The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-04

ton.
Colonel F. H. Fries, of Winston-Sa-
lem, is actively interested in having
a railroad built from Winston, n. G,
to Charleston, S. c., the primary OBJ
ject Icing a coaling station. Charles
ton has not definitely beer decided
upon as the terminal of the road AMI
persistent efforts will be made to have
the IOad go to Southport insteal Of
Charleston.
The city OF Wilmington will use
every effort to induce those interested
in the building of the road to decide
on Southport, n with a view to
showing the greater fitness of South.
port from every standpoint, the follow
ing letter has been sent by Mr.. J.. AL
len Taylor, president of the Whining
ton chamber of commerce., to Colonel
+. II. Fries:
Wilmington, n. G.,
March oath, 1905.
Col. +. II. Fries,
NinstOn-Salem, n. c.,
Dear Sir: Referring to the project
of a railroad from Winston -Salenl to
Charleston, S. c., in which you are &c
lively interesting yourself, and under
standing that the project has for its
primary object a coaling station at
Charleston, | take the liberty to write
you in behalf Of the claims of South
mort NJ y-I;.to .,o o,L-,:4Iol l..--
with, and to which your attention is
earnestly invited.
If the object is to establish a coal
ing station at the most available
point, and the development of the
country is but incidental to this nri-
mary purpose, | take it that establish
lines will be availed of to procure con-
nections at the smallest cost.
1 desire, therefore, to direct your at
FtentiOn to the fact that a line from
Winston Salem to High Point, Ashe-
I bOrO, Sanford, or Hamlet, would put
you III touch with the A. C: L.. at San
ford, or the S. A. l.. at Hamlet, and
lin either case necessitate the building
Gf only % miles Of line from Navassa,
a junction four miles from Wilmington
over a level country to Southport.
Surveys and estimates have already
been made for this line Of 25 mites,
and the road can be built for about
5 $1,000 per mile.
| am informed that either the A. =
L.. or the S. \. l.. would be willing to
make advantageous traffic terms, so
that the object sought could be ac-
complished much more cheaply to
Southport than to Charleston.
By this route the distance from
WinstOn-Salenl to the coast is about
IS miles in avo OF Southport.
Now, as 10 the relative advantages
of Southport and Charleston as a har-
Dor, | beg to submit the following
facts:
A vessel on her course would go out
of her way only "a miles, round trip
to coal at Southport, 135 miles to
Charleston, and So miles to Norfolk.
The depth of water at Southport is
greater at present than at Charleston,
and q greater depth can be obtained
and maintained at Southport thar at
Charleston. The harbor at Southport
= averages from % to As feet, while at
Charleston it is much less. The par
channel at Southport is perfectly
straight, while at Charleston it is very
crooked. The federal government has
recently made an estimate for a depth
Of so feet on the bar at both South
port and Charleston and reports are
now on file at the department III
Washington, estimating that with an
expenditure of $3.50 200, and a mainte-
nance cost of SIS, 1000 per year, a depth
of 50 feet can be obtained and main
tanned at Southport; while at Charles
ton to obtain 80 feet depth would be
at a cost of 1885, 600, and the ability
to maintain this depth is problemati-
cal at most any cost. The channel tn
be dredged at Southport is 500 feet and
at Charleston two pud a half miles.
submit that the above facts arc
worthy of your consideration, and
hope that before you definitely decide
the matter that you will give them
their due weight.
will add that | am a~uthOritati"eiy
informed that Brunswick county would
subscribe 500, 900 to the stock. and
suppose that counties traversed be-
tween Winston-Salem and junction
points with either the S. A. l.. or A. Z
l.. would also subscribe literally.
| desire to extend you an invitation
to visit Southport at your earliest
convenience, and to be the guest d
while in Wilmington.
feel quite sure you will be as
founded to know the superior advan,
tages of Southport as a coaling sta.
ton, and l have only enumeIa.e,
some of them.
We would spare no effort to make