The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-03-15
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
Captain Bhby's Views to the Benefits Con.
ferred by tho River and Harbor Works.

captain biAbys views as TO the Dement'S Con.
ferred by the River and Harbor Works.
WILMINGTON, N. c., March3, 1S }.
Editor COLUMBIA RECORD:
SIR:-l enclose you an article on the
subject OF the governmental improvement
Of the North and South Carolina rivers and
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 neighborhood,
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 q strong public opinion in your
locality the best means of bringing your
influential and leading men to sec the mat
ter in its true light2
Hoping that the improvement Of your
rivers and harbors, and that through it the
development of your neighborhood and
State, will receive from you the hearty
support merited by the results as shown in
my letter, | lcmain, very respectfully,
your obcdient servant w. III. BIxBY
Captain of Engineers, U. S. A.
From the Wilmington Rcview.)
UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,
WILMINGTON, N. c., April 30, 1887.
EDITOR DAILY REvIEw-At your re.
quest | send you Il few lines concerning
the benefits to North and South Carolina
caused by the governmental improvement
OF their IivCrs and harbOrs
Few people realize the advantageous
commercial, agricultural, and colonizing
effects produced by the governmental i'm,
provcmcnt 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, obstructcd mainly by
sunkcn logs snags and fallen or oycrhang-
ing trees. Were these latter distractions
thoroughly removed usually readily done
at comparatively small cosD these rivers
and creeks would at once appear in their
true role of natural and economical navi-
gable waterways, similar to and rivaling
the artificial and more expensive canals Of
the Northern and Middle States AS soon
as one of these streams is opened to com
mcrCc, the reduction in freight charges is
SO considerable as TO encourage the rapid
development of such towns us arc already
in existence along its length and the Ger
tainty and chcapness of its frcighting and
travelling facilities authorize the establish
mCnt OF continuous and extended settle
mcnts all along its banks over large areas
Of good land, until then 50 deprived of
transportation facilities that the sale of
farm products would not even pay the cX-
pcnsCs 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 50 greatly he
natural drainage of the river bottoms and
other adjacent lands, that land until then
malarious and sickly becomes fit for habita-
tion and culture
In this way, we readily see that the gov
Crnmcntal improvement of such rivers and
habOrs not only increases the existing COM
mcrCe Of such water ways, but improves
the drainage, culture, value and health of
the adjacent lands, builds up tie existing
towns and encourages the settlement Of
previously uuoccupicd lands. In no other
way can so small an expenditure Of pubic
money produce such valuable result S in the
dcvclopemcpt 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 during the last
few years:
On the Trent River, N. c., since 1919,
about $f2, 900 has been spent in opening uI
aboU: 40 miles Of river, reducing Grcight<
by from 25 to - per cent, rendering ma
rinc insurance unnecessary, and increasing
the commerce by $3.50, 900 per year thus
showing a development of T6 of annual
commerce for each dollar once spent by
the Government.
On the COntcntnia Creek, n. c.. since
1881, about $2J, 600 has been spent in open
ing up about 30 miles Of river, reducing
frcightS by from II to 80 per cent. and
building up q commerce of $500, 900 per
year, thus showing development Of $2j
Of annual commerce for each dollar once
spent by the Government. Besides this
two towns on the creek bank have nearly
doubled in population and property, and
the whole river basin shows marked gains
in settlement and prosperity.
On the PamliCo and Tar Rivers, n. G..
since 1876, about 500, 900 has been spent in
opening up about 60 miles Of river, rcduc
ing frcights by from - to p per cent. anG
increasing the commerce by 81 5000 O0(
per year, thus showing a development O
$50 Of annual commerce for each dollal
once spent by the Government. Beside!
this, the town Of Washington, n. c., In!
increased 25 per cent. in population anC
property, and the town Of GrCcnvillC In,
increased from 0l2 population and $2G6,
600 real estate in 1880 up to $500 popula
ton and 5000, 600 real estate in 1856; the
development of both these places since 1876
being almost entirely due to the river i'm
prev ImCntS.
On the Ncusc River n. c., since 1878
about S2O9, 900 has been spent in Opcnin :