Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-04-27

diameter are bored down into he stump and pese-
trate from four to fifteen feet below tho surface Of
tne earth. and generally not Ms than ten. These
no'es are filled with powder lad plugged up end
SLOW matches applied, and in few moments IN OF.
Plos,en follows which scatten the giant into thous
anu fragments nom the very bottom Of the root up
some half dozen large gum and cypress stumps were
blown up in our presence The smaller stun,ps, 10.
getner with the roots. are drawn up by the immense
dreogng machines, Of which there are nine on the
worS. These machines are al operated BY steam.
Inc engines arc twenty horse power and SO ercrcd
as TO increase that power thirty fold The din
Pers draw up ton Of matter at every dip, and are
worked with considerable rapidity; and. "a sue.
gested by Gov Ellis, its surprising tina. they afc
not used in making excavations for Railroads The
average depth Of water in the Canal will be-. when
completed, eight feet, and the average width sixty
live. No where in the rivers or sounds dill We and
less than eight feet Of water and olcncr fifteen than
otherwise, so that vessels Of eight feet draft will find
completed.
The land on either side Of the Canal il rich and
destined to Ie exceedingly valuable. The compauv
own about SIX thousand Of it which Is now COW
ered with dense forest Of gum, cypress and pinc.
Inc Soil consists chiefly Of rich vegetable matter
resting on subsoil Of clay and sand Thus ind;c,.
ting Its superior advantages for agricultural purpo
SEES The Canal ITSELF with the aid OF bitches cut
mere and there Will drain every acre Of this land.
and thus render it all perfectly available The graf
abundance Of shells in the nei,hborhood will afford
at very cheap rates supplies OF lime; and I do
not hesitate to predict that every acre Of this vas,
swamp will in few years be brought into successful
cultivation, and will be as valuable farming lands as
any portion Of Virginia or North Carolina: for In
climate soil and facilities for transportation Of pro
duee to market it cannot be excellcd by any other
section Of our country
We passed down North. Landing River, "a bcauti.
tul stream) twenty miles, and entering Currituck
Sound, crossed over to Crawford. (Currituck c. M
where we remained all night The Sound is beam
otui sheet Of water, some ten to fifteen miles broad
anu was surprised to find it entirely bar, Of shin
ping except two small crafts lying oil Knots Island
but ought not to have been surprised, for Il has
really no inlet from the ocean,
On Wednesday morning, having been mined hr
Hon. h. N. Shaw and Col John B. Joncs--two Of
the Directors on the part Of the State--and several
other gentlemen, we went on board our little CALVIN
so again. and put out Crossing the Sound to Coin
jock hay. We entered the second canal and .,,;p,
tive miles through it entered North River. Gar mo-
bier stream than lad any idea North Carolina con-
tanned within her Boundary. Down this macniti.
cent river We steamed till within full view Of Pow.
ellis Point, and in the waters Of the Albcmsrlc
Sound when We turned back and reached Crawford
about five o'clock. where VIC tarricd till the next
morning. and then set out for Portsmouth rcach;nr
there about O'Clock, p. ~, Of the same day.
At Coinjock there is a boarding boat, under the
superintendent Of Mrs Campbell, thrifty, lively.
and active lady, who treated us to no, coffee biscuit
butter, sweet potatoes, Sc., inWbun,ancc Full OF
life ard animation herself she inspires everybody
around her with the same spirit, and feeds them
we'll.
Capt Parks had provided abundant comforts for
the inner man, and those too Of the most supcrior
quality. ModcSty forbids my mentioning gallant
assault which somebody made upon an enormous
ham, cured by Mr.. Todd, Of Smthiicld Suffice Il,
every man did his duty
On our return to Crawford We found AR II. Court.
right, Of New York, who had arrived in Portsmouth
after our departure, and conc through by land TO
meet us Mr. {. is the head Of the firm Of contract,
ors fr the whole Of this work. and well have they
performed their contract, so far. They have lis.
played zeal and energy which would brook no
hlndrance, hesitate at no difficulty. and knew no
such word as E,l, and the amount Of work already
performed and that now being carried ON every day.
is truly astonishing.
In conclusion Of this brief and impcrfcc, sketch.
may state. that this is unqucstonahly ono of the
greatest anu most important works of internal i'm.
provcment in the State and rs before remarked its
Importance is not confined to one or even two States
1t eminently deserves, AMI trust will revive In,
fostering all and care Of this State. for Virginia
never has and never will put forth hcipins iiani
1t is emphaicay, therefore, North CAROLINA work
OF national importance, and II is suhiCc, of con.
graduation that Marshall Parks is at the head Of 4.
for there is no more ii, man in the country.
On Our return to Portsmouth, We visited tic
Pennsylvania, and Gov. Ellis received a salute of
thirteen guns. Commodore Chatar,l conducted u.
over the whole ship and treated Us with great deal
OF courtesy. In the evening Cart PARKS ,aac u
round the City Of Norfolk in carriages to show W.
the City. and thus were indebted .o him for
every thing that kind attention and thou:htfu!nc<s
Could suggest to make entire viSi, pleasant enc
There are several other matters might embrace
IT. this letter, but the fear Of making Il too lous re.
strains me. will, therefore, conclude.
J. s