The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-16
THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE
IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE BOARD
OF MANAGERS YESTERDAY
Captain Lucas Invites Observations in
Support of the Projects for an
Ancorage Basin I'm the Harbor Of WILL
mington and the Improvement of the
Upper Cape Fear-The Matter Re-
ferred to a Special Committee.

The board of managers or the Pro-
duce Exchange held it's regular meet
ing yesterday at IL a m, President W.
B. Cooper presiding. Col. o L. Can't
well, the secretary, was on duty.
After the transaction of routine bust
ness, the board amended rule No. 81 as
to shipping so tina it will read as fol-
lows:
I'm the absence of n agreement in
charter party the delivery to and from
vessels of all fertilizers and fertilizins
materials in bulks shall be not less than
80 tonS per working day; and this is
hereby declared to be the custom of this
port"
The secretary read a communication
from Captain E. w. VanC. Luz
cas-, with reference to the pro-
posed anchorage basin in the
harbor of Wilmington and also as to
the improvement of the upper Cape
Fear river. 1t will be remembered that
the commercial bodies of Wilmington
took steps to induce the i've and har-
Dor authorities to include in the plans
for the improvement of the Cape Fear
a project for a deep water anchorage
basin in the harbor of Wilmington and
that the commercial bodies of Will
mington and Fayetteville urged a pro-
I6Cl lOI IHOl
of the upper Cape Fea between Will
mington and Fayetteville, so as to Sc
cure better facilities for navigation be-
tween the two cities named. These
projects on the scale contemplated were
not provided for in the last appropria-
ton and if undertaken Will necessarily
have to be provided for in the appro-
priation to be mad by the congress,
which is soon to meet. The customary
duty of the chief of the engineer corps
is to forward his plans and estimates
for such improvements as are in his
Judgment advisable, so such of them
as may be deemed necessary and
feasible can be provided for in the APP
preparation for rivers and harborS. In
accordance with the request of our peo-
pie, he has prepared his plans and es-
Inmates for the dredging of an anchor
age basin in u harbor n also plans
and estimates for the improvement Of
the upper Cape Fear, and they are
ready to be forwarded to Gen. John M
Wilson, chief of engineers, United
States army. Capt. Lucas, therefore
in his communication, invites the Pro
duce Exchange to submit such state
ment and arguments for, or against
the projects above named and bearing
on their desirability or necessity as af.
fecting the port of Wilmington.
AS heretofore mentioned, the com.
Cldl DOulCS VI ou 1ily idNt lohOi
action to have the government dredgc
in the harbor an anchorage basin OF
sufficient depth and width for large
vessels to ride at anchor and swing
with safety with the tides. 1t has beer
urged that such a basin will be OF
great benefit to u port, and Capt
Lucas seeks all the information and
argument on that point as may en-
tighten the chief of engineers as to tbs
necessities of the port.
On motion the board referred thu
matter to a special committee com.
posed of Messrs. H. w. Malloy, H. G.
Smallbones and w. H. Sprunt, who are
instructed to report back their recon.
mendations at a full meeting of thu
Produce Exchange to be held at II a
m. next Friday.
President Cooper urges a full atten.
dance at Fridays meeting as he realiZes
the Importance of Capt. Lucas recon.
mendations, and as it is desired to have
a clear and full discussion of the merits
and necessities of both the projects or
which Capt. Lucas invites information