The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-26
is NUW BEING SURVEYED
A Route From Norfolk to Beaufort is
Contemplated.
THENCE TO BE EXTENDED TO CAPE FEAR
The Survey Of the Route Begin at Two Points
Week Ago and is Being Made by Ex-
pert Engineers Under the Direc-
ton Of the Government.

The Government is now engaged in sur
veying the route for proposed ship canal
from Beaufort. N. c.. to Norfolk, Va, by
way of the Dismal Swamp Canal 1t is
to be of a depth of sixteen feet, so as to
avoid the dangers of Hatteras, and to
transport government supplies in naval
ships, in case of war The engineers are
making estimates of cost of the work.
This is work of the very greatest i'm
portance to the people of the eastern
part of the State.
The survey began at two points under
parties directed by United States engi-
neers and we'll fitted out with necessary
steam craft and apparatus.
The work in the North Carolina sounds
is in charge of Assistant Engineer S. F.
Burbank. who is stationed at Newbern,
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 sur
vey work is Albemarle. Croatan and part
of Pamlico sounds. Captain Burbank will
survey the course in Pamlico sound and
Core sound to Beaufort. He uses the
steamer General Thomb, under command
of w. b. Stvron
The surveys when completed will show
the exact amount of work required to es-
tablish the 16-foot depth and estimates
of the cost. The points at which a great
deal of dredging will be required can be
now indicated. as these waters are very
we'll known by navigators of this Sec
ton.
The first big work is the deepening of
the Dismal Swamp Canal. This is IA
miles long and has a depth of eight feet,
and Just twice this depth will be neces-
sary. Then there are several points in
Albemarle sound that will require dredg
ing Croatan sound is the narrow body
Of water running by Roanoke Island, that
connects the two big sounds. and it is
ten miles long All this sound from
Roanoke Island light and a long stretch
in Pamlico sound. to Long Shoal light,
eighteen miles in all, will require deepen
ing. In Pamlico sound. at Bluff Shoal,
opposite Ocracoke Inlet, there will be one
mile of dredging. Much of Pamlico sound
has depth of 20 feet or over as the regu-
lar course OF vessels will be followed.
Core sound runs the rest of the way to
Beaufort, and from Harbor Island bar in
Core sound much deepening of the channel
will be needed and a number of sharp
bends will require to be Strengthened.
In some places POINTS of the marsh
can be cut through to advantage.
The government is making this survey
for a ship canal so as to provide an inside
water route for vessels drawing as much
as sixteen feet of water While it will
provide when the canal is completed, an
inside route from Norfolk to Beaufort that
will avoid The terrors of Hatteras. the
graveyard of the seas, much more extern
sive course is proposed. namely, from
Beaufort south through Bogue sound and
so on through the small sounds until a
point below Wilmington is reached. A
deep 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 It's chief fea-
ture is spoken of as furnishing an inland
route for small craft and for use by the
government for transporting material in
time of war All mariners dread Hatteras
especially N the winter season. and the
proposed ship canal will be a boon to
them. An important feature to this State,
however. is the influence the canal will
have on the towns of Newbern, Washing
ton, Elizabeth City and others. This must
be very considerable and such a water
route will make transportation very
cheap and and VIII have an important
bearing on railroad rates. A very little
deepening of the Neuse River will furnish
access of the required depth to Newbern
and the same is true of the other places.
Several smaller towns have great expec-
tations that they hope to see realized
upon the completion of the ship canal.