The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-08
AN INLAND WATERWAY.
From Norfolk to Beaufort In
let is of Great Value.
Congressman John H. Small Talks If Prospect
for Great Development for the South
Atlantic Coast.

Congressman John H. Small of Wash
ington, while in the city last week was
asked by News and Observer reporter
to say something of the Inland Waterway
plan which means so much for North
Carolina Mr. Small is pushing this mat
ter and is thoroughly posted on it. In
reply to questions he gave the following
interesting interview:
"The project for the Inland Waterway
from Norfolk to Beaufort Inlet is at the
present time in a very satisfactory condl-
ton. The last river and harbor act au-
thorized the appointment OF the Board OF
Engineers to take into consideration the
entire project, to make all necessary sur
veys and to report the best route for same
with estimates OF cost and recommends
tions. This board has been engaged upon
this work during the spring and summer
and have completed their report
mo systematic effort has heretofore
been made to demonstrate the commercial
Importance of this waterway, but during
the past spring and early summer visits
were made to every seaboard city between
jacksonville Fla, and Baltimore, inclus-
commercial organizations of each city who
gave the undertaking their cordial APPROX
al and agreed to prepare separate reports,
showing it's commercial Importance to-
their respective cities and sections.
These reports have all been prepared
and submitted to the Board of Engineers,
They all concur in the proposition that
while at present, coastwise traffic between
the South Atlantic and North Atlantic
ports is at present very greatly restricted
and confined to large steamships and the
largest class of sailing vessels, particular
w on account of the dangers of Cape Hat
teras, that the construction of this water
way will make possible the introduction OF
small steamers and vessels, and especially
barges in the movement OF such traffic
and will greatly augment the volume of
same. They show further, that in the
exchange of all bulky products from the
farms, the factories, the mines, including
lumber and its products, that the freight
rates will be greatly reduced.
In nearly every instance these reports
contain data showing in dollars and cents
the saving to commerce thus to be effect
ed, and also interesting discussions of the
They show, further, that there will be eff
fected an annual net saving to our com
merce between Baltimore and Florida of
more than two million dollars. All these
exhibits will be included in the report Of
the Board of Engineers and will receive
their official approval and a strong recon-
mendation that the expenditure for this
waterway should be amply justified.
1.-The result of these exhibits will be
apparent To illustrate, it is estimated
that the cost of this waterway will not
exceed ten million dollars, the interest on
which at five per cent. would only be
$500, 600 If we add to this the sum of $780,
600, which is a maximum sum for annual
maintenance, making a total Of $3.50 900,
it can thus be seen that the net saving
to commerce would be $1,45O0O0. If a pri-
vate enterprise could be presented with
such attractions there would be no diff
Guilty in securing the necessary capital for
| it's development.
THE report of the engineers will also
show that the project as an engineering
proposition is entirely feasible 1t will
| further show that the strategic feature of
| the waterway in time of war will be anval-
liable means of defense and protection to
our coast and cities. The report has been
submitted to the Chief of Engineers, from
whom it will go to the Secretary of War,
and thence submitted to Congress at its
next session, when the same will be pub
! lished
cit will then be up to Congress to deter
mine whether it will recognize and adopt
this Improvement 1t is unquestionably
the greatest project under consideration
along the entire Atlantic coast and our
commerce from Maine will receive an I'M
usual impetus from its construction. But
this is a big country, with diversified in
terests and many demands are constantly
being made upon the general government.
| The project vii bear the closest scrutiny
and the more it is kept in the public eye
| the more will its Importance be appre
ciated Publicity and the presentation of
! its strong points in other sections of the
country will tend very largely to create
public sentiment which will demand its
recognition by Congress.
at seems useless to refer to the dangers
of Hatteras and Lookout on our coast, but
the public will recall that only few days
ago a barkentine bound from Jackson
vile, Fla. to New York, and loaded with
cross ties went ashore at Cape Lookout
and although her crew was taken ashore
by the life saving service, yet the ship
and cargo was a total loss. Such wrecks
occur so frequently as to deter even the
toilers of the sea from attempting to round
these dangerous points on our coast. If
the waterway had been constructed this
barkentine would have entered Beaufort
Inlet, and with the ample continuous
depth of sixteen feet of water through to
Elizabeth River and thence to Chesapeake
Bay would have reached her destination
in safety