New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-31
IN EXCURSION TO THE CCRRlTCCk.


wAsHiNGIoS OFFICIALS TAKEN DOWN TO VIEW THE
INLAND WATER ROUTE To TIE SOUTH, AND A
CEaTAIN BAD sIIOAL.
lFRoM TIM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEI
WASlUNGTON, Nay3O.-Thc Albcmarle and Chesa-
pcakc Canal Company has come to Congress asking
that aid be- granted for the Improvement OF the Ill
land water route from Norfolk southwark.
The president Of that company, Mr.. Marshall
Parks, took party of Government officers. Con-
grc~smen and Others over the line recently for the
purpose Of showing them It's character and adyaI-
tagcs. The party consisted OF Secretary Thompson.
Representatives Hanna, Knott, Goode Lindsey. and
Morse: Chief Clerk liog- Of the Navy Department !;
Adnirils Scott, Stevens, and Stanley; CHcf-Engi-
nccr Shock of the Navy. and some twenty-five or
thirty others. The visitors went to Norfolk by the
way Of Baltimore and the Bay line Of steamers, eay-
ing WASHINGTON on Friday, the 10th inst, and reach
ing Norfolk on Saturday morning. They were re-
cciycd there with a salute from the United States
steamers Powhatan and Franklin and after visit
the GOsport Navy Yard started to the Albemarle
and Chesapeake Canal III the steamer Pamilco.
Meeting some detention in the canal, caused by n
fire on board the stcamerand by distractions, which
the company asks Congress TO remove. the eXcur-
sloniSts reached Mays Head near the scene of the
wreck of the Huron, on Sunday afternoon. After
visiting that wreck. they rc;mbarked and arrived
at Norfolk on Monday afternoon
AT Norfolk public reception was given TO the
party at which speeches were made by the Mayor,
Secretary Thompson. j. Proctor Knott. Leopold
Morse, John Hanna. Mr.. l.. Salt0nstall, of Boston,
John Gooic, and others. The Secretary of the
Navy spoke very f.vorably of the proposed improve
mcnt and promised To do all in his power TO secure
urnp,r aid for II.
1t a collation. subsequently served ri the Purcell
House in Norfolk. secretary Thompson responded
10 the toast The President of the United States
saving that Mr.. Hayes Is not the President of a
party. but the President of The whole country. \
significant speech was made at this collation. by
Colonel Lamb. who commanded the Confederate
forces N Fort Fisher AT the time of lis capture. In
closing lac said that il was desired to bring to-
g,tlrr under roof the two sections of the conn
Try and have them know that they are again in
their fathers house To accomplish this. the Young
men who were i'll the Confederate Navy should he
appointed to positions in the United States
Navy and its old veterans should he placed on its
retired list This, he sad, would be all evidence of
friendly feeling.
After visits TO the United States vessels lying at
Norfolk, tie company returned to Washington, ar
irving tins morning.
The Albcnarlr aud Chesapeake Canal affords
aygation for Vessels OF six and half feet draught
at a oW Stage OF water, and l. almost entirely Tree
from distractions. II has capacity considered 10
bc six and one half times greater than the Erie
Canal of NcW-Iork. From the southern end of the
Virginia section Norfokl to the northern end of the
Norh Carolina section Is thirty and onc-half miles.
River. with line of navigation across Currltuck
Sound. The North Landing River from the canal to
the sound. distance of eighteen miles. Is for the
most part from ten to twelve feet deep. From be-
low the entrance of BackwateI Creek to its mouth,
a distance of six miles, there Shoal where not
more than four or five feet of water could once he
found. 4 channel nine feet deep and forty feet
wide was made through the shoal by the canal COM
pany about twelve years ago, winch remains III
good condition. The only Improvement which the
company thinks this channel needs Is To increase It's
width aud extend il across Currtuck Sound, 10 the
entrance of the North Carolina Canal.
The NIlNth Congress authorized Il survey OF
line between the NcllSe aud Cape Fear Rivers, for
the purpose of ascertanng the practicabIlIty and
cost of correcting the waters of those rivers and
like lire with Il view of connecting the waters OF
Norfolk Ilarbor in Virginia, with those of the Cape
Fear RIVER at or near Wilmington, North Carolina.
4 prey iouS survey of part OF the route had been
made IN 1897, by Colonel kcarcy. he work
which II IL desired Congress shall now order Is To
,lrc.lQc the flats in the North Landing River, and
supply the channel through Currituck Sound with
lights, in order that steamers may pass safely
through at night. 49,
Pains were taken to impress the Secretary of the
Navy and the members of Congress. who composed
the excursion party, with the Importance OF this
movement and the value OF the commerce which
would necessarily result from il.