preserved, and its people and territory be thoroughly
secure from invasion, and the augmenting commerce of this country with
Japan, China, and the East Indies generally be promoted, the Atlantic
States and the Government should have a nearer and securer sea-route
to that coast and those countries, than the nations of Western Europe.
This they have not now by the way of Cape Horn, and would not have
by a ship-canal across the Isthmus of Darien. The ships of Yew
York and Yew England by either route, taking an eastward and south¬
eastward course, in order to avoid the adverse current of the Gulf
stream, and to get into the region of the trade-winds, fall into the same
track in that region with the ships of England and Western Europe at
about an equal distance from their respective home points, and have,
therefore, little or no advantage over them.
But by a sliip-canal across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec from the Gulf
of Mexico, (a work which there is no reason to believe will be effected
by private enterprise,) and a ship-canal across Florida into-thaPGulfy-
the Government and the Atlantic ports would gain so great an advan¬
tage in their communication with both the Pacific coast of Yorth America,
and all Eastern Asia, that the nations of Europe could not keep up even
a show of rivalry from their comparatively much more distant shores.
A mere glance at the map offers abundant proof of the immense advan¬
tage to be secured by these improvements in the particulars above sug¬
gested, without further dwelling upon their details.
Your memorialists further represent to your honorable bodies that,
from the best information they are able to obtain of the nature of the
country to be crossed, and the character and the course of the streams
to be found there, they believe that a practicable route exists between
accessible ports on the Gulf and on the Atlantic; and that such com¬
munication as the commerce of the country requires can be accomplished
at a moderate cost, in view of the great advantage to be secured.
Your memorialists refrain from speculation upon this branch of their
application, because it is a matter of examination, which can only be
satisfactorily ascertained by a survey made under the direction of com¬
petent engineering skill; and they content themselves with a reference
to the facts collected and set forth in the statement herewith submitted,
and hereinbefore referred to.
Your memorialists, therefore, respectfully pray that your honorable
bodies will cause a thorough survey to be made of the Florida isthmus,
with a view to ascertain the practicability of the ship-canal herein sug¬
gested ; and if, as your memorialists believe, such channel be found
feasible of construction, that then your honorable bodies will proceed and
cause the same to be opened at as early a day as the nature of the work
will permit, in order that our commercial interests may be advanced,
ship-canal through florida peninsula. 3
and the country be secured in the benefits and advantages which this
great improvement would open to it.
And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
Approved February 10, 1872.
[seal.] BOBT. B. LINDSAY,
Governor.
State of Alabama, Office of Secretary of State,
February 22, 1872.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct copy from the original
roll on file in this office.
J. J. PARKER,
Secretary of State.
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