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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
length along the eastern coast of Florida, not only transformed the eastern section
Mr. Bradley gave this enterprise not only of Florida from a wilderness into the
great financial aid, but in addition took an greatest winter resort in the United
active interest in the management of the States, hut, in addition, gave great im-
COrporation, and for several years served petUS to the development of the agricul-
as its president In order to form a con- tural resources of that country by giving
tinuous navigable inland waterway, it rapid transportation to the growers ot
was necessary not only to construct canals delicate fruits and vegetables, which enthrough
the divides separating natural abled them to place the products of their
waters, but to remove shoals from the plantations in the northern and western
channels of these waters, and in places markets in good condition. The vast im-
CUt through sharp bends and increase the provements of the Canal Company, too,
width of a number of tortuous salt-water had drained large bodies of rich marsh
creeks which form a portion of the route land, which, when the water was lowered,
selected by the company. The canal is were read}- for the plow, and resulted in
operated under a State charter and has new agricultural enterprises, as well as
the right of eminent domain, and privilege the building of new towns and villages on
of charging tolls on all canals constructed both sides of the waterway for practically
and channels improved, the tolls to be its entire length. A line of passenger and
fixed by the president and directors of freight steamers was placed in commisthe
company, and to be approved by the sion and operated between Titusville and
board of trustees of the internal improve- Jupiter, one hundred and thirty miles to
ment fund of the State of Florida. In ad- the south, another important factor in the
dition to the rights acquired by the canal opening up of this country. Until the
company under the above law the State year 1892 the inside waters of the Flor-
Legislature. by special act, granted to ida coast were supposed to be controlled
the company a land subsidy of 3.840 acres by the State, and the canal company, un-
per mile for the purpose of enabling those der its charter, improved the channels of
interested in the project to obtain the the Indian river where necessary. In the
necessary capital for the construction of latter year, however, through the efforts
the canals and improvements along the of the late Senator Matthew S. Quay, of
natural waterways. This policy on the Pennsylvania, an appropriation was made
part of the State resulted in the Canal by Congress to be expended in still fur-
Company becoming such a considerable ther improving the river and in enlarging
owner of land on the east coast of Flor- the canals owned by the land company,
ida that when an opportunity came to The question of jurisdiction being raised,
secure the construction of a railroad along the United States Attorney-General gave
the coast of Biscayne Bay. the Canal the opinion that the appropriation should
Company decided to grant a land subsidy not be expended until the Florida Coast
of about 270.000 acres of land to the rail- Line Canal and Transportation Company
way company, which resulted in the con- waived its rights to charge tolls on the
struction of one of the best railroads in channels improved by the company bethe
South. It soon became apparent that tween Titusville and Jupiter. After some
the directors of the Canal Company had negotiations, an agreement was made
made no mistake in subsidizing the rail- which provided that no tolls should be
road, as the construction of this railroad collected on that section of the water-
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