The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1884-08-09
TIE NAVlES OF THE WORLD
CAN RIDE IN WILMINGTON HAIR.
BoR WHEN THE WORK II DONE.
w hat the I.oag DE fr rr~d but naw Prob.
able New Railroads "a III do tn make
our seaport the Grest City IL ought
a. be-

ssaoctai Correspondence ~ zA< CNr~~sac.<
NuNiAGT1S. Ang 6 -C apt Worth,
with whoia ] had the gs-nsl fortune 10 come
down the Cape Fear. showed me some
coproiites found on his farm IN niaslcn
county, where they are found in great
abundance. This. with the vast t.ds ~
shell mari and blue mari. found on the
river, will. in time. furnish any amount
of excellent fertilizers. This i another
oi North Carolna's resources new to me.
and, believe 10 Others of greater learn
ing. As was taught, while studying
Geology, that coprolitcs were found only
in South Carolina
The work OF improving the Cape Fear
Is at present discontinued but will soon
be resumed 4 series Of jetties run
along the left bank Of the river from
Fayetteville 10 Wilmington These con
hnlng the current Increases is power and
enables II TO scour out the bottom, the
waste sand being carried by the eddy Ia
the lower side OF the ietty There Is
still much work to be done In this direc-
ton, some of the jetties being SO far
apart that the current striking the right
bank Is detected 10 the left bank above
the next Jetty, but when the work is com
plete the jetties will be so placed rs to
avoid this difficulty The work is well
Il.
At the rocks, the site OF old Fort Fisher.
is the bar across New Inlet, magnificent
work, completed at a cost Of some 81 Goo,
600. 1t is essentially dam, more than
a mile III length, forty feet high cor deep,
and seventy feet thick at the base, built
of great blocks of stone, laid in hydrau-
lie cement. Yet, if it be true, as | am
told, that the storms sometimes carry off
these stones as large a Saratoga trunk,
the dam, To be permanent. must be faced
with cut stone, doyetailed and clamped
That such work could have been done for
million and half surprises me.
should have supposed that il would cost
four or five millions at least. The effect has
already become apparent in the deep
cning of the water at the mouth Of the
Cape Fear to nineteen feet When two
small inlets, still open are closed. the
current viii, 10 doubt, restore the depth
of twenty -four feet at the mouth of the
river which existed before New Inlet
brook through.
In Wilmington / had the pleasure Of
meeting the officials of the City Govern
ment, with whom | spent pleasant and
profitable hour. Col. Hall, the Mayor, a
gentleman of broad views and extensive
information, is much interested in the
Wilmington ana Onslow Railroad, which
he says viii be OF great benefit to vii
mington. and extended to Norfolk, will
top the richest portion of the State, d-
verting the business of that section from
Norfolk to New Bernc and Wilmington,
with a considerable saving of freight to
consumers. The Cape Fear and Yadkin
Valley, and the Wilmington and Onslow,
will give Wilmington five railroads. The
harbor is protected by Frying Pan Shoals
running out eighteen miles towards the
Gulf Stream, and forming a breakwatcr
such as France and England have spent
millions upon millions to build, and be-
hind which the navies Of the world could
ride. In a few years there will be twenty
four feet Of water on the bar. With
such harbor, two hundred miles nearer
Cincinnati than Baltimore, and with such
facilities for transportation, there must
be a bright future for Wilmington
In Mr.. Burr's office | saw something
Of the extensive and complicated work
going on. Extensive and complicated,
but kept in splendid order under Mr..
Burr's able management. 1t seems hard
to believe that one who has filled so many
offices, where the most thorough and ex-
act work was required, together with
the closest attention to business, should
have had time TO acquire a graceful style;
yet. Mr.. Burr is well known as polished
and forcible writer.
| also met Mr.. Cowan, the city Auditor,
and found him as every one does, not only
an efficient officer, but most agreeable
gentleman.
Through the courtesy Of Col. Brock, the
city Marshal, had an opportunity to in
spect the opera house, a beautiful little
theatre, complete in all its appointments,
well lighted and ventilated and with the
best facilities for escape in case of fire
that ever saw.