Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-03-22
EEarb0r improvements.

In company with HENRY MUTT, Esq,
Chairman Of The Committee Of the Cham
Der OF Commerce, we visited on Monday
tie works for the Improvement Of our hai-
Dor. AS our readers know the object CT
these works is by diminishing the
water at New Inlet to increase that at
the mouth Of the river. The first step
i'll the prosecution Of this work
was to connect Zeke's Island with
the northern end of Smiths Island Beach.
The gap between Inc two points was about
forty-fye hundred feet III width. Twelve
hundred and sixty-three feet of this gap
have been crossed by means OF substantial
cribs filled with stones And rocks and Gov
cred 18th heavy planking. In addition to
this a distance of one hundred and thirty
feet has been cribbed and is ready for
plankihg, and rocks have been sunk, and
are now ready for cribbings Including the
remains of Captain Woodbury's work, for
a. distance of about four hundred feet ; all
of this will be completed by LIST May. The
depth of water between the end Of Wood
bury's work and Zeke's Island is only
about seven feet at high water, and offers
no difficulty to be overcome. The great
work of connecting Zeke's Island with
Smiths Island Beach has already been
accomplished. y channel OF six hundred
feet wide, and for FIVE hundred fee: of this
width between thirty-tfye and forty feet
deep, has been closed up in such manner
as to resist the violence of the most terrific
storms.
The beach from Smiths Island has fol-
lowed the work. and will doubtless con-
tinue to do so until the connection with
Zekes Island is established, increasing in
width and height.
In order to complete the work, another
appropriation from Congress is absolutely
necessary. If the amount asked for,
S15O,OOO be granted, the work will be car
ried across Zeke's Island during the next
fiscal year.
Smiths Island Beach, the long narrow
strip of land between the Ocean and Buz-
Yards Bay, is being perceptibiy strength
ened by means of brush fences and the
| f" Carolina Beach grass
The brush fences are nothing more nor
less than parallel lines Of rail fences filled
I'm with brush. The sand has accumulated
along these fences to such height that
the orders - only are now visible.
The grass was set opt in parallel rows
last Summer and Fall ana during the
Winter Just passed, and in that short time
even, has plainly developed its capacity for
holding the sand.
No one who stood yesterday upon the
work and remembered the surging volume
of water that only few months before
rushed beneath the very spot on which he
was then standing, can doss bt the practical
bility or success of the work.
Nor can there be any doubt of the bene-
fetal effect upon the navigation Of our
noble river.
Upon the success of the Efforts to i'm
prove our river and harbor depend, in our
opinion, in great degree, the future well
fare and prosperity OF the cry Of Will
mington.
ne business Ol lIdIlSp O1I16lOli Va OOGh
freights and passengers has been OF recent
years reduced to system adapted to the
wants, necessities and geographical con-
formation Of the country as awhole. There
are comparatively few great main lines
with innumerable side lines or feeders.
The termini of all main lines running
East and West are the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans. The necessities of the country
demand at least two of these main inter-
oceanic lines. F *
Why should not Wilmington be one of
thgAtlantic termini? .rt r-.. .-
But weaare unwilling to give expression
to the bright hopes of the future we antici-
pate for our goodIy old town. But whether
that success be attained in fail or scant
f.. Ez-l..sE.- .-E s<rE - .s1e~ f1s