The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-19
Mr.. SMALL INTERVIEWED
He Shows It's Stragetic as Well as
Commercial Importance.
PRESIDENT CORDIAL TO LT. SHPP'S SON
The Star Says that Recorder Cheatham Disre-
garded Federal Statute. Prtchard
Dimes at White House. Sim
mons Well Pleased.
Especial to News and observer.)

Especial to News and Observer.)
Washington, D. c., December 1S.-
Hon. John H. Small, member of the
House from the First Congressional dis
trist has introduced a bill that is of
great Importance to the shipping inter-
ests of the country. 1t is as follows:
A BILL AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF
A BOARD OF ENGINEERS TO CONSIDER
THE SUBJECT OF AN INLAND WATERWAY
FROM NORFOLK, IN THE STATE OF VIR-
GINA. TO BEAUFORT INLET, IN THE STATE
OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House OF
Representatives OF the United States of America
/ in Congress assembled:
Section l. The Secretary of War is hereby au-
! thorized and directed to appoint board OF en-
gineers, to consist of not less than three anc
not than fve and to be taken from either
the active or the reired list of engineers in the
service of the United States, to consider the
entire subject of a waterway OF not less than
sixteen feet depth from Norfolk harbor, in the
State of Virginia. to Beaufort Inlet, in the State
of North Carolina with instructions (hrst) to
make surveys of oil possible routes, If necessary
whether not included in recent surveys made
by Major James b. Quinn and Captain f. W.
Van c. Lucas and reported TO Congress IN eXecu-
/ tive document numbered two hundred ana tWos
Fifty-siAth Congress, second session and (second)
/ to submit a report with estimates and recon1men'
! daton, a description Of the best route such re.
/ port to contain estimate of the total cost OF
| the construction of the route recommended fM
adoption including the probable cost OF the pur,
! chase and improvement to sixteen feet depth OF
any private Waterways that it may be to the
/ interest of the United States to acquire and I'M
prove in connection with the above improve
meht. And said board when appointed is au-
/ thorized to order such Journeys Tor any or an
! of its members as may be necessary to investl-
! gate, not only any or all possible parts OF the
proposed routes but also The commercial inter
| ests of any port CT ports liable to be afected oy
| the establishment OF the proposed waterway.
Speaking of the Importance of his BILL
| Mr.. Small said to a News and Observer
correspondent today
During the last Congress survey made
! by the Corps of Engineers, United States Army,
of It waterway OF not less than sixteen feet deep,
! from the southern terminus OF Dismal Swamp
! canal on Pasquotank river, through Albemarle
| Sound, Croatan Sound, Palnlico Sound and Core
| Sound TO Beaufort Inlet, and elaborate report
| was made result of said survey. This -
! port favored the construction Of su7n wafer
| way in strong TERMS, but the engineer ohlcers
! advised that an examination and survey be
! made of the entire subject OF waterway from
Norfolk TO Beaufort Inlet, which should embrace
both the Dismal Swamp Canal and the Abe
marie and Chesapeake Canal, together with all
other available routes, for the purpose of deter
mining the best route
''The present bill was embodied in the River
ana ttArDOr Dll ,aS reported DN lile last SESSION.
of Congress- but as is well known the River and
Harbor bill failed of passage in the Senate.
''This is a most important project and will
| be a vast benefit, particularly to all Eastern
North Carolina Not only is it of local interest
| to the people of North Carolina, but il is also
of national Importance, because 1t is contem-
plated to be part OF a chain OF inland water
| ways extending from Boston to Beaufort Inlet.
| BY cutting a canal across Cape Cod from Barn
| stable Bay to Buzzard's Bay, distance of d
| few miles, a safe waterway will be provided
| by waV al
| New York. From the latter city there is fine
natural inland waterway to a point on the
Raritan river, which is one of the termini OF
the existing Delaware and Raritan Canal. This
canal connects the Raritan and Delaware rivers
and only needs enlarging for the purpose OF
admitting ships of deep draft Delaware rive"
affords an ample depth and the present Deia-
ware and Chesapeake Canal connects this river
with Chesapeake Bay and only requires to "
similarly enlarged. From Chesapeak Bay Nor
folk is reached by one OF our most magnlflccnl
inland waterways.
1.-THE government should construct this canal
across Cape Cod and should purchase and own
the canal connecting the Raritan river with
Delaware river and the canal connecting Della
ware river with Chesapeake Bay and should also
purchase either the Dismal Swamp Canal the
Albemafle and Chesapeake Canal. With the gov
ernment owning these several canals and en-
larging them to sufficient capacity, magni-
fcent inland waterway could be established from
Boston to Beaufort Inlet. Thus would be avoid
ed the most dangerous navigation on the Atlantic
coast and there would be saved annually hun.
dreds Of thousands of dollars worth Of shipping
and cargoes and the lives which constantly
sacrificed.
'From the city of New York connection would
| he made by way d the Hudson river with the
Erie Canal and thus our great system of inlano
lakes would be connected with this inland
waterway coast. Sooner later 1t is
TO be hoped that the commercial interest OF he
country will recognize the importance of this
| project and press it more earnestly upon the at
tention of Congress.
The strategic Importance OF this inland water
way in time of war, which in itself would af-
ford a effective means of pIN 'ction 70 our
seaboard cities than combined fortifica-
tions, must be apparent to all
Senator Simmons is we'll pleased with his
committee assignments. As sent out yes
terday he is on the following commit
tees. some of which are among the most
important committees in the Senate:
Post and Post Roads.
Agriculture.
Forest Reservation
Public Buildings
Relations with Cuba
Coast Defenccs.
TO Examinc the Several Branches of the Civil
Service.
The new Postmaster General. Henry
G. Payne. is out in an interview urging
the adoption of his plan for represen-
tation in the Republican National Con
vention which Mr.. Mckinley defeated last
year. He declares that it is wrong foi
i state like North Carolina that does not
contributei an electoral vote to the Re-