Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-02-04

to the seaboard at Beaufort harbor That OF Will
mngon personally well acquainted with, and also
with Beaufort through the surveys need not however
well known to require any description Wilmington has
large and increasing rade with enrprsDg community
rod point shipment for the productions of the State
the northern ports and several distinguished individuals
have embarkedin the improvements with capital and energy
Whilst speaking of the individual exertions made in the
State Ishoud refer the projects entertained in South Car
DINA Of directing some Of her lines Of lnerns
Surveys have been made from Camden by the route OF
hage but have doubts of this being pushed forward
with the energy that found existing am ng the citizens
North Carolina and the determination to carry the works
now constructing or about to be undertaken.
cannot speak with any certainty of the improvements
having begun the Deep river district itself few
on speculation but many projectors became dheartened
finding that there would be OF getting these raw
materials to MARKET in consequence of the failure to estab
sh the slack navigation; but this at last
they about to be established and put
The property has passed of the hands of spectators
into those who intend adapt its natural
understand many will operations and make no
doubt they will produce in few such changes in this
On leaving the Deep district took the plank road
from the Gulf to Fayetteville distance of fifty miles in
southerly direction The country sparcey settled
and is generally covered by the virgin forest of the long
pne but few of the trees have been boxed. The coun
rises until the plantation of Mr. reached
where is four hundred feet above the level and forms the
dividing line of waters flowing north and south Here the
Randolph county. From Schermerhorns to Wilmington
there regular series of unduatons unlike the ground
eteve and these unuatons tend east and west and APP
pear extend this whole section of country lie direct
SOUTH consequently require heavy, deep cutting In of
these about miles from Fayetteville the substratum has
been reached corresponding to the surface unduatlons and
exposing view the tenacious and unctous blue clay of
of which composed Iregret that my time did not per
within a miles Fayetteville, continues to be well
wooded with the longeaf pine the soil is sandy though
occasionally passed of the sandstone or the
hard pan rock of the country, (and which frequently
caps the undulatons spoken of above 1t is of dark
| hrNEy Hdchn in
and easily wrought material but cannot bsar exposure to
heat.
creek seventywo feet above the level OF the Cape
Fear when at its lowest During freshets the
fifty feet but these pass off rapidly Onthe Rock
fish creek and other streams there excellent water power
which number of mills have been established for the
manufacture OF cottons, paper, &C.
was exceedingly gratifed with my visit to the United
States Arsenal charge of Captain Bradford of the Army
Few establishments will compare with for the arrangements
the buildings and proper adaptation to their uses Every
department Of the army implements is here slowed state
for immediate and the good ORDER cleanliness and system
prevailing shew unceasng attention to the duties assigned
him. understood the whole had been under his drec
ton from the commencement, except for short time dur
ing the war; when he employed in Mexico. range OF
workshops have lately been added and the machinery be-
ing put up make it manufacturing establishment as we'll
depot. 1t is situated upon the high bluff overlooking
the town, and commands of the finest views IN the
country To Captain Bradford desire to return my thanks
for attention myself and other members of the
mission and to the citizens also all of whom united to a
may make mention here that visited the workshops
of the North Carolina Central Railroad Company situated
sixteen miles east of Greensboro where they have 1t IN
contemplation to manufacture all the machinery of the road
The shops extensive we'll arranged and admirably adap
ted for the purpose intended but was disappointed GU
learning that ali the used imported from other
States therefore had opportunity of seeing the iron
of the State employed in the construction OF ma
chinery of kind had been led anticipate aordg
another proof that the valuable Of North Caro-
DESTROYS of comparing the relative values OF the Deep
sde vs " the d Ins o' some
the FORCES which operation at that and on the
south fork Of the Catawba, taking with me specimens OF
th0SpO of Tho to
of which understood being produced in blooms
AND OG @ @ nns FG Re the
shoal discontinued and the water power exclusively
ped TO tne gGd %cn iron mao
with found cevera FORCES at work the south fork
of the best XII If that could be procured but they
not comparab the specimens showed them which they
rudely c-H-lucted the trip hammer worked by
water power hich also gave the blast They seldom pro
sn over Mo be ner o
5 500 per ton The fuel used was charcoal
River country its coal and iron, and timber shall consd
that part Of the Resolution Of the Senate relative to
the expediency of establishing at some pout State
machine Sorkshops the construction of engines,
boilers, &c, &C., for naval vessels. The contents OF
this report fully establish the fact that there
of the material for the manufacture of iron
of the best description for in the
exception of the largest of timber, there is also
abundance of that material for in the OF the
implements of wood employed on board naval vessels and
there is doubt that all these materials be obtain
ed at less cost and of superior quality than in the
eastern section of the United States This could be accom-
pished either by the erecting furnaces for the
reduction of the by offered for the
g best kind of ore, &C., &c, for these purposes.
There be doubt ofhe expedency having the indie
structb materials used navy of the very best
kind constantly hand to the wants of the steam
service and can difficulty the government estab
fishing machine and workshops for the construction of all
the parts of the engines and plates for boilers well
workshops for the making OF implements required OF wood
in the naval AS to tie eXpedency of establishing
It these point in the State of North Carolina will
be able to come 10 correct conclusion upon this SUBJECT
now that all the facts are laid before you.
Our attention being specially directed to the Deep river
country have better knowledge of it than any other
part of the State and believe that other portion of
North Carolina offer many advantages for the manu-
acure of iron the Deep river district Besides album
dance of the material there is both and steam
power at command The climate is saubrious and heal
thy all kinds of provisions abundant and cheap
The agricultural products consist of wheat corn rye and
oats Vegetables and fruits to be had III their in
e plenty and of fine kinds.
The great advantages it offers the miner and manuac
of iron will insure large population OF those engaged
in these pursuits 1t is also desirable for the agricuurast
finer crops seldom than those which fell under
observation the bottom lands bordering the rivers and
e creeks, and they seldom fail.
The temperature neither partakes the extremes of win
summer and those who have passed many years there
enjoyed excellent health Although constantly exposed
during the months of August and September in the hottest
weather. felt little Inconvenience and debility from the
of heat after reached this District The navigation
of the river is closed by and travel the rail-
roads rarely interrupted
The distance from Washington is less than tentyfour
hours by rail- and when the improvements
finished there will be of transportation NORTH south
:, east and west.
II. Hunt and ID. B. Martini and Naval Constructor S.
Pook to me, relative to the fuhment of the duties
them in the examination of the Deep district It a
pleasure to state that their duties performed
s to my entire satisfaction.
SELF to which reference has been made the body of THU
. report.
have the honor to be- C Mh GEES WIRKhs
= Captain q. S. ~, Chief of Commission.