The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-14
CAPE FEAR IMPROVEMENTS
LETTER FROM F. R. ROSE TO CAPTAIN
E. ". VAN COURT LUCAS
Calls Attention To Great Necessity for
Improvement OF Navigation of River
From Wilmington to Fayetteville.
Outlook for Great Increase of River
Freight-some of F~ayetteviiIe's In
dustries

The Fayetteville Observer of August
9Th contains a very interesting article
upon the Importance OF the improve
ment Of the navigation OF the Cape
Fear from Wilmington 20 Fayetteville.
IL was written by Mr.. F. r Rose,
secretary Of the Fayetteville chamber
OF commerce. TO Captain E. w. Van
Court Lucas. OF this city. who has the
matter OF the survey for other improve
ments in charge. 1t gives many facts
and figures which will be 81 interest to
Messenger readers and is as follows:
Capt. E. w. Van Lucas. United States
Engineer, Wilmington, y. c.
Dear Sir:-The Fayetteville, y. G..
chamber Of IN desires TO all
you attention to the great necessity
which exists for the Improvement OF
the navigation OF the Cape Fear river
from Wilmington. y. G., To Fayette-
vile, y. G, she head Of its viga
waters. Fayetteville. y. g. for almost
a century enjoyed the advantage and
distinction OF being. commercially. the
mo important inland town in the
state. This condition was brought
about by its position At the e OF the
Cape Fear river. upon whose splendid
waters, all the heavy shipment OF salt,
| IRON Tn0EaSStS, COTer ana msTEndf1IlSe
generally found their way through
Fayetteville all over the western coun-
ties OF the state. reaching even into
cas- Tennessee and into the states to
the north and west Of US. The build
ing OF railroads in the last quarter of a
century and more. DETECTED these Ship
ments elsewhere; and the Cape Fear
river a not received that attention
that it's Importance to the people OF a
large section OF North Carolina o
seem TO have warranted. Latterly
Fayetteville. y. g, has attracted the
attention of several manufacturing
capitalists and is beginning 10 be re-
garded as a promising manufacturing
center, as is shown by the following in
dustrieS, the most Of which have been
very recently erected here and In vicini-
~.
Hope Mills. $1,000 spindles, $50
looms; Holt Morgan Mills. 10000 spin
dies, 800 looms; Tolar, Hart and Holt
Mills, 10000 %spindles; Holt Williamson
Mills. 800 spindles; Fayetteville Cot
ton Mills. 3.120 ~spindles: Bluff Mills,
200 looms; Murchison Mills. 5000 spin
dies, 100 looms; Cumberland Mills,
5000 %spindles; Ashly Badly Silk Mills.
lafayette Knitting Mills: Poe Brick
Yard; Bucket Company. Lacy Manu-
featuring Company Furniture Mills:
Fayetteville Cotton Oil and Fertilizer
Co, 40 tons; Carolina Machine Shops:
Wards Foundry; Emmett's Roller
Cover Mill; Williams Furniture sac
tory; Mcneil Roller. Rice and Grist
Mill; Clark'S Machine Shop: Carolina
Roller and Grist Mill: Watson Planning
Machine Mill; Tobacco Warehouse:
several Saw Mills and other industries.
All these produce a vast amount OF
freight, n many OF these works al
ready use the river in their t~ransporta-
ton and in this way enjoy a large
nrOff in cayinpG ON froiUhtc alana
THE present tonnage OF river freights
is $4,000 tons. But If water could be
assured the year round even with the
present river transportation facility
and present business, there would be
no trouble in increasing the tonnage
100 or even $50 per cent. But we have
in the near future the certain prospect
of Electric Power Company at SIS per
horse power.
This will in a few years with our
other ad~vantages) bring a great many
new and important industries to our
city. We know of three very large
ones that will come here certainly as
soon as the Electric Power reaches US.
This is 10 be produced by the waters Of
the cape Fear, at a point some miles
above us and the fact of its coming
here seems to be well assured.
1t is almost impossible for US to es-
innate the amount OF freight in tons
that would seek the river t~ransporta-
ton If a regular depth OF water was as
sured; but from the great advantage
in freight rates that would favor wa
ter transportation We know tha sever
al new boats would go on the river at
once, and that soon the Cape Fear
r1Ver would regain its Die time impor-
lance. blessing a large section OF the
state by its beneficent freight rates.
Fayetteville, N. c., is a port Of en-
! try and the Cape Fear river Is under
, the control of the government. There
! Is no stream in North Carolina that will
bring SO much in return for every dol
lar expended upon its improvement by
i the government"