Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-11-23

an inspection trip over the recon-
structed Dismal Swamp canal returned
to Baltimore yesterday, says the Sun.
From Norfolk, where the Baltimore
ans were joined by a number of Nor
folk people, the party was taken in the
steamer Ocean View up the Elizabeth
river to Deep creek, which forms the
northern approach to the canal. This
as we'll as the southern approach is to
undergo extensive Improvement by the
national government. The money for
this purpose has been appropriated and
the work has been commenced. AL
though in their present condition the
approaches take care of the canal traf
f1c, the improvements are desired be-
cause of the important development
which is already in sight from the re-
opening of the canal.
Leaving Deep creek the steamer,
which was accompanied by the torpedo
boat Talbot and the tug Nellie, en-
tered the northern lock and was raised
IL feet to the canal level. There are
only two locks in the canal as recon
structed, the other being at the south
ern end The old canal had four locks.
Apart from the magnitude of the work
executed by the Lake Drummond
Canal and Water company in rebuild
ing the canal, the inspection party was
impressed with the character of the
country traversed.
More than three years were spent in
reconstructing the canal, and the cap
ital and enterprise of Baltimoreans
carried on the work. The work of re-
construction consisted in widening the
canal from 80 feet to 60 feet, lowering
the water level Z feet, making a uni
form depth throughout of 10 feet for
the entire distance of % miles, and in
stead of four locks of II feet wide,
making two locks each 40 feet in width.
In this work the most modern ideas of
canal practice were adopted, resulting
in giving a waterway that is already
looked upon by engineers as a model
of it's class. The canal in it's entire dis
lance has only one bend, and this is so
slight as not to interfere with handling
the longest tows.
From Lake Drummond comes an I'M
failing supply of water for the canal,
and the locks at either end preserve
the depth. There is lost at each lock-
ing about 100000 gallons of water, but
the flow from the lake quickly replaces
it.
In rebuilding the canal the company
has provided an inland waterway
which will permit the sending of car
goes by barges towed by tugs from
Pamlico Sound through to New Eng
land without breaking bulk This
cheap means of transportation is ex-
pected to have a decided effect in pro-
noting the development of the section.
There is now about 200,000,00 feet
of lumber sent from the territory trib-
utary to the canal. Peanuts, tobacco
and early vegetables are among the
other supplies sent out while manu-
featured products, coal and general
store goods form steadily growing
tonnage of the inbound business. The
lowering of the canal level has induced
a number of property owners to start
the cutting of bitches to drain and re
claim their lands. Formerly the height
of the old canal prohibited such recla-
nation Possibilities in the cultiva-
ton of early vegetables to be sent to
market over the canal has stirred up
interest in agricultural development.
The Dismal swamp has long been
one of the most noted features of the
eastern seabord. Embracing on the
Virginia side the counties of Nanse-
mond and Princess Anne and on the
North Carolina side the counties of
Gates, Pasquotank, Camden and Cur
rituck. this territory has in the pop
ular mind been generally regarded as
a morass of appalling gloom. 1t was
supposed to be impenetrable and the
home of fever and malaria. Deadly
serpents and wild beasts, and in
former days fugitive slaves, were re-
garded by many the only occupants OF
the region.
At many places along the canal the
inspection party was greeted by little
knots of men, women and children
whose healthy appearance disproved
the theory of unhealthfulness. So i'm
pressed were the party with the gen
eral hardness of the people that many
of them were ready to agree with the
late John Boyle O'Reilly, who, after
making a canoe trip through the Ole
canal and to Lake Drummond, sale
that the section was intended by
nature to be a pleasure ground anC
health resort.
The juniper water which flows from
the lake is of wine-like appearance
and is drunk by the people as a pre-
ventive of malaria. Members of the in
spection party recalled experience
when on ships some 20 years ago o
sending up Deep creek for barrels o
this water to take to sea on account o
it's wholesomeness.
At South Mills, near the south en-
of the canal, is a thriving little vii
lage A cutoff near here makes a di
rect line for the Pasquotank river. Thi
stream is followed to Elizabeth Cit
and out into Pamlico sound. 1t ha
wealth of natural beauty and heav
growth of timber lines its banks 70
miles. At Elizabeth City Bush Leigh
city attorney, made an address of we
come to the party, telling of the appre
citation of the people for the work, an
predicting that it would revolutioniz
the commerce of that section. t.
Garnett, counsel for the canal reptile
in happy terms. Practically the who
population turned out to meet the vi:
itors, and there was general rejoicin