Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-27
NEW SHIP CANAL.
Survey Begun at Both Ends by
U. S. Engineers.
Will Havo n Depth of 1G Feet VIII Enable
Much Shipping to Avoid tho Dangers of
Hntteras md Furnish an Inland Route
for Transfer of War Supplies If Needed.

Yesterdays Raleigh News and OBJ
server says:
The government is now engaged In
surveying the route for a proposed ship
canal from Beaufort. N. c., to Norfolk,
Va, by way of the Dismal Swamp Ca
nal. 1t is to be of a depth of sixteen
feet, SO as to avoid the dangers of Hat
teras, and TO transport government
supplies in naval ships in case of war
The engineers are making estimates OF
the cost of the work.
| This is u work of the very greatest
Importance to the people of the east
ern portion of the state.
The survey began at two points under
| parties directed by United States en-
gineers and we'll fitted out with neccs-
sary steam craft and apparatus.
| The work in the North Carolina
sounds is in charge of Assistant Engi-
neer S. f. Burbank, who is stationed al
New Bern, and Assistant Engineer
| humphreys, of Wilmington. Engineer
| Humphreys has his headquarters at
Roanoke Island and uses the steamer
| Mary Lily with Captain Dave Roberts
in command. His part of the survey
work is Albemarle, Croatan and part
| of Pamlico Sounds. Captain Burbank
Sound and Core Sound to Beaufort. He
uses the steamer General Thomb, under
command of w. b. Styron.
The surveys when completed will
| show the exact amount of work reQuir-
ed to establish the 16-foot depth and
estimates of the cost. The points at
which great deal of dredging will be
required can be now indicated, as these
waters are very we'll known by navi-
gators of this section.
The first big work is the deepening
of the Dismal Swamp Canal. This is
fourteen miles long and has a depth OF
eight feet, and just twice this depth
will be necessary. Then there are sew
erai points in Albemarle Sound that
Will require dredging. Croatan Sound
is the narrow body of water running
by Roanoke Island, that connects the
two big sounds, and 1t is ten miles long.
All this sound from Roanoke Island
light and long stretch in Pamlico
Sound, to Long Shoal light eighteen
miles in all, will require deepening. In
Pamlico Sound, at Bluff Shoal, opposite
Ocracoke Inlet. there will be one mile
of dredging. Much of Pamlico Sound
has q depth of twenty feet or over as
the regular course of vessels will be fol-
lowed. Core Sound runs the rest OF
the way to Beaufort. and from Harbor
Island bar in Core Sound much deep
ening of the channel will be needed
and number of sharp bends will re-
quire to be Strengthened. In some
| places points of marsh can be cut
through to advantage.
| The government is making this sur
vey for ship canal so as to provide
an inside water route for vessels draw
| ing as much as sixteen feet of water,
| While it will provide. when the canal
Is completed. an inside route from Nor
folk to Beaufort that will avoid the ter
rorS of Hatteras. the graveyard of the
seas, a much more extensive course is
proposed, namely. from Beaufort south
through Bogue Sound and so on
through the small sounds until n point
canal will there be required across the
strip of land to the Cape Fear river
The same system can then be continued
to the South Carolina line and onward
1t will be seen that the project is one
of considerable magnitude. Its chief
feature is spoken of as furnishing az
inland route for small craft and for use
. by the government for transporting
material in time of war. All mariners
dread HatteraS. especially in the win
ter season. and the proposed ship cana
will be boon to them. An impOrtan
feature to this State. however. Is the
, influence the canal will have on Tho
towns of New Bern. Washington. Elz
+ abeth City and others. This must BIZ
very considerable and such a water
route will make transportation Yer!
cheap and will have an important bear
ing on railroad rates. 4 very LITTLE
deepening of the Neuse river Will fur
nish access of the required depth t.
New Bern, and the same is true of tn,
other places. Several smaller towns
have great expectations that they hop,
to see realized upon the completion o
the ship canal.