The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-27
DISMAL SWAMP CANAL
yrssA1E ArA VERY low FIGURE.
p,on.r.x which Cost One million and a
Half Knocked Down for Ten iho"-
sand one Hundred.

Novporx. VA. July 26.-ISpecial.l-The
D,.mal Swamp canal. which cost one mil
- exa hundred thousand dollars. was
.old AT public auction at the Real Estate
Exchange to-day. by Leigh Brothers d
phelps. for Theodore S. Garnett. trustee for
,.n thousand one hundred dollars cash
Thomas Ballentine. Of this city, being the
purchaser for Ross Il Sanford OF New
mort News. The sale was made IN
der a deed of trust made by Eugene
r. lynch and John G. Short
doing business under the firm name
of thu Norfolk and North Carolina Canal
Company. in favor OF the Exchange hatioha'
Rank William Peters. receiver. and Trans
ferred all OF the property. The CANA -
twentv-three miles long and conhectS tno
waters Of the Elizabeth in Virginia via INC
Dismal Swamp with the fasquotahA -
North Carolina. its constructor WI ~
thorized by act OF the General AsseniO'J -
Virginia December /. lToI. -, c.-.o,
In 1871 tho Treasurer OF the common
wealth was authorized 70 SUBSCRIBE IA 20
half Of the State TO fifty shares OF the stoch
In 1893 he WAS authorized 70 suOscIioo "
tuenty additional shares; IN loOQ nve yeSIs
20 additional time was given ia Whlch 70
anrUnlGtA
.,nn ras extended six years. The c0nstruc-
zion ~ the canal was interrupted by tue wal
20 1910 and ia 1916 the Assembly passed. an
act extending the time seven years. IN loL'
DE state again subscribed 10 the canal COM
panys stock s64,OOO. ,,...;..d
In 1919 the General Assembly authoii4eu
abe Board Of Public Works 70 load 70 tne
Dismal Swamp Canal Company tIe sun ~
$40 600. Again in 1924 the state loaneu 70
tbe company S97. 800 BY act OF Congress;
Mav. 1slG. the Secretary Of the treasury OF
the United States was authorized 10 SUD
scrihe 10 zoo shares of the company IN tbe
name Of the United States. In 1873 tne e
United States subscribed 10 ~
shares. These subscriptions VIII
the private subscriptions necessary 10
comnlete the work and equip the same
o,nonnted in round numbers 70 one million
Ave hundred thousand dollars This canai
has been a valuable feeder 70 the commerce
of This CITY and it is distined TO play an I'M
portant part in supplying Norfolk Wild
In Is7l the city of Norfolk engaged Dir.
McAlpin. distinguished engineer, at COST
M a86 600 10 make a report upon the aovls-
ability and prscticsbility OF getung.a supply
of water from the Dismal swamp.
Mr. McAlpin advised that the property
be purchased nj any reasonable hgures. DE
declared that Norfolk would be compelled
10 seoure her water from Lake Drummond
eventually. and that with population OF Co.
200 the present source Of supply would be
absolutely insufficient. The importance OF
securing this water was brought 10 the at
tention of the city council by City Engineer
Brooke. and last night the matter
was discussed in Joint session and
a report submitted which showed that
Lake Drummond could furnish 10000 ,0OO 900
gallons annually, and that the water IS oil
superior quality. 1t was suggested that the
city could secure the property for $50, 900.
but the matter was laid upon the table,
and at the sale this morning the board or
water commissioners made no BID.
Ii is now said that the city will probably
be able 10 secure the water rights for S75,-
600 or 200 900.
Mr. Thomas Ballentine was seen by me
and said that company would be organ
lied at once with abundant means 70 i'm
prove and operate the canal, and that 1t
was q bona-fde purchase. He stated that
the company when formed will furnish the
city ell the water they need at a reasonable
price.
The Norfolk District Conference of the
Methodist Church convenes at Beech Grove
church, Norfolk county, tomorrow. Bishop
Granbery will preside,
The wheemen Of Portsmouth have or
ganized bicycle club with William Chap
man as president.
Rev @. A. q. Thomas, pastor of the Bap-
fist church at Elizabeth City, n. c., has ac-
cepted q call TO Greensboro n. G.
The auxiliary board of the Worlds Fair
managers for the Second district Of Nir-
ginia will hold an important meeting in this
city tomorrow.