DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL 391

There is no line that will not use the shortest route between two points. There
is no doubt whatever in my mind about shipping lines using the canal
 The chairman asked if it was to be a sea-level canal. From Jacksonville to
where it turns off, I will say that except for a few places, I doubt if the banks
of the river are over 8 or 4 feet above the water. It will be a sea-level canal
 Mr. TuaoeroN. What will be the length of it?
 Mr. Smsa Two hundred miles. Twenty-five miles of that distance is the
route going out into the Gulf. It will be wider there so vessels will have no
trouble in getting into the canal. As a matter of fact, the canal proper will
be only 175 miles long.
 Since the chairman is from Texas, I will repeat what one of my colleagues
told me the other day: He said he was surprised that I was supporting the
canal. He said, "Do you not realize you are putting Florida out of business,
and making Texas?" I laughed and said, "I found some opposition in the
Texas delegation, and it might be well to whisper that to them." I said to
him, "Let me be frank with you; Texas is 400 or 500 miles from Florida;
they use American machinery, American labor, and they use American fertilizer.
If they can haul their products and produce 400 or 500 miles further on the
same boat, as it has to pass by my farm or grove-if they can do that and
put me out of business, I should be put out of business" That is the way I
feel about it. I do not think there is anything to it. I do not think there
are too many oranges and vegetables produced in the country, or enough to
glut the market. It is simply a question of distribution.
 I have a, letter from a leading citizen of Miami, in which he said, and now
 you are getting the facts as to much of the opposition, "If the canal was built,
 it would divert the tourists from Miami." Another constituent wrote me that
 it would change Jacksonville to a flag station and that Palatka, 50 miles in
 the interior, would become the metropolis of Florida.
 Mr. BAcoN. The boats using the canal would not stop while going through,
 and, therefore, what benefit would it be to Florida?
 Mr. Sasas We are willing to gamble on that.
 Mr. BAcoN. That was one argument for the Cape Cod Canal, but the boats
 go right on through without stopping.
 Mr. SE~As. I recall the argument several years ago with reference to the
 Cape Cod Canal, but that is a different situation. They go through that canal
 because 4t is safer for them. The courses are parallel, but here you are
 saving a distance of 400 miles from one point to the other, or from New York
 to Gulf ports. Those boats must go by Jacksonville. If they do not help
 Jacksonville, do not worry about us. If the canal will help Florida and the
 Nation, Jacksonville will be satisfied.
 The CHAaIrAN. It seems to me that the canal will help Florida less than
 some other sections.
 Mr. Sraas. Frankly I do not know but I have always felt when you help
 other sections you are bound to help your section.
 The CHAIMMAN. You will be cutting a ditch across the State of Florida, and
 they might build a town or two along the ditch. It will shorten the distance,
 but aside from the money that might be spent at towns along the canal, I do
 not think it would be of any benefit to Florida.
 Mr. SraB& Mr. Chairman, I am satisfied you are in error. You should visit
 our State and learn of the possibilities. It will help to bring about a reduction
 in freight rates, which will give our people a chance to get our fruit and produce
 to market. We must have a reduction in freight rates in order that we may be
 able to get our fruit and vegetables to market after the price goes down. This
 is now a total loss. At the same time, we believe it will not hurt the railroads,
 because they will get the same amount of transportation, and perhaps more.
 I would like to call your attention to the fact that the Florida Legislature nt
 1983 adopted a resolution asking Congress to build this canaL You will find
 that resolution in the General Laws of Florida, 1983, volume 1, page 877. You
 will find that the Senate and House of the Legislature of Florida unanimously
 passed that resolution, which was approved by the Governor on May 27, 1983.
 I want to put that resolution in the record, in addition to what I have already
 said about the opposition being a made opposition.