The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-21
Friday Oct. II, 1904.
gHE NARRows .wATER-PowER.

- - I
The "Narrows," or the Yadkin
river is one of the most wonderful
natural water-powers in America
said to be surpassed only by that OF
Niagara. The '.Narrows" is where
the Yadkin breaks through the Uwhar-
RE mountain range in Stanly and
Montgomery counties The river above
is two or three hundred yards wide. AT
the "Narrows" it cuts through the
solid rock of the mountain range in al
channel of less than a hundred feet and
at a steep decline. 1t is said that the
force OF the current and the depth OF
the stream nave never been ascertained.
The late Professor Emmerson ana
other biologists claim that ages ago
the territory to the northwest or the
the Uwharrie mountains was a great
lake which in time was drained by
some CONFUSION of nature cutting
this narrow outlet through the noun
tain range which formed the southern
barrier of this inland sea, thus drains
ing this large territory and forming
the Great Pee Dee river which empties
into the ocean on the South Carolina
coast.
Whatever the origin Of this great
water power, it now exists and has
until of late attracted no attention
from those interested il the industrial
development of the country. 1t has now
been brought to the attention of capi-
taIists looking more to utilizing the
power they find than TO determining
how that power was developed. AS at
Niagara, so at the "Narrows' the ma
turaI power which has been going to
waste these many years is to be har-
messed and made to serve mans pur-
poses. Northern capitalists with plenty
of money and full confidence in the re-
suits of their undertaking have formed
a compan for developing this wonder
full water power. They expect to ex-
pend five million dollars on the devel-
opment. One object, among others, of
III COIIlpdiy uCNSLOpllA0 lAAo PO"NA -
to furnish electrical motive power for
mills and factories in that section OF
the state.
a Salisbury special dispatch to The
Charlotte Chronicle gives his news re.
garding the work of the company o
developing this power:
President l.. G. Whitney, of the Whit
ney Reduction Company. and a party
of New York capitalists Will be IN Sails
bury today and take a special to tn
"Narrows," on the Yadkin railroad
where they are engaged IN the develop
ment of the great wate--power at tina
place. AS is remembered this place ol
the Yadkin has one of the greatest nat
ural advantages in the country, it hav
ing been claimed that Niagara, only
is superior to it. A competent enginee,
made an estimate. two years age declar
ing this place to have a capability o
$4,000 horse power. 1t is one of tn,
most picturesque of natural sciences
above the 'INarrows," the river il
many hundred yards wide 1t comes to
gether at a close head and flow
through q ANN of less than a u
dred feet IN average width. All arounC
it are the mountains AMI the stream 1
filled with things of CIeation beauty
making it the equal OF anything il
western North Carolina. The Whit
ney Company has spent man.
thousands already, has built a railroad
to the place, seven miles in length, anC
expects to invest s., 1000, 600 before it i
completed. Power will be furnished 70
all towns within fifty miles of the place
The Chronicle mments EDITORIAL,
on its salisbury special as follows:
The statement made in the Salisbur,
special to The Chronicle today as Il
the possibilities of the electrical powe
to be developed at the "Narrows'' of tn
Yadkin by the whitney Reduction
Company may be questioned by som
but by none who has ever visited tn
"Narrows." There the Yadkin is con
tracted into a small channel and ol
either side of it solid walls of rocl
tower to the height of mountains. I
has been one of the undescoveret
water powers of the country. Now tina
h capitalists have it in hand. We ca
reasonably expect great developments
The investment of 5000, 600 there is n
exaggeration and the men who are put
ting up the money are sure of profit
able returns.
There is a tradition III that part o
the country that only N man Ia
ever been known to successful,
shoot the 'Narrows." He was in
boat fishing in the river just above tn
cut through the mountains, SO the stor.
goes, and lost his oars overheard. TIL
swift current swept nim>at fearful
speed through the "Narrows." Whel
he saw what was before him ne threv
himself in the bottom Of his boat an
yelled murder, murder!i" until h