Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-03-06
Coastwise, for the years 1S72-'73 was :


| Showing an increase
III one year of...... llS 18Th 500, >
Foreign business for
| Foreign business for
1s7s......~.. 2l2 10000 s3.45a 81,
Foreign incr aSe.... is s2,6jl s2,6l, co
| Foreign imports 1872. Observation-Disclosures. 500, ,u3
Ii
Upon this fattering exhibit, I pro
pose no comment, it speaks for itself
But you may ask, what became of these
exports before this work commenced
where did they find an outlet from the
country? Or where did this excess O.
export come from ? TO the first query
l reply, they were not there, not being
produced. To the second / answer
that the commencement Of operations
for the Improvement of. our harbol
was the signal sound which electrified
| our people into action. infusing new
life and energy into all the industries
OF the country. Emigrants and settlers
came in from every direction to settle
and cultivate our abundant forests and
waste places, so that the work itself
| created It's own revenue.
Some idea of the source from which
a portion Of our exports were derived
is furnished by the reports of two OF
our railroads, the other not having re.
ported in time to be used in this con.
necticn.
President Bridgers, in his annual
report to the stockholders for the year
ending 30th of September, 1873, ex.
| hibits an increased business OH the
Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta
| Railroad in two years of $3I7, 126,
$500, which is little more than &c
per cent. While the Wilmington and
Weldon Railroad. in the same time,
has increased S159,994 37-10D, which
is more than 27 per cent.
The tonnage of the former has ill.,
| creased more than 100 per cent and
the latter over so per cent.
Increased number of bbls. spirits
turpentine, l6, ,O33, or 81 ! per cent.
Increased number of bbls. rosin,
Sl,643, or 81. Per cent.
Increased number of bales OF cotton,
2,250. or 81 per cent.
Increased car loads OF lumber and
timber. 4G2, or 155 20 per cent.
Increased z neral Intrchaudize car
loads (3G, 464 80 lbs.) 2O3, or SJ3
per cent, showing an aggregate gain
"f 1. .2l5 car loads to the lDcat business
of Wilmington IN two years.
Under these circumstances Mr..
Chairman, and for the further reasons
which I shall presently give you, l
now ask for an appropriation of $780,
600 for the Cape Fear Harbor.
First, The Board OF Engineers to
whom was referred the subject matter
Of
as well as all previous Boards of En-
subject, have arrived at the same con-
clusion, that the closing of New Inlet
was the paramount feature, or combi-
nation in said improvement, anu have
SO recommended, as soon as funds
could be obtained for the purpose.
Second, The Engineer in charge of
the work, having successfully com
pleted all necessary work preparatory
to closing the Inlet at a cost of $780,
600, is now ready to commence opera
tions on the same.
Third, He thinks the Inlet can be
closed with $3.50, 900, provided he can
have the command of that amount, so
as to employ a sufficient force 20 push
lor""Io .l-o r~~l- rapidlY to compile
ton.
Fourth, He has not asked the full
amount required, fearing Congress
would refuse SO large an amount at
one time, and at the same time, might
endanger any appropriation at all,
without a more satisfactory explana-
nation than he felt at liberty to give.
Fifth. If the Inlet is not now
closed, but remains open as it is, the
possibility exists, if not the probabil-
lty, that the work already finished will
be subject to material damage, if not
to total destruction by the powerful
egress and inSress of currents through
the Inlet. abrading the shore line and
face of the finished work, thus exciting
apprehension that the whole of Smiths
Island beach viii be washed away, pro-
duclng an extensive swash, which will
utterly destroy our navigation, and
with 1t, all hope of restoring our Lar-
Dor for the next half century or more ::
closing the Inlet, checks abrasion. and
neutrailzes the power of the Ocean
upon the beach.
Sixth. Our Engineer has, on sew
erai occasions, intimated the probabii-
ity, or possibility, OF his being relieved
from duty on this work, which I should
regard as q calamity to i,a deplored,
(he having managed it with skill and
I,nbe !tnded success) that any change
now, would undoubtedly be attended
with disastrous results.
While he has given me no elimination of
a desire OIL his part to be relieved from
duty on this work, aud l know that he
feels strong attachment for it, and
takes deep interest III its success, the
repetition Of this remark induces me
to believe that he does desire to with
draw from the work, and / can con-
ceive OF no motive for it, other than
the assurance CT his own mind, that an
attempt to close the Inlet with a less
sum at command than $3.50, 600 would
most likely prove a failure, which he
desires to avoid, fearing that Congress
will not appropriate the requisite
amount.
Under all these circumstances. it is
manifest that our claim stands upon
highci' .gro'Atd aud is of superior dig
3.itY TO tie ordinary routine of appro-
pria: ious, referring itself directly to
the proper department OF the Govern
ment for :ts consideration and action
in applying auch remedy as i'll its
udgnieni may seem necessary 70 avert
the terrible. calamity of less to the
iisitc.i u - ff'tf D'f " I" ''|' tFf''9 tttct.
II the statements above made. re-
COVE your creaeLce, (and L stand pre-
pared to prove them 1t surely can
not be argued that the appropriation
no v asked, Is not Just and merItorious,
or that it can be safely postponed to
future day.
It surely cauuot he urged that this
great Enticn is too poor to invest this
petty sum III so noble an enterprise;
an enterprise calculated to repay its
cost an hundred fold, and that at nc
distant day .;uca declaration would
be discrediteti by every citizen be-
tween Maine and Texas-the Atlantic
and Pacific.
The Temperance movement in New
Hampshire is so seriously cnmplicat-
ing the situation that it is impossible
to foresee the result of the coming
election. Heretofore the prohibition
faction has been chiefly recruited from
the Republican ranks, and its activity
has always given cause for apprehen-
sion tn tho leaders Of fbet Marty At