8 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORDA CANAL

 The special board appointed by the Chief of Engineers' Special Order
No. 5, under date of February 5, 1927 (see Document No. 2), was
assigned the duty of making the preliminary examinations and sur-
veys ordered by the act of July 3, 1930.


DOCUMENT NO. 4 (FILES OF SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE)
 OCTOBER 9, 161

ACTION BY ATLANTIC DEEPER WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION IN CON-
 VENTION AT BOSTON, OCTOBER 9, 1931

 The Atlantic Deeper Waterways Association, in convention at
Boston, October 9, 1931, adopted the following resolution:
 This association was among the first to recommend the mportgnce of the
waterway across the State of Florida. For 20 years we have advocated the
construction of a waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Gulf of
Mekico-as a link between the intraooastal waterway along the Atlantic ea-
board and the Gulf of Mexico, which has usually been referred to as the Florida
waterway. This association reaffirms its endorsement of such a waterway and
amplifies the same so as to provide not only for barges but for ocean-going ves-
sels as well, along the most feasible route which will connect the Atlantic intra-
coastal waterway with the intracoastal waterway along the Gulf of Mexico to
the Mississippi River system, and which will provide a direct route between the
ports on the Atlantic Ocean and the ports on the Gulf.
 We urge a thorough investigation by the United States Engineers bearing on
 the physical costs and the commercial benefits to result from the construction
 of this waterway along such route as may best meet the needs of general com-
 merce and navigation, with a view to securing the approval of the Chief of the
 Corps of Engineers, and the submission of a plan and estimate of cost to the
 Congress for appropriate action, and hereby pledge our support.
 The construction of this waterway and its connection with the Mississippi
 River and Gulf inland waterway systems will provide a continuous, interior
 water route between the Great Lakes, via the Hudson River and the Atlantic
 intracoastal waterway, then along the Texas-Louisiana waterway, and up the
 Mississippi River. It will facilitate the general commerce of the United States
 by shortening the distance .between the ports on the Atlantic Ocean and the
 several ports on the Gulf of Mexico.


 DOCUMENT NO. 5 (FILES OF CHIEF OF ENGINEERS), OCTOBER 16, 1941
 THE GULz-ATLANTIC SHIP CANAL ACROSS FLORIDA
 An Economic Study by GILBERT A. YOUNoGBEG, Colonel, Corps of Engineers,
 United States Army, retired, of the firm of Hills & Youngberg, Engineers,
 under date of October 16, 1931
 This report represents the first thoroughgoing economic study of
 the ship canal project. It is an encyclopedic work of exceptional
 merit and has served as a basis for and a model of all subsequent
 surveys. The report was transmitted to the special board under
 date of October 16, 1931, by a letter of transmittal, which is given in
 part as follows:
 JACKSONVILLE, FLA., October 16, 1931.
 To: The Special Board of United States Engineer Officers on Trans-Florida
 waterways, Col. H. B. Ferguson, Corps of Engineers, senior member.
 Subject: Waterway across Florida.
 GmrrLzMwx: 1. For and in behalf of the city of Jacksonville, and pursuant to
 instructions from the city commission, we have the honor to submit the subjoined
 report in relation to a preliminary examination of a waterway across northern