The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-29
OUR RIVER Improvement
REPORT OF CAPTAIN {. ". VAN
C. LUCAS, ENGINEER CORPS
He Recommends an Appropriation
Work to Date Has Cost s3,I.O,OOo.
WiImington's Growth as N Port Has
been Steady-Exports Valued at
S0.6Ss 064

Mr.. Thomas ]. Pence, the Washington
correspondent OF The Raleigh Post.
sends the following under date OF July
23rd:
The chief of engineers of the war
department made public today a num-
Der of reports from officers in charge of
river and harbor projects, with esti-
mates for the fiscal year 1904. Reports
on a number OF the river and harbor
plans in North Carolina are submitted
by Captain E. w. VanC. Lucas. The
improvements of the Cape Fear, 10Th
below and above Wilmington, are in
Guided.
This report, which is very volumi-
nous, contains a wide range of infor-
nation. h in which the ap-
preparations made by congress are to be
expended is q feature. The amount of
commerce for h past year that was
developed by the streams undergoing
improvement the recommendations for
future appropriations and the ultimate
cost of all improvements are dwelt upon
in this report.
There was no work of Improvement
on the Cape Fear river above Whining
ton last year because of lack of funds.
$500 ~
The repor of the engineer says:
With the available balance it is pro-
posed to maintain the natural channel
up to Fayetteville, to do the prelimi-
nary work necessary for determining
lock and dam sites under the canaliZa-
ton project for obtaining eight feet
depth to Fayetteville, and to purchase
sites for locks and dams when loca-
tons are determined. Additional appro-
priationS are recommended Of $S, 900
annually for the maintenance of the
present channel to Fayetteville, and of
$500, 900 for the construction of the first
lock and DAM. 1t is not believed advis-
able to begin the construction of a lock
and dam until funds are available for
its completion under one contract
The ultimate cost of this project Is
81, 300, 900. The amount appropriated to
date is $19S, $50.
The commerce on the river for the
year ending December 31st, 1901, was
124,112 tons, a decrease of $50 tons.
Passengers numbered 2,205.
mo work of improvement was done
on the Cape Fear below Wilmington last
year for lack of funds. Operations were
restricted to maintenance work with the
suction dredge Cape Fear, which re-
moved 37,745 cubic yards of sand in
August and July. Then the dredge went
to Savannah where it now is The en-
Slneer s report says.
Witt the available balance 1t is pro-
posed; first. to connect the old Wood
berry jetty with the beach at Baldhead
to protect against further erosion; Gee
ond, to re-dredge the river channel
where shoaIing has occurred; third, to
rLpair the swash defense and New In
let dams and Shows Marsh dyke;
fourth, to remove the distractions from
the mouth IF Brunswick river; and
fffh IF funds narmIf fn construct moor
ing dolphinS at Wilmington. Should
any balance remain, it will be applied
to the work of continuing the improve
ment under the project of October, 1890,
to obtain twenty feet depth and 27O feet
width from Wilmington to the ocean,
about sixty per cent of which has been
done. But it is believed the available
balance will hardly suffice to do the
necessary work of restoration above
outlined, and nc further progress with
the project is expected until further ap-
preparations are made. Additional ap-
preparations are recommended OF $25O.-
GOO for Continuing the improvement and
$780, 900 for maintenance. The amount
estimated for the completion of the low
er Cape Fear project is 1886, 600; the
amount already expended on this I'M
provement is 3,170,0 900.
"Wilmington's total m las
year was 727, 359 tons; a gain OF 2S,OO;
tons over the previous year. No new
transportation lines were established
exports were: foreign and coaStW1se
| 60, 461 tons; and internal, 700, 44S; import:
| were: foreign and coastwise, 204,9S1
and internal, 161, 469 tons.
North Cardinals principal port ex
| ported products to the amount of So.
| 6S7, 064, of which cotton figured. to tn
| extent of 222, 926 bales, valued at 50,
| 81, 900. The other exports were rosln
lumber, ~turpentine, etc, but were o
small value as compared with the ex
| ports of cotton. The imports were kai
| nit, salt, potash, pyrites and molasses
Their total value was s2S4, AGE.
"Wilmington's growth as a port ha'
| been steady and consistent. In 1869 tn
freight transported vas 100000 tons; II
1889 it was 325.512 tons: in 1894 it wa
437 ,423 tons; in 1897 it was 9 5,426 tons
in 1890 it was 621,S52. and in 1901 it wa
727,3 59 TONS"