350 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL


 "'Reviewing our company operations and allowing 36 hours for one transit
 of canal, the estimated time saved via canal as compared to present route
 would be approximately 3,000 hours per annum for all vessels. On present
 freight rates this would represent to our company a saving of about $74,000
 per year. This is based on about 130 trips, equal to 200 transits.
 'As to the necessity for or desirability of this project in the interest of navi-
 gation and marine commerce, the estimated savings, in our opinion, would not
 permit of the canal being operated on a toll basis as a self-liquidating project.
 If the canal were constructed by the War Department as a regular river and
 harbor project and operated toll free, there would be a saving to marine
 commerce.'
 "From the Continental Steamship Co., P. O. box 1637, Baltimore, Md., under
 date of May 15, 1988, signed by I. C. Stockdale, manager:
 "'At the present time this company has two tankers operating from Balti-
 more 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 Offce Square, Boston, Mass.,
 under date of May 20, 1988, signed by Capt. E. Boranger:
 "'The following are only a few facts regarding the proposed trans-Florida
 canal:
 Distance saved from the Atlantic side of the trans-Florida canal to Galves-
 ton would be 347 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.'
 "From the Ford Motor Co., 8674 Schaefer Road, Dearborn, Mich., under date
 of May 15, 198, signed by O. A. Johnson, marine department:
 "'We are not at the present time, nor neither do we expect to in the near
 future, operate any service which would utilize this proposal.. However, we
 think the project a very worthy one and feel that it would effect a very sub-
 stantial saving to steamship operations between the North Atlantic ports and
 the Gulf. There is no doubt but what it would effect a saving of approximately
 2 days' transit time on the type of ships that we operate between New York and
 New Orleans or Houston. It is possible that at a later date we may reenter
 the Gulf service, in which case this canal would prove advantageous to us.'
 "From the Gulf Refining Co., Charles R. Buerger, vice president, 17 Battery
 Place, New York City, under date of May 24, 1983, signed by James Kennedy,
 general manager:
S" 'Based upon a 10-knot ship and the distances appearing on the outline map
 accompanying your letter, there would be a net saving of about 25 hours per
 trip, or about 50 hours per voyage, which is equivalent to a cash-outlay saving
 of about $208,550 per annum, and the total saving in time becomes approxi-
 mately 546 days per annum.
 "'We believe, however, that you have overestimated the speed at which transit
 can be effected and that 5 miles per hour would constitute very good progress,
 having in mind delays due to locks, bridges, fog, and other unforeseen circum-
 stances, and on this basis the saving would be about 28 hours per voyage as
 against the 50-hour estimate based on your forecast.'
 "From the Pennsylvania Shipping Co., 280 South Broad Street, Philadelphia,
 Pa., under date of May 24, 1983, signed by J. H. Pelly:
 "'If the above-contemplated canal across Florida is built, its use would cause
 a saving of approximately 1 day each way on a round voyage of a steamer
 from Gulf loading ports to discharging ports north of Hatteras. Estimating
 the round trip to require approximately 16 days' steaming, the saving on a
 voyage in steaming time would be 2 days, or 12% percent of the operating cost
 -for a round trip.