The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-06
OUR HARbOR
IMPROVEMENTS
What Has Been Done in
North Carolina Waters.
WORK FOR THE FUTURE
ESTIMATES OF ENGINEERS OF
COST OF IMPROVEMENTS.
ONE MILLION DOLLARS IS NECESSARY
To Complete the Existing Projects in North
Carolina Waters. Other Projects
viii be Suggested.

viii be Suggested.
Washington d. c., Nov. 4.-(SpeciaD.
I'm the annual report of Brigadier Gen
eral John NJ Wilson, Chief of Engineers,
just made public, there are many inter
esting statements relating to the progress
made in Notifications, river and harbor
improvements, and the construction of
bridges over navigable waters i'll North
Carolina. 1t is matter of note, that
North Carolina has received the least at
tention shown to the States of the At
lantic coast, less money being expended
by the Government in Improvement of
the North Carolina coast in one year than
was expended in three months on the
Rhode Island rivers and harbors.
/ In his report relating to North Caro-
lima. General Wilson states that Captain
William e. Craighill, Corps of Engin-
eeers. was in charge of the coast de-
lenses, and that he was assisted during
the past fiscal year by Lieutenant Edgar
Jadwin. until October l.. 1897, and Lieu
tenant John G.. Cakes, since September
80 1897. Brigadier General Peter G..
Hams, United States Volunteers, Colonel
Corps of Engineers, was the Division En-
gineer in charge.
! After naming this list of officers in
charge the ridiculous statement is made
that. THE defences include three works
of old type. two of which are in ruins"
During the war, the report says, three
S-inch guns were placed on disappearing
FL. which had
been completed at the end of the pre-
vious fiscal year. A mortar battery OF
eight 12-inch 3. l.. mortars was author
lied on May {, and has been completed
In connection with the emplacement fo1
: the fourth S-inch gun provision WAS made
for 5-inch rapidfire gun on balance pill
lar mount. At the close of the year, the
, 12-inch platforms were completed, and
the battery well advanced. The rapid
fire empIacement is finished and await.
= ing its armament.
: Mention is made in the report that sub
, marine mines were placed in the Cape
Fear River at the outbreak of the wal
! and were maintained in condition for ser
vice to the end of the fiscal year.
! After disposing of the Notifications
General Wilson gives a number of pages
in his report to the Improvement of riv
ers and harbors in North Carolina. Wher
ever progress has been made, mention
, is given here.
: During the past year $3,S47.50 was ex'
pended on the project for the improve
ment of Roanoke River, making in nj
! 1892 600 expended on the project. which
| provides for obtaining an unobstructec
' channel at all seasons of the year, Of
: feet wide at the narrowest point from
f Hamilton to Weldon, 3 feet deep at low
o water. and for removing Instructions
@ from below Hamilton to a depth suitable
y to vessels navigating in the sounds OF
g North Carolina. The estimated cost O
!. work contemplated amounted to SOD,
+ 600 There remains unexpended 500,
V 69401.
n Pasquotank River was improved TO tn,
/ amount of $2,39S. and about So remains
unexpended in this account. The i'm
provement was necessitated by the bi
weekly trips of the Elizabeth City steam
b ers.
) In January last, the Engineers made
} survey of Ocracoke Inlet, on which So,
$40 has been expended. of which 81 90
I was expended during the past year Th
) survey discovered that Beacon IsanC
} slough has shoaled to approximately it
Z original condition. Other lmporan
5 shoals are unchanged in position. Gen
} Wilson mentions that S6,6S6 was eN
Z pended in Improvement of Fishing Creek
. tributary of Tar River, 81 miles aboy'
. Pamlico Sound. 1t is estimated tina
$500 can be proftably expended dur
Z ing the next fiscal year in maintenance o
= Improvement.
During the year pamlicO and Tar riv
= ers tone river. called Pamlico, below, ant
Z the Tar above Washington, was mucl
I improved according to the report of thu
4 Chief of Engineers. AS an evidence o
: this, it is noted that commerce durin
a the past year amounts to 363,5lo tons
4 an increase over the previous year o
III 625 tons. The river above Washing
ton was snagged and is now navigabl
a to vessels of greater depth than ut an
\ | time before General Wilson estimate
, the amount necessary for completion o
the projected Improvement ut S3S, 500
and states that $1,000 will be needle
annually to maintain the Improvement,
D The projected improvement of Content
h | MIA Greek from Snow Hill to its COZ
o huence with the Neuse last year cost tn
o Government $1,000. 1t is estimate
q that $500 will be required to complet
y the Improvement that $1,000 can b
Q profitably expended during the next fis
. cal year, and that $4,000 will be neee
. ed annually to maintain improvements.
q Trent river, from Newbern to TreT
Q ton. was cleared of .snags during the pas
q year. only S7S7 being expended in thes
o waters. 1t is estimated that $500 ca
o he pro6tably expended during the mex
~ fiscal year in this work, and that a Xix