Florida Coast Line Canal and Transportation Company facts for kids
The Florida Coast Line Canal and Transportation Company (FCLCTC) was a company started in Florida in 1881. Its main goal was to build a series of canals. These canals would connect lakes and rivers between St. Augustine and Lake Worth.
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Building Canals in Florida
The idea for the Florida Coast Line Canal and Transportation Company came from people living in St. Augustine. A well-known local leader named Dr. John Westcott was a big supporter. He helped get the company started.
Later, in 1893, a very important railroad builder named Henry Flagler joined the company. Flagler wanted to extend his railroad lines further south in Florida. The canals built by the FCLCTC would help with his plans.
Laws That Helped the Company
The Florida government passed several laws to help the company build its canals.
Expanding South to Key West
One important law, called chapter 3641, was approved on February 6, 1885. This law allowed the company to build its canal even further south. They could extend it all the way from Biscayne Bay down to Key West. The law also gave the company special land grants. This meant they received land from the state for building these parts of the canal.
More Time to Build
Another law, chapter 4284, was approved on May 27, 1893. This law gave the company more time to finish building the canal. The original deadline for the section from St. Augustine to Biscayne Bay was June 1, 1894. This new law pushed the deadline back to June 1, 1897. However, any parts of the canal finished after this new date would not receive land grants.
Working with the Government
A third law, chapter 4283, was approved on June 2, 1893. This law allowed the company to give a part of its canal to the United States government. This specific section was along the Indian River, between Goat Creek and Jupiter Inlet. The U.S. government planned to make improvements to this part of the waterway.
