The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-03-14
RIVERS AND HARBORs.
Captain Blxbys Views to the Benefits Con-
fer-eG by the River and HarboE Works.

Captain BIxbys Views to the Benefits Con-
fer.eG by the River and HarboI Works.
WILMINGTON, n. c., March 3, 1888.
Editor COLUMBIA RECORD:
S1R:-I enclose you an article on the
subject of the governmental Improvement
harbors in my charge.
A perusal Of these few lines will, am
sure, convince you of the value Of such
work to your State, your neighbcrhood,
and even to every indivual living in the
vicinity of such streams.
If my views on the subject should ap-
pear to you as sound, will it not be for the
mutual interests of yourself, your followers,
your fellow citizens and your State, that
these views should be strongly upheld and
even urged by you and them? Is not the
creation of a strong public opinion in your
locality the best means of bringing your
influential and leading men to see the mat
ter in its true light?
Hoping that the improvement Of your
rivers and harbors, and that through 1t the
development of your neighborhood and
State, will receive from you the hearty
support merited by the results as shown in
my letter, I lemain, very respectfully,
your obedient servant W. II. BixEy
Captain of Engineers, I. S. A.
(From the Wilmington Review.)
UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,
WILMINGTON, n. c., April 90, 1887.
EDITOR DAILY REvIEw-At your re-
quest l send you few lines concerning
the benefits to North and South Carolina
caused by the governmental Improvement
of their rivers and harbors.
Few people realize the advantageous
commercial, agricultural, and colonizing
effects produced by the governmental im-
provement Of rivers and harbors Of the
| United States, and especially of the South
Atlantic and Gulf States.
The rivers and creeks of the South At
lantic and Gulf States are, as a rule,
streams of gentle slope, considerable length
and moderate depth, cbstructed mainly by
sunken logs snags, and fallen or oyerhans-
ing trees. Were these latter distractions
thoroughly removed usually readily done
at comparatively small cost these rivers
and creeks would at once appear in their
true role of natural and economical navl-
cable waterways, similar to and rlvallng
the artificial and more expensive canals OF
the Northern and Middle States. As soon
as one of these streams is opened 10 COM
mcrce the reduction in freight charges is
so considerable as to encourage the rapid
development of such towns as are already
in existence along its length; and the Ger.
tainty and cheapness OF its frel5htlnS and
travelling facilities authorize the establish
mept of continuous and extended settle,
ments all along its banks over large areas
of good land, until then so deprived OF
transportation facilities that the sale OF
farm products would not even pay the eX
penses of their transport to the nearest
market. More than this, the removal OF
distractions from the bed and banks Of the
stream facilitates the free movement OF
water in the stream and aids so greatly me
natural drainage of the river bottoms ano
other adjacent lands, that land until ther
malarious and sickly becomes fit for habita
ton and culture.
In this way, we readily see that the gov.
ernmental improvement OF such rivers anc
habors not only increases the existing com
merce of such water ways, but improves
the drainage, culture, value and health OF
the adjacent lands, builds up the existing
towns and encourages the settlement oi
previously unoccupied lands. In no other
wav can 50 small an expenditure OF pubic
money produce such valuable resul's IN the
deyelopement of the country at large.
As an example of this good work, let us
look at the results obtained in the States Of
North and South Carolina durlpg the laS
few years: ,o-o
On the Trent River, n. c., since 1879
about SO, 600 has been spent in opening uE
about 40 miles of river, reducing trelght>
by from 25 TO IS per cent, rendering ma
rine insurance unnecessary, and increasing
the commerce by $3.50, 900 per year thus
showing development OF So OF annua
commerce for each dollar once spent by
the Government.
On the Contentnia Creek, n. c.. since
1881, about S25, 900 has been spent IN open
ine up about 80 miles of river, reducing
freiehts by from u to 80 per cent and
building up commerce Of $4OO, 900 pei
year, thus showing development OF Sc
of annual commerce for each dollar once
spent by the Government Besides TINS
two towns on the creek bank have nearly
doubled in population and property, anu
the whole river basin shows marked gains
in settlement aud prosperity.
On the Pamlico and Tar Rivers, n. e.,
since 1876, about $3.50 has been spent in
opening up about GO miles of river, reduc
ing freights by from 70 to 25 per cent: ana
increasing the commerce by S1,S0OO,o ,oOC
per year, thus showing development OF
$50 of annual commerce for each dollar
once spent by the Government: Besides
this, the town of Washington, \. g., has
increased 25 per cent. in population and
property, and the town of Greenvllie mas
Increased from 912 population and S2oS,'
900 real estate in 1880 up to 2,3OO popuia'
ton and 100000 real estate IN 1880; dne inc
6sEPment e9s1 OF Gh isse dne afs o se s FSsr Inn
provements. o-o
| On the Neuse River, n. c., since 1878,
about S2O9,0 has been spent IL opening