The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-02-26
REPORT ON INLAND WATERWAY,

From yesterdays Charlotte Observ-
ington City correspondent regarding
the report of the secretary of war to
congress on the examination and sur
vey of the proposed inland waterway:
A matter of very decided interest to
North Carolina TRANSFERRED today when
h secretary of war transmitted to
congress the report of the examination
and survey of the proposed inland
inlet. This great project, in behalf of
which Congressman Small has
wrought 81 effectively. only received
in a measure the approval of the en-
gineers. The fact is set forth that
there were numerous alternative loca-
tions subject to the consideration of
the board of engineers and hat the
route selected-via Cooper creek, Rose
bay. Adams creek and Beaufort inlet
covered a total distance of about
zoo miles. 1t is estimated that the
work Of constructing a 16-foot chan
mel. as contemplated in Mr.. Smalrs
bill. would aggregate $4,000, 900, n
that S15e,oOO would have to be spent
annually on maintenance. The special
board of engineers, in their report
submitted several months ago, esti-
mated that the cost of the project
was not out of proportion TO present
and prospective commerce, but the
regular board for rivers and harbors,
in the report made public today, ex-
presses the opinion that it is not adj
viSable to undertake the construction
of the waterway with a channel not
less than 16 feet in depth, but the
belief Is advanced that a channel of
less depth wOuld be of great advant-
age to commercial traffic and the
military interests involved. and the
recommendation is made that n new
inquiry be initiated by congress-, with
n view to aSCertaining n cost of a
channel 10 or Is deep, and of suita-
able width. The report says it is
questionable whether the protection
offered by the proposed canal which
would enable vessels to avoid Cape
Hatteras, would offset the hazards OF
entering between the canes of Ches-
apeake during stormy weather, n
the expense of towage through canal
and consequent loss of time. The
present coast-wise between
North and South Atlantic ports is
carried on by sailing vessels and
steamers. and doubt is expressed
whether any considerable number of
the larger vessels would forego the
advantages OF ocean navigation for
the restricted canal route.
Just now. while the question of eX-
panSion of the navy is receiving so
much attention from congress and
the country, another part of the re-
port will be read with peculiar inter-
est. The value of the proposed water
way. for purposes of coast defence,
it is stated, is ~undoubted, but it would
by no means be considered a constant
military quantity. In the days of the
small navy. containing many craft
built primarily for coast defence. such
n waterway would have been of more
value than at this time. when our
naval strength is coming to be meas
ured In battleshiDs and armored
cruisers of deep draft, capable, I'M
der some circumstances of seeking
the eneny on its own coast and COM
pelled to defend possessions remote
from our own seaboard. While the
congress will some day, doubtless. en-
courage a scheme less o~retentious,
the following letter of Chief Macken-
zie. of the board of engineers. would
indicate that the advocates of u en-
terprise will have to alter present
plans: "I concur in the view of the
board of engineers for rivers and har-
bors that 1t IS not advisable for the
United States to eSpend SO. 900. 600
in constructing a channel &c feet deep
from Norfolk to Beaufort Inlet"