The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-03-15
RIVERS AND HARBORs.
Captain BiHby's Views as TO the Benefits Con.
ferred by tho River and Harbor Works,
WILMINGTON. N, G. March 2

OoPto" oApys FteNs as 10 inc beneuts COn-
ferred by the River and Harbor Works.
WILMINGTON, N. c., March 3, 1888.
Editor COLUMBIA RECORD:
SR:-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.
II 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 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 merted by the results as shown in
my letter. l 1cmain, very respectfully,
your obcdient servant w. II. BIxHY
Captain of Engineers, U. S. A.
(From tho Wilmington RCVicw.)
UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE.
WILMINGTON, n. c., April 23, 1887.
EDITOR DAILY REvIEw-At your re-
quest | send you 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 coloniZinp
l,,ytl l,,,
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 oycrhanS-
ing trees. Were these latter Instructions
thoroughly removed USUALLY readily done
at comparatively small cosO these rivers
ana 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 are already
i'll 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 so deprived of
transportation facilities that the sale of
farm products would not even pay the ey-
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 so greatly he
natural drainage of the river bottoms and
other adjacCnt lands, that land until then
malarious and sickly becomes fit for habta-
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 the existing
towns and encourages the settlement of
previously unoccupicd lands. In no other
way can so small an expenditure Of pubic
money produce such valuable resul' s in the
development 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 durug the last
few years:
On the Trent River, n. c., since 1919,
about $i2 600 has been spent in opening up
abOU: 40 miles Of river, reducing frcights
by from 20 to - per cent, rendering ma
rlnc insurance unnecessary, and increasing
the commerce by $3.50, 900 per year thus
showing a development of Sc of annual
commerce for each dollar once spent by
the Government.
On the COntcntnia Creek, n c.. since
1891, about $25, 600 has been spent in open
ing up about 30 miles of river, reducing
Trcights by from II to 80 per cent. and
building up commerce of T400, 600 per
year, thus showing a development Of $25
OF annual commerce for each dollar once
spent by the Government. Besides this
two towns on the creek bank have nearly
doubled i'll population and property and
the whole river basin shows marked gains
in settlement and prosperity
On the pamliCo and Tar Rivers, n. c.,
since 1876, about 500 600 has been spent in
ing frcights by from 10 to 25 per cent and
increasing the commerce by 81. 5000, 600
per year, thus showing a development of
$50 of annual commerce for each dollar
once spent by the Government Besides
this, the town of Washington, n. c., has
increased % per cent. in population and
property, and the town of Grccnvilc has
increased from 012 population and $3.50,
600 real estate in 1880 up to 2. 800 popula-
ton and 5000, 600 real estate in 1886; the
development of both these places since 1876
being almost entirely due to the river i'm
prOvcmcntS.
On the Ncusc River n. c., since 1878,
about $2O9, 900 has been spent in opening
Of