Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-22
DISMAL SWAMP CANAL OPENED.
The Important Inland Waterway
Now Restored.

ELIZABETH CITY, n. c., August IL
The old Dismal Swamp canal Is now
opened and ready for business. The canal
extends from the village Of Deep Creek,
Va. to South Mills, n. c.. a distance of
twenty-five miles. Deep Creek Is an arm
of the Elizabeth river. and the village
is about three miles from that stream
making the northern terminus OF the
canal practically at Norfolk. South NILS
is at the headwaters of the Pasquotank
river, tributary of Albemarle sound.
The canal. although only twenty-five
miles i'm length, opens up $500 miles OF IN
land navigation, comprising the many
rivers and streams of the Carolinas Inc
waterway is looked upon by government
officials and naval men as being OF the
greatest value, both in peace and war. 1t
will furnish the means of inland and pro-
tected navigation for the smaller Yesseis
of the navy and revenue service.
Another very signal advantage 10 be
gained is the avoidance of the dangers OF
Cape Hatteras. The canal accommodates
vessels of draught of at least ten feet,
and II is expected that n vast amount OF
freight which now goes by the outside
route will take this inside way. IL Is said
that the avoidance of the perils OF Cape
Hatteras will create a saving which VIII
greatly reduce rates of insurance.
No canal on the Continent has so OLD
q charter as that emitting the Dismal
Swamp Canal TO the privileges of pub
lie transport II dates back TO the year
1851 when investors from the States OF
Virginia and North Carolina, among
them George Washington. said 10 be a
director OF the company, were organized
for the purpose of connecting the Chesa-
peake Bay with the sounds and rivers
of North Carolina.
They were greatly handicapped I'm their
undertaking for want of capital, and
had finally to arrest the work Of recon-
struction. which conducted by means
of the customary slave labor Of the
times, did not at it's best make swift
progress. 1t was only through the as
sistance of the National Government that
they achieved ultimate success.
Thanks 10 the government i'm 1899 the
canal was finally opened TO traffic. I'm
mediatcly the southern shippers saw In
this new thoroughfare Of water the
cheapest shortest and most eligible
route between the States. Winch the
civil war broke out the Federal Gov
eminent was equally eager to seize the
opportunities presented by an inland
waterway for conveying 10 and fro their
troops, the munitions Of war and their
stores. and for supplying their army and
navy with water. At the close Of the
war they surrendered IL 10 the company,
altogether dilapidated from hard use and
neglect.
The management Of IL went into other
hands. The general business depression
OF the South decreased it's immediate i'm
portance 10 such an extent that by de-
gyees il was allowed 10 run down, until
finally II reached that point when this
once overcrowded waterway was discov-
cred 70 be practically unnavigable.
The rehablitated canal is largely n Bal
timore enterprise, and that city IS expect
ed to derive a great benefit from the i'm
provement. as II will be brought into
cheaper connection with a large area Of
the South. The company which has re-
built the canal Us known as the Lake
Drummond Canal and Water Company
The officers are as follows: President
Walter b. Brooks, Jr.; Vice-President
and General Manager. Joseph y. Sanford;
Secretary, j. F. Sinton; Treasurer, Cald-
well Hardy: Chief Engineer. J. c. Wren
shay