Crawford avalanche., 1900-01-04


gland without breaking bulk. So rich
and powerful did the company become
that before long it was great factor
in Southern politics, and each time No
vember rolled around the company was
accused Of bribery and corruption in In
fuencing favorlng legislation cpH
A reference to one Of its old ledgew
shows that from 1921 to 1855 the Oper-
ating expenses Of the company were
S1.152, ,S91.71 and the receipts over $S,-
100000, yearly average Of nearly
100000 clear profits.
With the coming of the civil war the
glory Of the canal departed, as the ter
mination Of trade relations between the
North and the South took from the
canal Its most fruitful source OF rev
enue. the New England traffic. s
In January, 1862. the Confederate
forces cut the bank and let the water
out to prevent the Union troops from
following them, The great expense of
repairing this damage thoroughly drain
ed the company's treasury, and when
the United States commissioner came to
collect the taxes he was Informed that
the company had no assets, being bare
ly able to pay the lockkeepers, etc. ~.
The crisis came in 1863 Congress
had enacted that all public works in
the South must be officered and man.
aged by loyal citizens. After stormy
discussion the officers of the Dismal
Swamp Canal Company absolutely re-
fused to take the oath of allegiance, re-
newed their expressions Of fealty to the
Southern cause, and resigned This re-
suited In the dissolution Of the concern,
and two months later the United States
Government confiscated the property,
From this time until the close ofsthe
war the canal remained In the posses
sion of the Government, and was the
scene Of many Important military oper-
ations. In 1866, being of no further use
and in state Of dilapidation, 1t was re-
turned to such members Of the CON-
pany as still survived. ~ .a.a
During the reconstruction period the
canal fell into gradual decay ana be-
came a gloomy morass and the sur
rounding country was deserted save by
a few negroes.
Three years ago the Lake Drummond
Canal and Water Company bought the
rights and thoroughly restored the
canal after an expenditure Of 5000, 900.
The basis of reconstruction was min
lmum depth Of 10 feet, and a width of
10 feet at the bottom and 60 feet at the
surface. The average width, however,
will be not far from 80 feet. The old
locks have been done away with and
the canal Is entered at either end by n
large modern lock. go feet long and 40
feet wide, with 10 feet of water over
the miter sill. y. siaf 9SaJoe, ~4
The canal is perfectly straight for
nearly half its length. A little to the
south Of the feeder from Lake Drum
mond 1t makes a sharp turn and then
pursues an undertaking path to its end.
It Is confined between high clay banks,
From South Mills, the southern term
mus, the route goes through Turner's
cut. and here the swampy nature of the
section Is more apparent. The forest
grows to the waters edge. and through
the trees can be seen glimpses OF wide.
still pools. The pool water. as well as
that In the canal, Is deep brown. from
the cypress and Juniper timber through
which II flows. II Is said to be extreme
ly healthful, and in former years YES
sells putting into Norfolk used to send
their boats up Deep creek for store OF
the water, to be used on the voyage.
Turner's cut opens into the Pasquotank
river, n picturesque stream, with many
wIndings The timber along Its banks
is thick and of much commercial value.
Until the first tug nassed through
short time ago, msny of the Inhabitants
of this region had never seen such
craft.
With an inland route from New En-
gland to the Florida coast the terrors
Of blockade In case OF war should be
diminished greatly. Such a waterway
would give back door entrance by
water for torpedo boats. 1t wouId offer
a means for transporting munitions OF
war and troops, as well as general sup
plies. which might be endangered
should the outside route be taken. Rec
ognizing this, the Governments Is CO.
operating In the. work. and $237 900
has been appropriated for widening and
Improving the northern and southern
entrances.