The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-21

Its rooms in the Seaboard Air Lin
building. President NJ. W. jacob pre-
sided and Colonel John L. Cantwell.
the veteran secretary, was at his post
President jacob stated that the
injecting had been called to ear the
report of the committee to which a
been referred the request of the board
lof trade of Louisville KY, with refer
lence to the Cullom bill. and also for the
purpose of dicussing a matter of impor-
ttance to Wilmington in connection
with IL proposed inland waterway.
He hen called for the report Of the
Icommittee on the Cullom bill.
The committee reported adversely on
the request of the Louisville board,
asking this chamber to unite with it in
urging objections to the Cullom bill
now before congress. having for it's OBJ
Iject the enlargement of the powers OF
the interstate commerce commission.
The committee at considerable length
controverted the objections of the
louisville board. The Louisville
boards objections to the bill, as urged
in it's communication to this chamber
were as follows: First. as to the long
and short haul clause: second, that
the transportation companies should
not be prohibited from changing tariffs
Except upon so days notice, but that
they shall be permitted to change their
rates at any time when the eXigencieS
lof competition demand it.: third, as to
1.-THE opposition to the publication and
distribution of a national classification
lf4 h. ohoarry0I hui oil lines on orc xo1 in
Interstate commerce.: fourth, general
Opposition to the bill which mean
Opposition to comforting greater pow
Iers on the interstate commission.
The committee concluded its report
as follows: Believing that the adop-
ltion of the Cullom bill with an amend
ment increasing the size of the COM
mission n making the term of office
lof it's members for life, subject to good
behavior, will go far toward accom-
Iplishing these ends. we respectfully
recommend that this chamber again
urge u representatives in congress
to exert their best efforts to secure Its
passage" The report is signed by
Messrs. M. S. Willard. and j. A. Tay-
Tor, of the committee.
The report was adopted and on mo-
ton, copies WEI ordered to be forward
ed to our representatives in congress,
with the request that they support the
Cullom bill.
THE INLAND WATERWAY.
The president called for the report
of the committee appointed On the pro-
posed inland waterway, touching a
scheme proposed by Captain E. D.
WILLIAMS. harbor master of the port of
Wilmington. Mr.. w. E. Worth, chair
man of the committee. stated tina the
Icommittee had not been able to pre-
pare a report, but stated that Captain
tITTi11io no uvoC nrncnnf on1 could w
lplain his plan. The president thereupon
invited Captain Williams to state his
lplans to the chamber.
Captain Williams laid before the
lchamber an official chart of the coast
tof North Carolina, and pointed out the
advantage of interesting the govern
ment in continuing the inland water
WAY along the coast Of North Carolina
SO as to take in Wilmington. He show
ed how this could be done by con-
structing a canal from New Topsail
Inlet to Harrison's creek. which leads
into the North East Cape Fear river
twenty-seven miles above Wilmington.
HE stated that the proposed canal, in
lcluding about four miles Of Harrison's
Icreek, would be only eight miles long
from New Topsail inlet to the North
East river. He said the depth of water
in the orth East was from 9k to 10 feet
from Wilmington to Harrison'S creek,
and with a canal across the eight miles
light draft vessels could come by Will
mington bound north and south. He
said there vas a depth of from TX to
g Sect of water on New TopSail inlet,
and explained that vessels in coming
lout of Cape Lookout bite or Beaufort
bar, after they had come through the
INLAND canal, thereby avoiding Hat
Iteras and Cape Lookout, could come
down fifty miles to New Topsail inlet
and thence by the North East river
Icanal to Wilmington. avoiding Frying
Pan shoals at the end of Cape Fear,
which vas as dangerous as Hatteras
Tor Lookout. He stated that it was for
merly estimated hat the cost Of dig
ging a canal was $40. 900 a mile, but
with improved machinery 1t would
probably be less now. In speaking of
the Importance of the canal. he said it
would be of as great Importance to the
government as it would be to Will
mington. After explaining his scheme
in more detail, the members of the
ichamber expressed themselves as deep
lly impressed with it's Importance. On
motion, the committee was continued,
with instructions to collect the data
and present the matter before the
proper authorities at Washington with
a view to having the proposed improve
Iment included in the appropriations to
be made by this congress.
President Jacob referring to the
anchorage DdSlH III the liar
Dor of Wilmington, said the committee
had decided to accept the recommends
ltionS as to mooring dolphinS and our
lcongreSsmen had been instructed to
advocate that feature for our harbor.
Mr.. James H. Chadbourn. Jr., stated
that a company had been organized
with a capital stock Of $500, 900 and as
lit would put up a magnificent manu-
Featuring plant at Castle Haynes, the
lchamber should urge the deepening of
the North East river to Castle Haynes
$50 schooners could be towed up that
high or steamers which come into this
Iport could go up that far. He said the
depth of the river was already 9h feet
tall the way to Castle Haynes and that
lby dredging some shoals it would be
liz TO 1871 feet /. He moved to appoint a
Icommittee on this matter. The motion
Twas carried. and the committee will
lbe named later.
A committee consisting CT Messrs. c.
wv. Worth, J. 7. Riley. and j. A. Sprin-
ger, was appointed to investigate and
report on complaints as to excessive
lsteyedore charges in this port and to