DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL 135 Imports Imports-Continued Argentina: A 1918 rgentna 864 Brazil-Continued. 19---------- ----- 7,777 -------- 207,686 1929----------------- 117, 81 1988--------- ------ 82 618 1933__, .--- A, 8836 Mexico: 1913------------------ 77,544 Brazil: 1920. -- --------- 179,332 19183 ------------ 120,156 1929----------- 117,738 1920 --- ------- ---- 227,588 1983 .---- ----- 30, 716 Our trade advantages in Latin America can, and should be, strengthened. There is no good reason why, with the proper development of our waterways and harbor facilities, and with proper trade agreements and negotiations, we should not be able to obtain at least half of all Latin-American trade. The construction of this canal across north Florida will have a most whole- some effect upon our Latin-American trade relations and will increase our tonnage, and in this connection this canal will enable our Mississippi Valley States to place their raw products on the European market at a far reduced transportation charge and thus enable us to compete with such Latin-American raw products as are sent to Europe. It will make the products of the Missis- sippi Valley reach the European market from 1 to 2 days earlier than nowr and will reflect this saving in time in reduced transportation cost. Corn and corn products, livestock and meat products, cotton, wheat, and, in fact, all products of the Missouri and Missisaippi Valley which are now sold abroad will be better enabled to compete on the European market with similar products from South America. Now, Mr. Speaker, the American Government is expending huge sums for waterway development. Let us take the figures, for instance, from 1802 down to 1983 The American Government on the Mississippi River system alone spent $482,000,000; on intercoastal canals, $123,00,000; lake harbors and channels, $205,000,000; seacoast harbors and channels, $648,000,000; operation and tariff canals, $126,000,000; on all projects, $1,619600,000. How about the Boulder Dam project with more than $100,000,000? How about the Conowlngo project with its huge amount? How about the project down at Muscle Shoals and the Tennessee Valley--$150,00,000? And the Norris Dam and the Wheeler Dam will require another sixty or eighty million dollars to complete. Mr. Speaker, this is hardly a drop in the bucket compared to the other great developments which have been accomplished by the United States Army engineers and by the American people. The Muscle Shoals and Tennessee Valley development projects can reach their full benefits and usefulness only through the construction of this canal The development of the Tennessee Valley project will bring production of millions of tons of commerce. In order for this tonnage to meet competition on the world market, it will be necessary for it to utilize cheap water transportation. This tonnage to and from the Muscle Shoals and Tennessee Valley development will pass through the Florida canaL Fetijlier produced at Muscle Shoals will by water be distributed to practically all ports of our country and from there distributed to the farmers of our Nation. They will receive the benefits of cheaper water transportation caused by the time and distance saving brought about though the construction of the Florida canal. Muscle Shoals as now being developed will be one of the greatest industrial centers of the world. Practically all products there manufactured will need cheap water transportation. The initiation of the Tennessee Valley project was the "dawn of industrialization of the South and Southeast" With the construc- tion of this canal, factories of practically all kinds will increase in this great heretofore undeveloped section of our country. The streams-and there are many-will be harnessed and offer cheap power for every sectiqp of this great area. Textile mills, are already increasing; in fact, nearly half of the spindles now operating in the country are in this great area. The iron and steel industry of Alabama, the phosphate industry of Tennessee and Flrida, the timber and naval stores industry of the entire South, the pulpwood and paper industry and, in fact, practically all industries will expand here by leaps and bounds. A greater demand will accrue for all farm products of the Mississippi Valley In the South. The large saving and transportation charges will be beneficial to every State in the Union. The vast resources of my own State will likewise be fully developed.