DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL


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DOCUMENT NO. 124 (FILES OF THE SHIP CANAL AUTHORITY OF STATE
 OF FLORIDA), APRIL 11, 1936

COMMUNICATION FROM SENATOR VANDENBERG TO HENRY H. BUCKMAN

 Under date of April 11, 1936, Senator Vandenberg addressed the
following communication to Henry H. Buckman, of engineering
counsel for the Ship Canal Authority for the State of Florida:
 UNITED STATES SENATE,
 Washington, D. C., April 11, 1936.
Mr. H. H. BUOKMAN,
 Engineering Counsel, the Ship Canal
 Authority of the State of Florida, Washington, D. C.
 MY DmBa Ma. BUCKMAN: This will reply to your letter of April 10.
 I fully understand how you feel about the Florida canal. We are in funda-
mental disagreement respecting it. I have not sought to stop this enterprise
"regardless of the facts." I have sought to stop it "on account of the facts."
So far as I am concerned, the subject is closed-except as it may be occasionally
reopened by just such letters as yours to the Washington Post.
 I appreciate your invitation to debate with you upon the subject. I have
 already "debated" it to a conclusion on the floor of the Senate. If any further
 "debates" are necessary, they will be held in the same place. I am quite
 prepared to meet the issue in this appropriate forum at any time.
 Respectfully yours,
 A. H. VANDENBEG.


 DOCUMENT NO. 125 (FILES OF THE SHIP CANAL AUTHORITY OF
 STATE OF FLORIDA), APRIL 13, 1936

 COMMUNICATION FROM BRADiORD G. WxLLa s TO REPRESENTATIVE
 J. HAnWIN PETERSON

 Under date of April 13, 1936, Mr. Bradford G. Williams, of
 Orlando, Fla., addressed the following communication to Repre-
 sentative J. Hardin Peterson:
 OBsANDO, FtA., April 13, 1936.
 Hon. J. HABDIN PmaUsoN,
 New House Office Building, Washington, D. C.
 Mr D z HABAIN : I wonder if you will mind reading a few personal words
 from me about the cross-State canal. I told you when you were here somewhat
 of my own feelings about the subject, but I find it very difficult when I am with
 a friend to set up my own conclusions against his fixed opinion.
 I know that political considerations weigh and that they do not weigh. They
 weigh, of course, when they are consistent with an intelligent line of action.
 I believe that you have taken on a millstone about your neck and that it may
 eventually drag you down. People finally get over mere feelings of jealousy,
 revenge, and spite, and then they begin to take stock of what has been done.
 The cross-State canal in its work to date has been instrumental in taking
 a tremendous relief load off of this entire section. I believe there are at least
 300 otherwise destitute men from this immediate area who have had employ-
 ment on the project. Their cases were desperate ones, and depriving them of
 their jobs is almost equivalent to murder. The carrying on of the work as
 planned would have lifted practically the entire relief burden of the State,
 insuring food and happiness to thousands.
 Surely Miami prosperity has blurred your vision of this State. I know that
 Miami dollars have so far financed the Washington opposition to the project.
 Florida people generally, it is my opinion, are in a state of real destitution;
 and the appropriation for this project, with its far-reaching sphere of influence,
 meant everything to them-either the welfare of families or their starvation-
 at least their undernourishment.