254 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF TH FLORIDA CANAL

 The CHAIRMAN. That is signed by whom
 Senator VaxNDNznm. Signed by J. G. Johnson, vice president of
the Sinclair Navigation Co.
 The CaIxrrx. Is that the same man you quoted
 Mr. Bucx AN. Yes; the same man.
 Senator V iNDNBmuO. The same man; yes.
 Mr. BUCKxAN. Senator, I am glad you asked me that question,
because it gives me an opportunity to state something that I other-
wise probably would not have stated. The conclusion that I should
draw is simply this: Such testimony cannot safely be used as a guide
to economic justification of such a project. I think these witnesses
have impeached themselves and each other. There is more than one
case which has been put up to this committee like that. You have
concerns which have written letters in favor of this project, and
which have also introduced and sent in letters which are in tenor
diametrically and directly opposed to the project, and since you ask
me the question, I would say I would throw them in the waste
basket, either for or against.
 Senator VANDENBEGO. I would at least take the latest testimony
 if I was going to take any.
 Mr. BUCKMAN. I would take none of it. I cannot agree with you.
 Senator VANDENBERO. I do not think they are worthless. I do not
 think they knew much about it in 1933.
 Mr. BUCKMAN. They have not changed the rules of navigation
 since that date.
 From the Continental Steamship Co., P. O. Box 1637 Baltimore,
 Md. under date of May 15, 1933, signed by I. C. Stockdale, manager.
 May I interpolate to say, Mr. Chairman, that the committee under-
 stands that these are letters sent to the Corps of Engineers in reply
 to their questionnaire?
 The CHAIRMAN. Yes.
 Mr. BUOKMAN (reading):
 At the present time this company has two tankers operating from Baltimore
 to Aransas Pass (Corpus Christi). It is estimated that such a canal would
 save on each passage 19 hours' time and $350 in operating cost if the canal were
 operated free. If on a toll basis, the tolls would have to be less than that
 amount to make the use of the canal attractive.
 From the Hartwelson Steamship Co., 10 Post Office Square, Boston,
 Mass., under date of May 20, 1933, signed by Capt. E. Boranger:
 The following are only a few facts regarding the proposed tras-Florida
 canal:
 Distance saved from the Atlantic side of the trans-Florida canal to Gal-
 veston would be 346 miles each way. Distances from or to any other Gulf ports
 accordingly. Bound toward Galveston with a 10-knot ship, bucking the Gulf
 stream around Florida Keys, would consume approximately 88 hours more
 time than through the proposed canal. Returning from Galveston to the
 Atlantic side of the canal via Florida Keys would consume approximately 33
 hours more time than through the canal route.
 May I state that the trans-Florida canal route, besides being a great saving of
 time and expense to shipowners, would be an effective means of avoiding the
 destructive hurricanes raging around the Florida Keys from June to October
 each year, with their attending loss of life and property.
 Thanks and best of luck to the United States engineers and all concerned in
 this splendid piece of important waterway engineering.
 Senator VANDENBEOG. Who is that signed by