DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL 153

of Florida, found that the possible damage to agriculture from such a canal
would be negligible and limited to a narrow strip adjacent to the canal, and that
the damage to water supply would be small, consisting only of lowering the
levels of near-by wells.
 These reports are now being reviewed by the Board of Engineers for Rivers
and Harbors precedent to the submission of the reports to Congress with the
recommendations of the Department.
 Very truly yours,
 K. MAr. HAMx,
 Major Geeral, Chief of B gieers.


 DOCUMENT NO. 85 (FILES OF MIAMI BEACH CHAMBER OF
 COMMERCE), JULY 10, 1935

 CoMMUNICATIno FROM REPRESENTATIVE W. J. SEABs TO CHARLEB H.
 CHASE, Sn., S rcaeTarY, MIAMI BEACH CH.anB or Coimr czE

 Under date of July 10, 1935, Representative W. J. Sears addressed
 the following communication to Hon. Charles H. Chase, Sr., secretary
 of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce:
 HoUSE or RU BBENTATIVES,
 Washington, JuI 10, 1985.
 Hon. CHeA. H. CHAs, SB.,
 Secretary, Miami Beach Chamber of Commeroe,
 Miami Baezk, Fla
 Da-s MB. CHASE: Your letter, with copy of letter addressed to the President
 by the chamber of commerce, regarding the cross-State canal has been received.
 In reply thereto will state I cannot understand the present agitation against
 the canal. The question of destroying the water supply of Florida by making
 the same salty was raised at the very beginning, and the matter has been
 investigated by many of the most prominent engineers in the country and they
 have reached the conclusion that the charge is unfounded.
 To one who knows the facts, many of the statements contained in the news-
 paper articles against the canal are laughable and are evidently raised for the
 sole purpose of not only preventing but destroying the construction of the canal
 I believe you know me well. enough to know that if I was not satisfied these
 charges were unfounded nothing would prevent me from doing everything within
 my power to stop the construction of the canal However, having been con-
 vinced that the charge is unfounded, I shall exert every effort to secure the
 construction of the canal unless additional and convincing proof to the contrary
 is submitted to me.
 Only Saturday I had a conference with one of the highest ranking engineers
 In the country, and this talk only confirmed my statement that there is nothing
 to these charges. I am satisfied that men like yourself will not be misled and
 will be willing to rely on the facts as finally presented.
 With kind regards,
 Sincerely yours,
 W. J. Sa&s, M. 0