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


that harmony and good feeling will prevail
Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal.
We give below letter from a correspondent con-
tanning m account of the recent visit to this work
by Gov. Ellis, together with description of the
work and some views as to its great usefulness and
importance to the commerce of the State Indeed
tbe Importance of this channel of communication
cannot be overstated 1t will furnish means of in
hnd navigation for over a thousand miles, and
must bear away from the State large amount of
produce, and return to it reuneratng prices in the
share of money, merchandise, and whatever is de-
srajle for convenience, comfort and the mechanic
arts
Gov. Ellis has returned from his tour of investi-
cation much pleased with the work and its manage
ment, and strongly impressed with its usefulness
and Importance.
The Norfolk Herald of the 9Srd says:
1.-The formal union of the waters of the Curr;tuck
Sound with our own magnificent harbor has been
duly celebrated by tour of examination, &C.. hy
Governor Ellis, of North Carolina accompanied by
MeSsrs 7. 2. Burswin, and j. F. Simmons (editcr
ofthe Patriot) The trip made on the steam pack
etCalypso belonging to Marshall Parks, ESQ., Prcsi-
dent Of the .tlbemarle and Chesapeake Canal Com
pany, who represented his company. together with
l. N. Burt. Esq, Secretary, John Lathrop, Esq.
Chief Engineer and n. Courtwright, ESQ.,, the head
Of the firm of Courtwright Barton and Company.
the contractors of the entire canal The party left
here on Tuesday morning last, and went through
the whole work. stopping at the different villages.
landings &c, to receive the congratulations of the
delighted people.
The Calypso, returning, left Currituck Court
House yesterday morning, arrived here to dinner
the first time such feat was ever ACCOMPLISHED.
In passing the U. S. Ship Pennsylvania, the Calypso
WAS rounded to for the Governor to visit the shin
They were very courteously received BY Commodore
Chatarl and upon leaving the ship. thirteen guns
were fred in honor of the distinguished guest We
understand that Gov. F., was delighted with the
canal and is sangune of its happy influences on the
good old North State.
Thus happily, this work-which is destined to &C.
compsh grand results for North Carolina, and NAV
we not hope for our own city also s-was inaugural
ed Success to it. its projectors its intrepid praise
worthy contractors and to those friends of the en-
lshtened policy which aided its completion by le-
gislatve aid and who from first to last have been
its firm unfinchng friends"
We invite attention to the communication of ].
F, S. which follows:
For the Standard
ALBEMARLE AND CHESAPEAKE CANAL.
MEssRs. EDIroKs: propose to give you as briefly
as can, to do the subject anything like Justice an
account of recent trip from the Chesapeake Bay to
the Albemarle Sound, ria and through the Abe
marie and Chesapeake Canal. | have no doubt the
paper however feebly written will prove interesting
to large number of your readers; for scarcely ono
IN hundred of them have any correct idea Of the
real state of this great work. and it is emphatieally
a9reat rork and one. too, Of rery great Importance
to more States than one. Without further prelim;-
nary let me proceed
On Tuesday morning last, the 18th instant, about
nine o'clock, went board the neat little steam.
er Calypso at Bain's Wharf, Portsmouth, and in a
lew minutes were SWIMMING over the soft smooth
bosom Of Elizabeth River in South easterly drec-
ton.
The party consisted of His Excelency Gov. Ellis,
CoL I. Pollok BurgwyD and my humble self from
North Carolina and Capt Marshall Parks President
OF the Albemarle & Chesapeake Canal Co., A. NJ.
Burt Esq, Treasurer, James Gordon, ESQ.,, Dircc.
tor and John Lathrop, Chief Engineer; very plea
SAINT party of gentlemen who Gas we'll with those
VINO subsequently Joined us,) enlivened the time
throughout the entire trip with pleasant and inter-
estns conversation. At the Lock, sixteen miles
from I Portsmouth, we were joined by Dr. Thomas V.
Webb, another Director
1t Is almost useless to speak of Elizabeth River
very pretty stream, affordng sufficient depth
Oh water all the way to the Lock to admit the easy
passage of vessels of eight to ten feet draught.
The Lock (Which is the only one on the whole
work Is a massive structure Of stone two hundred
anu twenty feet long, and forty feet wide The walls
are seventeen ieet high and eight feet thick 1t has
sett OF gates so as to take the advantage Of
ngh tlde on the side, or of higher water on the
Tner Side, when the tide is low in Elizabeth river
tneSe gates are made of wood, but are so strongly
DOTTED and banded with ron as to be almost as strong
as iron itself They arc easily worked, and may
as well here add that on our return the tide being
a 81. found the upper gate closed and were detained
a ntue over minute in closing the lower, opening
''e upper and thus getting through
we tarried at the Lock half an hour or more tc
examine it, and then passed on through, and about
couple OF hundred yards below arrived at Great
.iNlse noted in history as Revolutionary battle
ground The Canal cuts directly through the old
brush fertilization and runs within thirty or forty
{arGs OF the central part Of the battle field where
~ ayce, the Commander of the British forces, fell
his grave is near the spot
from Elizabeth river at the Lock to the South enc
" t9e Canal where it enters North Landing river
se Instance is nine miles and If tho people of tn,
sre State of North Carolina could assemble on tn,
ranks OF the Canal and see the vastness of the diff
Suties that have been surmounted and the work thai
aus been already accomplished through the entir,
distance, am sure they would be astOnshed at tn,
uiihcuties and obstacles which had been encounter
~ and by science labor and perseverance success
,uly overcome on this work, and gratiRed at tn,
e9nsummation Of what might have been once regard
sm Us the utopian scheme of uniting the waters o
ni % Sound and Chesapeake Bay.
1he Canal traverses an immense forest of gum an,
cypress, and the bare labor of clearing must hav
usen immense and can only be fully appreciated b,
c1e Giving the forest itself in its original growth TIL
only be got rid of by blowing up. The process o