Memorial To Congress - Apalachicola, Franklin Co. - Florida Territorial Papers, 1834 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Betty Norem, bnorem@aol.com USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. This file may not be removed from this server or altered in any way for placement on another server without the consent of the State and USGenWeb Project coordinators and the contributor. *********************************************************************** TERRITORIAL PAPERS OF THE UNITED STATES FLORIDA TERRITORY (Transcribed by Betty L. Norem on Dec. 9, 2000) Vol. XXIV, pp. 984-987 MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS BY CITIZENS OF APALACHICOLA [NA:HF, 23 Cong., 1 sess.:DS] [February 24, 1834] To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress Assembled]. The Memorial of the Citizens of the Town of Apalachicola in the Texitory of Florida, respectfully sheweth.--That they Suffer great loss and inconven- ience from the want of a regular Mail communication with the interior of the Teritory and States of the Union. During the first six months of the last year our Mail was transported in steam Boats direct to Columbus, Georgia; but from the great expense attending this mode of conveyance, together with the difficulty of navigating the river during the Summer months the Post-Master General has been induced to discontinue the route, and for several months past, your memorialists have had no regular mail communication with any part of the United States. Situated at the mouth of the river Apalachicola,-- the only outlet to the rich products of her tributaries, the Chattahootchie, Flint and Chipola rivers, extending for several hundred miles into the States of Georgia and Alabama -- With a population and business which already entitle us to rank in Commercial importance as the Third Port in the Gulph of Mexico. A commerce giving employment to twelve Ships and Brigs as regular Packets to New York and an equal number of Brigs and Schooners to New Orleans, besides a large number of transient Vessels to those, and other ports of the United States, and West Indies. And at this time several large Vessels are taking in Cargoes for Liverpool, which is designed as the commencement of a direct Commercial intercourse with Europe. The est- imated value of the Merchandize to be received here during the present year is upwards of One Million Dollars,- and our exports of Cotton and other produce during the same period will greatly exceed that amount. The Exten- sive tracts of rich land recently acquired from the Florida Indians and the Creek Nations in the States of Georgia and Alabama are now rapidly settling with enterprising Citizens from the States the produce of whose industry will add ten fold to our commerce in a few years. In conducting this extensive business, your memorialists are dependent on private and irrigular opportun- ities of sending their letters into the interior to be Mailed for distant Cities; and it frequently happens that Vessels with valuable Cargoes arrive in the Atlantic Ports, ten days before the letters of advice with orders for Insurance. It has heretofore been supposed that this Town could only be approached by water; but from the recent report of a Surveyor of the Public lands, - together with an examination by private Citizens it is satisfactorily ascer- tained that a good Road may be constructed from hence to St. Andrews Bay, a distance of forty-five miles, thence to Marianna a distance of fifty miles, where a road is already opened, but requires repairs and the erec- tion of a few small Bridges - the whole of which can be done at an ex- pence not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars. The opening of this road would enable the Post Master General to furnish the Mail established by Congress two years ago between this place and Columbus, Georgia, at comparatively little expence to the Department, and be a great public convenience to the Citizens of our Teritory and the adjoining States of Georgia and Alabama, as well the great Commercial Cities of the North and New-Orleans with which we have our principal dealings. We therefore respectfully pray Congress to grant an appropriation for those objects, and your Memorialists will ever pray ect & etc - APALACHICOLA Feb’y, 24th 1834. William G. Porter John Locke Allan Kennedy David [MS. stained] all Wm. W. Richards William [MS. stained] ullin Joshua Sawyer Martin B Harper Enoch Talbot Chas. Wolner William H. Pratte Burriss Pepper A B Duncan Hezekiah Hawley John Fowler Amory Rogers L Gambrill Robert C. Adams Richard G. Porter John Chairs H R Taylor W. Hendley Tho: Penney & Co. B S Hawley Gab J. Floyd Jno. 0 Sewall J C Manley Sam’l Spears A H Falconar W. A. Oakford Ira Scott John Gorrie Marcus Trumble John G Ruan Crawford Cadwallader H. W. Brooks Hezekiah Douglass George S. Hawkins John F Dean M. P. Ellis John Hudson Ivory B Perry Ralp Sanford P. G. Hardin E. Wood Sam'l P. Robison Nourse, Taylor & Brooks Wm. Clark Edw’d J Hardin Wm. E. Davis Hiram Nourse Wm. Peabody & Co Robert Beveridge N. Baker Wm. D. Price Oren Marsh Joshua Grant Geo. L. Barry R. D. Westeott James D. Bulloch Deblois & Co John Duncan 0 W Doubleday H. H. Lathrop Tho’s L. Mitchel Hez R. Wood Wm. Matthews J. B. Webb Fletcher Westcott Robt Buckham [Endorsed] Forida - Inhabitants No. 202 Road from Appilachicola April 28 1834 - Ref’d to Com(20) Roads & Canals(19) [White F. 56. Roads ------------------------------------ (19) House Journal, 23 Cong., 1 sess., p. 572. No further action has been noted.