DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL 179

borne commerce and the general public itnerest, such as a reduction in the
hazards of navigation, form the basis for the determination of the economic
justification of a project. The views of navigation and commercial interests
as to the effect which the proposed improvement may have on their operations
are an aid to the board in weighing the public value of the savings and
benefits as determined by the board.
 I trust that the information contained herein answers the specific questions
propounded in your letter. I shall be pleased to furnish any further informa-
tion desired on request.
 Very truly yours,
 E. M. MArKHAM,
 Major General,
 Chief of Engineers.



 DOCUMENT NO. 105 (FILES OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS), JANUARY
 30, 1936

 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CnrIE OF ENOGNEmS TO SENATOR
 FLTwRER, RELATIVE TO PREVIOUS REQUEST OF TAMPA CHAMBER OF
 COMMERCE FOR SURVEY FOR CANAL ROUTE TERMINATING AT TAMPA
 BAY

 Under date of January 30, 1936, Maj. Gen. E. M. Markham, Chief
 of Engineers, addressed to Senator Fletcher the following communi-
 cation :
 WAB DAEPABTWNT,
 Oe cm or TrH CHUP or ENGIRmmS,
 Washington, January 0, 1986.
 Hon. DUiOAN U. FLroHam,
 United States Senate, Washington, D. C.
 MT DIAm SuATOm: I have your letter of January 24, 1986, in which you asked
 to be furnished with copies of any letters on file in this office from munici-
 palities or public bodies in Florida requesting or suggesting some special location
 for a trans-Florida canal.
 I am enclosing herewith copies of letters and telegrams from the president of
 the Tampa Chamber of Commerce urging that the survey for a canal route in-
 elude the economic possibilities of routes from the mouth of the Alafla River,
 Tampa Bay, across State east to Cape Canaveral or Fort Pierce; up Hillsborough
 River from Hillsborough Bay and across State north and east to Cape Cana-
 veral; and up Hillsborough River from Hillsborough Bay north and east to
 St Johns River, at or near the city of Sanford, Fla.
 Very truly yours,
 E. M. MABKHAM,
 Major General, Chief of Engineers.


 DOCUMENT NO. 106 (FILES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRA-
 TION), FEBRUARY 3, 1936

 MaMORANDUM BY LEONA B. GRAHAM, EXECwuIVE AssISTANT FOR THE
 ADMINISTRAToR

 Senator Fletcher having requested the Administrator of Public
 Works to furnish him with copies of all correspondence and data
 relating to the canal which had been previously furnished by the
 Administrator to Senator Vandenberg, the executive assistant for