Florida and Texas

One question remained yet to be decided; it was necessary to choose a favorable spot for the experiment. According to the advice of the Observatory of Cambridge, the gun must be fired perpendicularly to the plane of the horizon, that is to say, toward the zenith. Now the moon does not traverse the zenith, except in places situated between 0° and 28° of latitude. It became, then, necessary to determine exactly that spot on the globe where the immense Columbiad should be cast.

One question remained: where should the experiment take place? The Observatory of Cambridge advised that the gun must be fired straight up, perpendicular to the horizon, toward the zenith. The moon passes through the zenith only at places between 0° and 28° latitude. So it was necessary to choose the exact spot on the globe where the immense Columbiad would be cast.

On the 20th of October, at a general meeting of the Gun Club, Barbicane produced a magnificent map of the United States. “Gentlemen,” said he, in opening the discussion, “I presume that we are all agreed that this experiment cannot and ought not to be tried anywhere but within the limits of the soil of the Union. Now, by good fortune, certain frontiers of the United States extend downward as far as the 28th parallel of the north latitude. If you will cast your eye over this map, you will see that we have at our disposal the whole of the southern portion of Texas and Florida.”

On October 20, at a general meeting of the Gun Club, Barbicane presented a magnificent map of the United States. “Gentlemen,” he said, opening the discussion, “I assume we all agree that this experiment cannot and should not be attempted outside the Union. Fortunately, parts of the United States extend as far south as the 28th parallel of north latitude. If you look at this map, you will see that we have all of southern Texas and Florida at our disposal.”

It was finally agreed, then, that the Columbiad must be cast on the soil of either Texas or Florida. The result, however, of this decision was to create a rivalry entirely without precedent between the different towns of these two States.

Finally, it was agreed that the Columbiad must be cast in either Texas or Florida. But this decision created an unprecedented rivalry among the towns of the two states.

The 28th parallel, on reaching the American coast, traverses the peninsula of Florida, dividing it into two nearly equal portions. Then, plunging into the Gulf of Mexico, it subtends the arc formed by the coast of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana; then skirting Texas, off which it cuts an angle, it continues its course over Mexico, crosses the Sonora, Old California, and loses itself in the Pacific Ocean. It was, therefore, only those portions of Texas and Florida which were situated below this parallel which came within the prescribed conditions of latitude.

The 28th parallel reaches the American coast and crosses the Florida peninsula, dividing it into two nearly equal parts. It then crosses the Gulf of Mexico, forming a chord across the arc of the Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana coasts. Skirting Texas and cutting across a corner of it, the parallel continues over Mexico. It crosses Sonora and Old California, then disappears into the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, only the parts of Texas and Florida below this parallel met the prescribed latitude conditions.

Florida, in its southern part, reckons no cities of importance; it is simply studded with forts raised against the roving Indians. One solitary town, Tampa Town, was able to put in a claim in favor of its situation.

Southern Florida has no important cities. It is dotted with forts built to defend against roving Indians. Only one town, Tampa Town, could make a claim based on its location.

In Texas, on the contrary, the towns are much more numerous and important. Corpus Christi, in the county of Nueces, and all the cities situated on the Rio Bravo, Laredo, Comalites, San Ignacio on the Web, Rio Grande City on the Starr, Edinburgh in the Hidalgo, Santa Rita, Elpanda, Brownsville in the Cameron, formed an imposing league against the pretensions of Florida. So, scarcely was the decision known, when the Texan and Floridan deputies arrived at Baltimore in an incredibly short space of time. From that very moment President Barbicane and the influential members of the Gun Club were besieged day and night by formidable claims. If seven cities of Greece contended for the honor of having given birth to a Homer, here were two entire States threatening to come to blows about the question of a cannon.

Texas, by contrast, had far more towns, and they were more important. Corpus Christi, in Nueces County, joined forces with all the cities on the Rio Bravo. These included Laredo, Comalites, San Ignacio in Web, Rio Grande City in Starr, and Edinburgh in Hidalgo. They also included Santa Rita, Elpanda, and Brownsville in Cameron. Together, they formed a powerful alliance against Florida’s claims. As soon as the decision became known, deputies from Texas and Florida arrived in Baltimore with incredible speed. From that moment on, President Barbicane and the influential members of the Gun Club faced fierce demands day and night. Seven Greek cities had competed for the honor of being Homer’s birthplace. Here, two entire states were threatening to come to blows over a cannon.

The rival parties promenaded the streets with arms in their hands; and at every occasion of their meeting a collision was to be apprehended which might have been attended with disastrous results. Happily the prudence and address of President Barbicane averted the danger. These personal demonstrations found a division in the newspapers of the different States. The New York Herald and the Tribune supported Texas, while the Times and the American Review espoused the cause of the Floridan deputies. The members of the Gun Club could not decide to which to give the preference.

The rival parties walked the streets carrying weapons. Whenever they met, there was a danger of a clash that could have had disastrous results. Fortunately, President Barbicane's prudence and skill prevented the danger. The newspapers of the different States were divided over these personal demonstrations. The New York Herald and the Tribune supported Texas, while the Times and the American Review supported the Floridan deputies. The members of the Gun Club could not decide which side to favor.

Texas produced its array of twenty-six counties; Florida replied that twelve counties were better than twenty-six in a country only one-sixth part of the size.

Texas presented its list of twenty-six counties. Florida replied that its twelve counties were better, since Florida was only one-sixth the size of Texas.

Texas plumed itself upon its 330,000 natives; Florida, with a far smaller territory, boasted of being much more densely populated with 56,000.

Texas prided itself on its 330,000 residents. Florida, with a much smaller territory, boasted that its 56,000 residents made it far more densely populated.

The Texans, through the columns of the Herald claimed that some regard should be had to a State which grew the best cotton in all America, produced the best green oak for the service of the navy, and contained the finest oil, besides iron mines, in which the yield was fifty per cent. of pure metal.

Writing in the Herald, the Texans argued that their state deserved some consideration. It grew the best cotton in all America and produced the best green oak for the navy. It also had the finest oil and iron mines that yielded 50 percent pure metal.

To this the American Review replied that the soil of Florida, although not equally rich, afforded the best conditions for the moulding and casting of the Columbiad, consisting as it did of sand and argillaceous earth.

The American Review replied that Florida's soil, though not equally rich, offered the best conditions for molding and casting the Columbiad. This was because the soil consisted of sand and clay.

“That may be all very well,” replied the Texans; “but you must first get to this country. Now the communications with Florida are difficult, while the coast of Texas offers the bay of Galveston, which possesses a circumference of fourteen leagues, and is capable of containing the navies of the entire world!”

“That may be all very well,” replied the Texans, “but first you have to get to this country. Travel to Florida is difficult, while the Texas coast has Galveston Bay. The bay is fourteen leagues around and can hold the navies of the entire world!”

“A pretty notion truly,” replied the papers in the interest of Florida, “that of Galveston bay below the 29th parallel! Have we not got the bay of Espiritu Santo, opening precisely upon the 28th degree, and by which ships can reach Tampa Town by direct route?”

“What a ridiculous idea,” replied the newspapers supporting Florida, “that Galveston bay is below the 29th parallel! Don’t we have the bay of Espiritu Santo? It opens exactly at the 28th degree, and ships can sail directly through it to Tampa Town.”

“A fine bay; half choked with sand!”

“A fine bay, half-filled with sand!”

“Choked yourselves!” returned the others.

“Choked yourselves!” the others replied.

Thus the war went on for several days, when Florida endeavored to draw her adversary away on to fresh ground; and one morning the Times hinted that, the enterprise being essentially American, it ought not to be attempted upon other than purely American territory.

The battle went on like this for several days, until Florida tried to shift the argument to new ground. One morning, the Times suggested that the enterprise was essentially American and should be attempted only on purely American territory.

To these words Texas retorted, “American! are we not as much so as you? Were not Texas and Florida both incorporated into the Union in 1845?”

Texas shot back, “American! Aren't we just as American as you? Didn't Texas and Florida both join the Union in 1845?”

“Undoubtedly,” replied the Times; “but we have belonged to the Americans ever since 1820.”

“Of course,” replied the Times, “but we have belonged to the Americans since 1820.”

“Yes!” returned the Tribune; “after having been Spaniards or English for two hundred years, you were sold to the United States for five million dollars!”

“Yes!” replied the Tribune. “After two hundred years as Spaniards or English, you were sold to the United States for five million dollars!”

“Well! and why need we blush for that? Was not Louisiana bought from Napoleon in 1803 at the price of sixteen million dollars?”

“Well! Why should we be ashamed of that? Wasn't Louisiana bought from Napoleon in 1803 for sixteen million dollars?”

“Scandalous!” roared the Texas deputies. “A wretched little strip of country like Florida to dare to compare itself to Texas, who, in place of selling herself, asserted her own independence, drove out the Mexicans in March 2, 1846, and declared herself a federal republic after the victory gained by Samuel Houston, on the banks of the San Jacinto, over the troops of Santa Anna!—a country, in fine, which voluntarily annexed itself to the United States of America!”

“Outrageous!” roared the Texas deputies. “How dare a miserable little strip of land like Florida compare itself to Texas! Instead of selling itself, Texas asserted its independence and drove out the Mexicans on March 2, 1846. It declared itself a federal republic after Samuel Houston defeated Santa Anna’s troops on the banks of the San Jacinto. And, finally, Texas voluntarily joined the United States of America!”

“Yes; because it was afraid of the Mexicans!” replied Florida.

“Yes, because it was afraid of the Mexicans!” Florida replied.

“Afraid!” From this moment the state of things became intolerable. A sanguinary encounter seemed daily imminent between the two parties in the streets of Baltimore. It became necessary to keep an eye upon the deputies.

“Afraid!” From that moment on, the situation became unbearable. Every day, a bloody clash between the two parties seemed likely in the streets of Baltimore. The deputies had to be watched.

President Barbicane knew not which way to look. Notes, documents, letters full of menaces showered down upon his house. Which side ought he to take? As regarded the appropriation of the soil, the facility of communication, the rapidity of transport, the claims of both States were evenly balanced. As for political prepossessions, they had nothing to do with the question.

President Barbicane did not know which way to turn. Notes, documents, and threatening letters poured into his house. Which side should he take? The two States had equally strong claims when it came to acquiring land, ease of communication, and speed of transport. Political preferences had nothing to do with the question.

This dead block had existed for some little time, when Barbicane resolved to get rid of it all at once. He called a meeting of his colleagues, and laid before them a proposition which, it will be seen, was profoundly sagacious.

This deadlock had lasted for some time when Barbicane decided to end it once and for all. He called a meeting of his colleagues and presented a proposal. As we shall see, it was a very wise one.

“On carefully considering,” he said, “what is going on now between Florida and Texas, it is clear that the same difficulties will recur with all the towns of the favored State. The rivalry will descend from State to city, and so on downward. Now Texas possesses eleven towns within the prescribed conditions, which will further dispute the honor and create us new enemies, while Florida has only one. I go in, therefore, for Florida and Tampa Town.”

“Looking carefully at what is happening between Florida and Texas,” he said, “it is clear that the same difficulties will arise among all the towns in the chosen State. The rivalry will pass from State to city, and continue down the line. Texas has eleven towns that meet the required conditions. They will compete for the honor and make us new enemies, while Florida has only one. So I am for Florida and Tampa Town.”

This decision, on being made known, utterly crushed the Texan deputies. Seized with an indescribable fury, they addressed threatening letters to the different members of the Gun Club by name. The magistrates had but one course to take, and they took it. They chartered a special train, forced the Texans into it whether they would or no; and they quitted the city with a speed of thirty miles an hour.

When the decision was announced, it utterly crushed the Texan delegates. Overcome with indescribable fury, they sent threatening letters to individual members of the Gun Club. The magistrates had only one course of action, and they took it. They hired a special train and forced the Texans aboard, whether they wanted to go or not. The Texans left the city at thirty miles an hour.

Quickly, however, as they were despatched, they found time to hurl one last and bitter sarcasm at their adversaries.

Even though they were dispatched quickly, they found time for one last bitter jab at their opponents.

Alluding to the extent of Florida, a mere peninsula confined between two seas, they pretended that it could never sustain the shock of the discharge, and that it would “bust up” at the very first shot.

They pointed out that Florida was only a peninsula between two seas. They claimed it could never withstand the shock of firing and would “bust up” at the very first shot.

“Very well, let it bust up!” replied the Floridans, with a brevity of the days of ancient Sparta.

“Very well, let it bust up!” replied the Floridans, as briefly as the ancient Spartans.