Banks-Commercial Restrictions, and other Grievances.

demption of these imputed obliga- the provinces (then belonging to Spain) tions; those who effected the adoption were invaded by the troops of the United of such restriction, contending that the States; and the withholding of protection people of the state are not justly respon- to the citizens of Florida during the prosible for the improvident acts, allowed tracted Indian hostilities which comby Congress, of the territorial authorities, menced in 1835, and the refusal to who, they insist, were the creatures indemnify the many hundreds of citizens solely of federal legislation and federal whose property was devastated by the executive power, and also that the bonds savages, owing to the flagrant neglect of were purchased by the holders in disre- the federal government to fulfil its duty gard of the conditions of the acts of of affording proper protection to them; incorporation, and with full knowledge and likewise the refusal to pay others

amount of merchandise for transportation into the interior, and has besides considerable trade.

Some miles of the Florida, Alabama, and Georgia rail-road, near Pensacola, was graded, as hereinafter stated, several years ago, but that work has been suspended for the present.

from New Port (a rival town to St. Mark's, situated a few miles above it, on the St. Mark's river) to the Georgia line. A small private rail-road was constructed a few years ago, leading to Forsyth and Simpson's extensive manufactories and mills, near Bagdad, on Black Water river, West Florida, but it became useless, and has been taken up. Excepting some local improvements In 1835 a company was incorporated at the city of St. Augustine, made by to build a canal or rail-road, to connect the federal government, and which were the Apalachicola river (through lake necessary for the preservation of its proWimico) with St. Joseph's bay; at which perty there, the foregoing, it is believed, it was intended to establish a shipping comprise all the works of the character port for the produce brought down the heretofore constructed, or partially conChattahooche and Flint and Apalachi- structed, in Florida, cola rivers, and from the surrounding Florida has several capacious and country; and for receiving and forward- secure harbors, and of easy entrance. ing merchandise to the interior; and as No less than twenty-six important rivers: a rival to the city of Apalachicola. A the Perdido, the Escambia, the Blackroad about nine miles long was put in water and Yellow rivers, (through St. operation, but in consequence of the Mary de Galvez bay,) the Choctawhatdifficulties attending the passage of large chie, the Apalachicola, (into which flow steamboats through the shoal waters of the Chattahooche and the Flint,) the the lake, it was abandoned in 1839; and Ockolockonee, the St. Mark's and Waanother road running from St. Joseph, kulla, (through St. Mark's or Apalachee north, about 30 miles, to Iola, a village bay,) the Wacissa and Oscilla, the Suestablished on the west side of the Apa- wanee or Little St. John's, and its tribulachicola a mile above the Chipola river, taries, the Withlacoochy, and Alapahau, was constructed at an expense of up- and Santaffee, the Weethlockoochee or wards of $300,000 dollars. A bridge of Amixura, the Hillsborough, the Nokoshosuperior construction, several hundred tee or Manatee, the Talachopko or Peas yards in length, was thrown across the creek, the Caloosahatche, the Otsego, Chipola, and the rail-road continued upon the two Caximbas, the Galivans river, it. A town was soon built at the southern Harney's river, and Shark river, besides terminus, on the bay of St. Joseph, which other streams of lesser note, flow from, bay has an excellent harbor, easily or through the state, into the Gulf of accessible to merchant vessels of the Mexico. The five first-named rivers first class usually employed in southern extend into the State of Alabama. They trade. In 1841 the rail-road, in conse- already bear upon their waters to the quence of pecuniary embarrassments of Florida Gulf shipping ports valuable the company, occasioned by its immense products, which could be greatly inexpenditure, was abandoned; and soon creased by comparatively trifling artifiafter the rails were taken up, and sold to cial "internal improvements," and the a rail-road company in Georgia. Many value of the public and private lands in persons contend that the site has superior Alabama, contiguous to them, much advantages, and that with judicious enhanced. The Chattahooche river is management it would have succeeded; the boundary between Alabama and and that it may be resuscitated at some Georgia, and is navigable for steamfuture period, under favorable auspices. boats for upwards of 150 miles northward The proper and judicious improvement from its junction with the Flint, where of the harbor of Apalachicola would they form the Apalachicola. The Flint of course prevent this, and especially if extends upwards of 100 miles into one the inland communication along the of the most productive sections of Georcoast (hereafter mentioned) from South gia. The Ockolockony, the Oscilla, the Cape to the Mississippi, is undertaken. Suwanee, and the two first named of its Apalachicola now ships to foreign ports tributaries, all extend into Georgia; and and coastwise upwards of $6,000,000 if all of them are not susceptible by artiworth of cotton and other produce an- ficial improvement of being made navinually, and receives a corresponding gable for steamboats of a large class,

Improvement of Harbors and Rivers-Water Communication. 317

they can be made equal to most of the delta or outlets; and instead of removordinary canals in operation in the ing bars or deepening channels by excamiddle states, to within a few miles of vation, making portions of them positive their respective sources, in affording and immovable obstructions, thereby facilities for the transportation of produce confining the waters to as few channels to the coast, and of merchandise into as possible, and causing them to force the interior. Every one of the rivers and deepen those channels for their named, not only at their respective out- debouchement to the gulf or sea. Eslets to the gulf, but with reference to pecially on the southern Atlantic coast, their navigation in the interior, are sus- and in the gulf, is this plan deemed to ceptible of artificial improvement, the be the most eligible. beneficial effects of which would be Several different examinations, reconcommensurate to the expense incurred. noissances, or surveys, have been made The country at large would not only be of some of these rivers and their outlets, benefited by the promotion and exten- and reports furnished as to their sussion of the agricultural and commercial ceptibility of advantageous improveinterests of the contiguous region, and ment, which can be found by reference the development of new sources of to the public documents, of which a list wealth and prosperity, that the improve- is annexed in note A. ments suggested would cause; but the That an inland water communication facilities for cheap and ready defence of from the Mississippi river to South Cape, an extensive coast frontier, (now greatly in Middle Florida, could be obtained for exposed to a foreign maritime enemy,) steamboats of a medium size, and coastthat such improvements would afford, ing craft, was many years ago mainwould be of incalculable national advan- tained by high authority. The expense tage. In fact, the federal treasury, as to necessary to obtain such inland commumost of them, would be more than reim- nication, by canalling between the bursed for all outlays (if it undertook the nearly continuous line of bays, or sounds, works) by the enhanced value of the running parallel with the gulf coast, from public lands in their vicinity, and their South Cape to the Mississippi, and by consequent increased] sales. And if closing the mouths of one or two streams undertaken by a state or states, or by and stopping a few shoal inlets, is really corporate associations, and a proper por- trifling, when the immense advantages tion of the lands were granted in aid of to flow from such a work is estimated. the works, the United States would be But I will not dilate on this undertakremunerated by the increased value of ing. The public documents, enumerated the portion retained. The states of in note A, afford full information on the Alabama and Georgia are directly inter- subject, and demonstrate, to my judgested in the improvements referred to, ment, the entire practicability of effectto an extent quite equal to the interest ing results especially beneficial to the of the State of Florida. Some years western states, and to Alabama and since, the legislature of the last-named Florida; and when such communication state directed an examination of the is extended across the peninsula to the Ockolockony river, with a view to its ocean, important to the Atlantic states. improvement; and it has also, at different times, made examinations with a view to the improvement of the navigation of the Chattahooche and Flint rivers; and it has expended some money on both. Alabama has as yet done but little to promote the interests of her south-eastern counties, in obtaining facilities for the transportation of produce to the gulf, through Florida.

On the Atlantic or eastern coast of Florida, above or north of Cape Sable, there are several important streams, which could also be improved by widening, straightening, and deepening, and by removing obstructions in the navigation, at comparatively trifling expense, considering the benefits that would result therefrom, in the same way above mentioned.

It is believed that the improvement The sound behind the tongue of land of the bays and harbors, and of their terminating at Cape Florida, receives outlets to the gulf or sea, can be ren- the Miami river, Little river, Arch dered easier, less expensive, and more creek, Rio Ratones, and Snake creek, substantial and permanent, by the adop- and extends several miles north, paraltion of the system of closing unnecessary lel with the sea-shore. New River Inlet,

Hillsborough river and inlet, Jupiter In- suggested. And many coasting vessels let, St. Lucia river and inlet, Halifax from the eastward, going southward, river and inlet, Mosquito river and inlet, might, by such inland communication, Matanzas river and inlet, St. Augustine avoid the necessity of stemming the harbor, North river, San Pablo creek, strong current of the "gulf stream;" of St. John's river, Nassau bay and river, crossing the Bahama Banks; and also and the river St. Mary's, (the latter be- the other hazardous experiment of huging the boundary between Florida and ging Cape Carnaveral, and keeping Georgia,) are all important points on the close to the Florida coast, in trying Atlantic coast. As is heretofore stated, which, so many such vessels bound in respect of the gulf coast between southward are wrecked. The documents South Cape in Middle Florida, and the referred to in note A. will give vaMississippi, a nearly continuous line of luable information on all these points. inland "sound navigation," for coasting craft and steamboats of the medium size, drawing six or seven feet, it has been suggested, (and with great plausibility.) may be effected from Cape Florida to the mouth of the St. Mary's river, by closing securely and permanently some of the inlets mentioned, and by excavating less than thirty miles of canal, and by widening and deepening, in a few places, the natural channels of the interior cominunications now existing; being the "sounds," and also the "lakes" and rivers adjacent to, and extending (with but trifling interruption) along the entire eastern coast of the state, and running parallel with the seashore, at a short distance therefrom, in the interior. And it has been predicted, that after such improvement, the natural effect of the tides from the sea, through the "inlets" remaining open, and of the accumulation of the waters flowing into the sounds from the interior, and restrained to such outlet to the sea, and the currents caused thereby, would be, not only to increase the depth of the channels of the sounds, but to deepen several feet, and keep open the entrances from the ocean at St. Augustine and St. John's; and to such extent, as always to admit large vessels adapted to foreign trade. The entire expense of such improvements, it is estimated, would not exceed two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. But if it should be three or four times that sum, it would not equal the value of the benefits resulting in a national point of view, and to other states besides Florida. Such improvements would render the entire coast, from St. Augustine to Cape Florida, forever impregnable to any enemy, and even exempt it from annoyance, without the necessity of fortifications, except at the outlets to the sea, left open, and deepened, as

The clearing out of the small streams emptying into the sounds at the southern part of the peninsula, and the connection of the sources of those streams by canals with the interior and fresh waters of the Pahhayoke or Everglades, covering an area of at least eighty by thirty miles, and with the large and deep fresh-water lake Okechobe, further north, and with the interior river Kissimme, running into said lake from Tohopekaliga lake and other lakes, (the waters extending ninety miles north from the mouth of the river,) would not only reclaim vast quantities of rich sugar lands, now submerged by the overflow of the waters, at certain seasons, but would be the means of facile interior communication, and also between every part of the interior region and the sea-coast, and afford easy and cheap transportation for all the produce intended for exportation to foreign ports or shipments coastwise. The extensive swamp called Halpatioke would become dry and cultivable. And the character of the country is such, that the cost of such improvement would not be great. The upper soil is light and easy of excavation; the substratum of clay with which it is underlaid is tenacious, and prevents the difficulties so often caused by caving or sliding. The face of the country is level, and no material obstructions arising from rocks will be found. The principal obstacle to the undertaking is, that it is of a character which renders it necessary that every portion of it should be commenced and carried on to completion, simultaneously and speedily, requiring a large la boring force, and united, combined, and concurrent action.

So, too, on the western coast of the peninsula, the deepening of the outlets and the connection of the rivers emptying into the gulf with the same interior

Reclamation of Sugar Lands-Roads, Canals, Ship Railway. 319

waters above mentioned, would be equal- sea-coast, or from a point on the sound to ly beneficial. The vast swamp called the same waters, some distance farther the Big Cypress, or Atseenhoofa, could south, has also been suggested. be reclaimed; and the completion of such works on both sides would probably effect a means of passage for small coasting vessels and steamers across the peninsula, thereby avoiding the perilous navigation of the keys and reefs farther south, and extending south-westwardly upwards of a hundred miles from Cape Florida and Cape Sable, into the gulf.

The improvements suggested in the two last paragraphs are subjects of comment in the valuable documents annexed to a report made by Senator Breese of Illinois, from the Committee of Public Lands of the Senate, at the 1st session, 32d Congress, August 28, 1848, Doc. No. 242. Other important information as to the agricultural capabilities, and products, and trade, and fisheries, and other resources of Florida, is to be found in these documents.

On the peninsula, a rail-road from Tampa bay to the navigable waters of St. John's, near the head of the navigation of that river, has been spoken of, and will probably in a very few years be undertaken. When the adjacent country becomes more densely populated, such a work will certainly be con

structed.

Another road from Tampa, running northwardly up the peninsula, avoiding the watercourses on both sides, and extending as far up as Jacksonville, has been strongly urged, and has many ad

vocates.

Above Tampa, on the peninsula, various projects have been suggested to connect the lower with the upper region of the peninsula, and to connect the Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic.

It is said that the head-waters of the Kissimme can be connected with those at the sources of the St. John's river, so as to be navigable for boats transporting produce.

A canal for boats or barges drawing four or five feet, has been spoken of as practicable at small expense from the Ocklawaha, a branch of the noble river St. John's, to the navigable waters of the Weethlockoochee or Amixura.

A canal from the sound near Smyrna, on the eastern edge of the state, to lakes which are the head-waters of the St. John's river, a few miles west of the

A rail-road from Pilatka, on the St. John's river, to such point as may be ascertained to be the most eligible, on the gulf coast, near Cedar Keys, or near Waccassa bay, has likewise been spoken of, as has also a similar work from Jacksonville, on the St. John's; and also one from the mouth of the St. Mary's to the same points on the gulf. In fact, several different rail-roads from the west side of the St. John's river, farther down to the gulf, are in contemplation.

One from Picolati, intended to extend east to St. Augustine; one from the head of navigation on Black creek; and one from Jacksonville, or a point near that town, to some point on the gulf, or on the Suwanee river, have been spoken of and likewise a rail-road from St. Mary's river to the Suwanee. Charters have been obtained in past years from the Florida legislature for some of the lastmentioned works, to be undertaken by corporate associations, but none of them, it is believed, have as yet had any route properly surveyed, preparatory to carrying out their charters and commencing such work practically. The routes of two of these contemplated works are laid down on the map inclosed, of one of which it is understood some years since a reconnoissance was made by an officer of the United States army, (Captain Blake,) since killed in battle in Mexico. The same officer made a partial survey of the harbor of Tampa and of a portion of the eastern coast of the state, and of the sounds contiguous thereto, which are referred to in the said list of documents marked A.

The "through cut," or "great ship canal," or "ship rail-way," across the head of the peninsula, has been written about a great deal within the last thirty years. It has formed the subject of congressional speeches and reports, and of newspaper essays, and many years since a board of the United States Engineers, at the head of which was General Bernard, made a partial survey, with a view to ascertain its practicability and its cost. His report, and maps of his surveys, are to be found in vol. iv. Ex. Doc. 2d Sess. 20th Cong., 1828-9, Doc. No. 147. Different termini have been indicated on the gulf side, for this work. The St. John's river has been generally mentioned as