Atlantic and Mexican Gulf Canal Company facts for kids

The Atlantic and Mexican Gulf Canal Company was a plan to build a large canal in the southern United States. This company was approved on February 23, 1876. Its main goal was to create a water path from the St. Marys River in Georgia, through the Okeefinokee Swamp, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. The idea was to make it easier to move timber, lumber, and other goods from the Atlantic side to the Gulf side, and to help trade in the areas along the canal.

The Atlantic and Mexican Gulf Canal

This ambitious project aimed to connect major waterways and boost trade in the late 1800s. Building a canal across Florida and Georgia was a huge undertaking for its time.

What Was the Canal Project?

The main purpose of the Atlantic and Mexican Gulf Canal was to create a direct water route for ships and boats. This route would connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico. It was planned to start at the St. Marys River in Georgia. From there, it would cross the large Okeefinokee Swamp. Finally, it would reach the Gulf of Mexico coast in Florida.

The company wanted to transport many different products. These included timber, which is wood from trees, and lumber, which is cut wood. They also planned to move other commercial goods. The canal would make it much faster and easier to move these products. This would help businesses and people living near the canal.

Who Was Involved?

Several important people were part of the original company. These included:

• Joseph E. Johnston, a well-known General.
• General Lafayette McLaws.
• Joseph Shepard, from Georgia.

Another key person involved was Duff Green. He was an American politician, journalist, and businessman. Green hoped to connect the Savannah River with the St. Marys and Suwannee Rivers. His vision was to extend these connections all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Laws and Land Grants

To build such a big project, the company needed special permission and support from the government.

• On March 1, 1883, Florida state law chapter 3500 was approved. This law gave the company permission to build the canal in Florida.
• The law also allowed them to extend the canal along the Gulf coast of Florida. They could even connect it to waterways that led to Mobile or New Orleans.
• This law also added new people to the project. These included George F. Drew, Jesse J. Finley, and George Rainsford Fairbanks from Florida. James S. Bailey from Georgia also joined.

The company was also promised land grants. A land grant is when the government gives land to a company or person. These lands were along the planned route of the canal. However, there were conditions for getting these lands:

• The company had to choose the exact route for the canal within one year.
• They needed to finish ten miles of the canal within two years.
• The entire canal had to be completed within ten years.

Changes Over Time

Over the years, there were some changes to the project and the people involved.

• On February 16, 1885, Florida state law chapter 3647 was approved. This law changed the list of owners.
• George Rainsford Fairbanks and James S. Bailey were removed from the list.
• New people were added: S. A. Swann from Florida, and S. L. Burns, Alex Curtis, and William Rogers from Savannah, Georgia.
• The time limits for building the canal were also extended. The new deadlines were:
  • Three years to select the route.
  • Four years to finish ten miles.
  • Ten years to complete the entire canal.