Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1838-12-19


Wilmington as far as the outlets TO the
ocean. has been and is now greatly lmprov.
ing under the operations ofthe United States:
Its depth, breadth and straness nave all
been increased, and it now affords full thlr.
teen feet of water on it's worst shoa', which
progressively deepening. The new in
let bar, it is confidently believed from oo'
servations upon it, is capable of being read!'
ly and permanently improved, and as TINS
comes within the acknowledged province OF
the Federal Government, it is hoped she will
take speedy and efectual measures tor the
ACCOMPLISHMENT Of so important work to
State that has asked and received so little
at her hands.
Improvement in the eastern section OF
the State also demands our consideration IN
an equal not superior degree. The whole
Albermale country embracing some 2O
counties has a dangerous and inadequate
oule', and for this reason has been driven
to trade with Virginia by the use of her
rail and other roads, and of one ofthe most
inconyenien'ly located canals possible. The
small vessels which navigate the water cour:
ses of this section Of country, are compelled
to seek an outlet at Ocracoke, some 100 to
200 miles south, when their destination
generally is NORTH
Col. Kearney. United States Engineer,
who has recently had charge of a survey OF
ofthat country. reports that Ocracoke inlet
is closing and expresses a belief that ere
long it will close entirely. In which event
vessels will be compelled to seek an outlet
still farther south, through the sound at
Beaufort. This of course will throw our
trade TO a still greater extent into the mar
kets of Virginia. Can We submit to his?
This section is composed oflands Of the
highest natural fertility, but it IS SO level,
that to render it fit for cultivation, it requires
he most expensive ditching and canaling.
This defect in country where land so
much abounds and capital is so limited, has
been the cause ofils neglect.
The difficulty of The navigation of
Sound and Of the outlet to the ocean is no
doubt a superadded cause, but, remove
these: and there is no doubt, that these
lands will become the garden spot of the
State instead of wilderness of worthless
land and fertile source of pestilence and
disease.
Nagshead, al the foot Of the Abernale
Sound, seems designed by nature for the
outlet. 1t is formed by Il very narrow strip
of beach, which divides the sound from the
ocean, and which is Of very little elevation
above high water mark. 1t has often been
surveyed by very distinguished engineers,
and for the prac,icabiiity Of opening it, |
beg 10 refer to their reports. The very cir.
cumstarcc ofits having been 30 often sur.
veyed, and so often alluded to as the subject
ofimprovement, proves the value and the
practicabi|ity of the enterprise. 1t is diff.
cult to explain why it has not before oeen
undertaken. The reason may perhaps be
found in it's magnitude as State work,
and to the impression that i should and
would be executed by the general govern.
ment, as coming properly within the class
Of works belonging to it. 1t - now too
essential to US, to be longer delayed, and
must be accomplished by some power.
Nagshcad is greatly more elgibly stu.
ated for an outlet, if Croaton Sound was
closed, than was the new inlet on the Cupe
Fear, which was opened wI:hin the lecol
lection of persons now living. and has
already IA feet water and gradually i'm.
proving.
The Albermarle and tributaries, probably
discharge five times the quantity of water
which the Cape Fear does, and its course
is directly for the Ocean. until it approaches
sorae hundreds Of yards, when it TURNS offa,
right angles and seeks an outlet 100 miles
distant at Ocracoke.
The Cape Fear pursued similar direc.
ton and nearerthe Ocean 10 about the same
distance, a similar beach intervening, then
turned off less abruptly and found an Quite,
Che main bar in 10 miles; ant: :at the turn
off storm washed over the beach and cut
out the new inlet: The Croaton Sound
intercepts the water and draws it away be.
fore reaching Nagshead. Closing that !
sound, it appears to me, would force the
water on Nogshead in such body and
power and with some slight assistance by
cutting the strip ofbeach to give it passage
in the first instance, as would make the OUT
lei.
This however, is matter for the science
Of engineering. That the work is prac,i-
cable all have agreed-that it ought to be
accomplished none will deny who will
reflect upon its immense importance to the |
State, both as 10 character and profit.
Congress in 1882 yielded the power to |
the State to impose a Tax on all vessels
which might pass through an outlet to be
made at Nagshead. The undertaking is
evidently one which belongs to the General
6 overnment, where the power is lodged 10