DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL 111

DOCUMENT NO. 50 (FILES OF U. S. SHIPPING BOARD), SEPTEMBER 4,
 1934

COMMUNICATION FROM NATIONAL GULP-ATLANTIC SIP CANAL As-
 SOCIATION TO CHAIRMAN OF UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD

 On September 4, 1934, Mr. Walter F. Coachman, Jr., executive
vice president of the National Gulf-Atlantic Ship Canal Association,
addressed the following communication to Admiral H. I. Cone,
Chairman, United States Shipping Board:

 NATIONAL GULr-ATLANTIC SHIP CANAL ASSOCIATION,
 Jacksonville, Fla., September 4, 1934.
Admiral H. I. CONm,
 United States Bhipping Board,
 Washington, D. C.
 MY DEAn ADMIRAL CONw: In the matter of the trans-Florida ship canal, we
 would appreciate your courtesy in reviewing the following information from
the viewpoint of shipping and advising us your conclusions thereon. Findings
indicate that the preponderance of shipping in the Gulf trade is in the 10%-
knot range. Further, that approximately 80 percent of the traffic which would
use this canal is in the United State: coastwise trade. Further findings indi-
cate that there will be approximately 10,000 ship transits per year which could
use this waterway at a saving. Assuming the utility is properly constructed
and equipped for safe navigation, therefore:
 (1) If these ships saved the time on each transit of the canal instead of
 traversing the Florida straits, as shown on the attached sheets from the
 United States Engineers' report, would these time savings represent real sav-
 ings to these ships which should justify their using the canal to obtain these
 benefits?
 (2) Would the ships be justified in paying a toll somewhat under their total
 savings per transit in order to obtain for themselves a portion of the savings?
 (3) Assuming the accuracy of the findings submitted herewith, would, in
 your opinion, this canal be a benefit to the Gulf and coastwise commerce of
 the Nation and stimulate Gulf commerce?
 Yours very truly,
 WALT F. COACHMAN,
 BEecutive Vice President.


 DOCUMENT NO. 51 (FILES OF U. S. SHIPPING BOARD), SEPTEMBER 5,
 1934

 COMMUNICATION FROM CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED STATES SHIPPING
 BOARD TO NATIONAL GULF-ATLANTIC SHIP CANAL ASSOCIATION

 Under date of September 5, 1934, Admiral H. I. Cone, Chairman
 of the United States Shipping Board, addressed the following com-
 munication to Mr. Walter F. Coachman, Jr., National Gulf-Atlantic
 Ship Canal Association:
 DmPIa rum r or COMMERCE,
 UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD BUREAU,
 Washington, September 5, 1934.
 Mr. WALTER F. COACHMAN, Jr.,
 National Gulf-Atlantio Ship Canal Assooiation,
 Jaclsonville, Fla.
 MY DEAR MR. COACHMAN: I have your letter of September 4, requesting my
 views as to the benefits which would accrue to the Nation's shipping and com-
 merce from the completion of the proposed trans-Florida ship canal. With
 your letter you enclosed extracts from the report of the Board of Engineers,
 United States Army, showing estimated savings in time for ships transiting