DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLOBIDA CANAL 133 Mr. MA&NSmLD. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield? Mr. Gasm. I yield to the chairman of the Rivers and Harbors Committee. Mr. M arsnm In the colloquy a while ago between the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Cochran] and the gentleman from Florida, reference was made to foreign ships using this canal. The major portion of the commerce that will pass through the canal will be coastwise trade, and foreign ships are prohibited by law from engaging in such trade. Mr. Ga=n. Yes; that is an excellent contribution and, I think, answers the gentleman from Missouri. I believe it is time that our Government should embark upon public-work projects for the American people that will mean a permanent investment and provide returns to our people in future generations. A canal across the State of Florida will not be for this generation alone. It will not be built for today, but it will be for all time in the future, and when we compare it with raking leaves and cutting weeds and various small projects which we have had to resort to in the past, I believe, as an unemployment measure alone, this canal is fully Justified and should be built at this time in the public interest Of all the waterway-improvement projects which have been suggested, this Is the outstanding one which has been considered by river and harbor engineers and by Public Works engineers, and where others stand 1 to 1 this stands 2 to 1. This project offers an opportunity to do something for the American people for all time to come. This Congress cannot fail to approve it. Mr. RaE of New York. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield? Mr. Gap I yield to the gentleman from New York. Mr. Rni of New York. For what distance does this proposed route follow the St Johns River? Mr. Gam. One of the routes, the first one to Jacksonville, would follow it only some 20 miles. The one to Middleburg would be 80-odd miles, and the one on down to Palatka and across to Ocala to the Withlacoochee and the Oklawaha and St. Johns, the route follows the river, 00 or 80 miles. Mr. RED of New York. The depth in the St. Johns River now up as far as Jacksonville will take an ocean steamship? Mr. GBam. The river from Jacksonville to the Atlantic Ocean is adequate to carry most vessels that will use the canal. Mr. REm of New York. Has the gentleman the geological survey of his State here? Mr. Gs0s. Not today. Mr. REo of New York. The gentleman has undoubtedly examined it. Mr. GamO. Yes. Mr. Ra of New York. That shows that all of this proposed route is simply a sandy soil that can be handled easily. There is no blasting. Mr. 0am It is easy to dredge. It is a mck soil, a sandy-loam soil; and such rock as is under the soil is a soft, porous lime rock, easy to dredge. Mr. RmD of New York. The gentleman will find that his State geological sur- vey some years ago brought out the very point that he has as to the character of the rock and sol. Mr. GOzm. It is easy to dredge. Mr. Smas. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield? Mr. Gass. Yes. Mr. Suza. In reply to my colleague from New York [Mr. Reed], the gentle- man will recall that the depth is 80 feet from the ocean to Jacksonville at present, and from Jacksonville to Palatka, 50 miles, it is about 18 feet all the way, which will make a very short cut through. In reply to his other question, borings have been made by the War Department which show that this material does not require blasting. Also, I remind my colleague that there was a greater fight put up against the Panama Canal than In made against this canal. It was contended at that time that the Panama Canal would be a failure. I am satislled that the future will prove that this canal is just as meritorious and perhaps as well justified as was the Panama CanaL Mr. Go s. Some of the best engineering minds in the world, as has been said by my colleague from Florida, passed unfavorably upon the Panama Canal and said it was npt feasible; that it was only a dream and was impossible of accom- plishment. What Member of Congress or what shipping interest or what gen- eral American interest would say today, "Fill up the Panama Canal"? To the contrary, they are now advocating very seriously a canal across Mexico, many, many miles above the Panama Canal, to make a shorter route from the lower California Gulf to the Gulf of Mexico ind on to the cities of the East. That canal may sometime be realized.