DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL 79

 Colonel HAnNUM. But they didn't explain to you about the Port Arthur
Ship Canal or the Sabine-Nechez Canal?
 Captain Mmas. To a certain extent they did.
 Colonel HANNUM. Are you familiar with the passes, the South Pass and the
Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River?
 Captain Mums. No, sir.
 Colonel HANNUM. Well, the South Pass has a project depth of 30 feet, and
it is about 12 miles to the head of the pass; the Southwest Pass has a project
depth of 35 feet and is 20 miles long. A vast amount of traffic from the At-
lantic Seaboard goes up to New Orleans and it they do not draw more than
30 feet, go up the South Pass.
 Captain MYa. Yes, sir; I know quite a number of vessels that use the
 South Pass.
 Colonel HANNUM. Why?
 Captain MYas. Account of it being closer.
 Colonel HANNuM. Yes; and, therefore, they save from 1 to 3 hours by going
 up the South Pass rather than the Southwest Pass; but the South Pass, espe-
 cially in flood stages, is very much more dangerous to navigate than the South-
 west Pass--
 Captain MYEas. Yes; there are times when they prefer the west passage.
 Colonel HANNUM. And shipping interests require them to go up the South
 Pass rather than the Southwest Pass in order to save from 1 to 3 hours' time.
 Captain Mrms. There is no great deal of difference in the operation of the
 two passes, the difference being only about 1% hours.
 Colonel HANNUM. But the widths are decidedly different; the southwest
 pass has three times the width of the south pass.
 Captain MYEin It depends a great deal on the conditions at the time as to
 using one pass or the other; if the weather is not bad, they would perhaps
 deem it more favorable to use the South Pass.
 Colonel HANxou. I just wanted to bring out the fact that shipping interests
 do require their pilots to go up the South Pass instead of the Southwest Pass
 in spite of the increased danger just in order to have an hour's time.
 Captain MYms. The contention or the position I have taken on this matter
 is, it is my private opinion that if there is a material saving that will overcome
 the hazards caused in the passage of this canal, certain types of ships will
 use this canal; they will be forced to use it.
 Colonel HAmNUM. Who controls the routing of the ships? Does the pilot or
 the master?
 Captain MYTas. The owner controls it; the master should, but oftentimes,
 because the pressure is such that his position is at stake and without possibly
 jeopardizing his interests through accidents or loss of life, he takes a great
 many chances he would not otherwise.
 Colonel HANNUM. Then the owner controls the routing of the ship, and if
 he is going to save money he will probably make it go through in spite of the
 danger.
 Captain MYms. Yes; I would say he would.
 Mr. KAY. This concludes the presentation on behalf of the objecting rail
 carriers. Subject to the request already announced, to which I understood
 the board so graciously consented, we shall have 60 days to meet and reply
 to whatever the traffic situation may evoke as a part of the data for your
 consideration. As far as this meeting is concerned, our presentation is
 finished.
 Colonel HANNUM. Mr. Willoughby, you made a statement in your address
 to the effect that the construction of the canal across the State would limit
 the development of the southern peninsula due to the high cost of future con-
 struction of highway or railway bridges across the canal. Have you any figures
 showing the capacity of these existing crossings which will be replaced by
 bridges in the future for the railroads?
 Mr. WILLOUGHBY. You misunderstood my statement. My statement was that
 all traffic will be confined to the five railway lanes and the nine highway lanes
 and that there will be no additional bridges beyond those which are now
 contemplated due to the high cost of those bridges.
 Colonel HANNUM. How long a period will the capacity of those crossings
 suffice?
 Mr. WILLOUOHBY. Their capacity, insofar as the railroads are concerned, it
 they will be double track for the railroads that now exist, they would suffice
 during a very long time. As to the highways, the State highways have not