Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1897-02-26

alton is cheaper than by railroad
and where the time of transit L
not the chief consideratio!
freight naturally flows to th'
least expensive route. Thi:
principle lies at the foundation O.
rate wars between rival railway
systems, and of late years there
has been a marked revival ol
cana! and river Improvements
to provide new highways OF
trade. Carrying freight in large
steel barges in tow of tugboats
is the cheapest transportation
known 1t meets the require
meut of maximum bulk at miu>
imun cost, and such projects as
the locks in the Columbia river.
the enlargement of the New York
canals, the improvement of the
Mississippi, the construction
of new harbor channels, and the
restoration of the Dismal Swami p
canal mark the era of return to
the ancient and cheaper methods
of transportation by water.
Steam navigation is to be pro-
vided for on the new canal,
which will be equipped with
modern appliances to promote
the quick passage of boats, and
to render the artificial channal
as nearly like the navigable
water courses of Virginia and
North Carolina as circumstances
will permit. The ten foot depth
of water corresponds to that of
the rivers and to many Of the
channels in Albemarle and Pam
lico sounds. The width of the
canal will accommodate the larg-
est vessels which sail in these
waters, and the turnouts, each
two miles, it is expected, will
enable vessels to meet or pass
without danger of collision. The
locks are to be of sufficient cap
acity for accompanying tug
When completed, the canal
will establish a direcl route for
shipping between Hampton
Roads and Albemarle sound, and
will provide quick passage to
Norfolk, not only for the traffic
of Eastern North Carolina, but
presumably for that of the entire
coast below Ocracoke
Inlet.
VAST COASTWISE TRADE.
While the canal itself is only |
twenty-five miles long, and while
the distance from Norfolk to
Elizabeth City is only about
fifty miles, the proposed water
way will be virtually an artificial
strait between two inland seas.
At the north end lies Chesapeake
Bay, and at the south end is
Albemarle sound, and below if
oamlico sound, into which emp
y rivers with more than 1000
niles of navigable waters. In
Eastern North Carolina are
arge fishing interests, immense
unber forests, and growing ag>
icultural interests, for the dis
ribution of which Newberne
las become an important centre.
The territory drained by the
,howan, the Parnlico, the Roan>
Ike, and the Neuse rivers is
poorly supplied with railroads,
nd must seek an outlet for its
PRODUCTS by water transportation.
There is a vast coastwise trade
,elow Panlico sound, which
eeks transportation northward.
goes for the most part over
he outside route, around Cape
Iatteras-one of the most peril
'us passages for shipping in the
world. For that reason freight
must be carried in large ocean
,essels, and at increased expen>
e to the shipper. But Ocra-
:oke Inlet affords an entrance to
'amlico sound, and the condit-
ons of navigation below that
,oint are not adverse to the use
# barges towed by steam. There
ore, the projectors Of the enter
rise expect that much of the
rade from Wilmington. Bruins '
wick, Savannah and Charleston {
will find its way northward :
Trough the inland passage by
7ay of the North Carolina sounds
nd the Dismal Swamp canal.
About S1,252,ooo was expend-
d upon the old waterway prior
, 1855, and 100000 afterward
o build an entirely new work
f the dimensions proposed
7ould have cost at least 81, 500,
90, but the contract for the en-
involves a cost not to
xceed 100000. 1t has been
stimated that the revenues of
lc enlarged canal would amount
, SI75, 5000 annually. The pro- 4
.ctors estimate that operating y
need not exceed $4,000
ach year, thus leaving them
omething like SI5o,ooo net in
ONE each twelve months.