The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-31
TO DEEPEN THE BAR AT MORE
HEAD.

It looks as il Morehead would at last
be made a first class port, or rather
thai it's entrance is to be so improved
that this naturally fine harbor can be
utilized. The greatest trouble all along
has been the shallow water on the par.
This passed, there is found one Of the
finest harbors on the South AtlanI'c
coast. There is plenty of depth of
water and a good roadstead. o
the committee Of the house of rep
resentatives having charge Of the prep
a!ation of the river and harbOr appro-
p: iat;on but mas decided to provide for
the deepening of the water on the bar
we may look for great things for
Mcrehead in the near future. This ac-
o Of the committee is due, no doubt,
to the influence of certain persons con
nected with the government who want
to see the plans of the Rowland I'm
provement Company and it's hackers
carried out. We still think the state
did well in making the lease Of the At
lantic and North Carolina railroad and
that the lessees will in time bring
about great improvement of hat sec
ton OF the state. This effort to get
deep water over the bar at Morehead
is the most important step yet taken
by those interested in the development
of the town n of that part Of the
state. Taking into consideration some
recent yents we have little doubt Of
the success Of those who are trying TO
secure this appropriation.
In reference to the proposed appco-
priation for dredging the bar Congress
man Thomas. Of that district, makes
the following statement to the Wash
ington correspondent of the Charlotte
Observer:
This amount includes a cash appro-
priation Oh $4,000 for deepening and
dredging the harbor a to a depth of
twenty feet at low water. The tidal
range being from three to four feet,
this will give a depth upon the bar Of
from twenty-three to twenty-four feet
at high water, making the depth up } n
the bar equal to the depth of water in
the channel leading UP to Morehead
City and the piers of the Atlantic and
North Carolina railroad, now leased by
the Rowland Improvement Company.
Recently Senator Aldrich and a party
of capitalists visited Morehead City
with a view to the improvement of this
harbor. After making a thorough ex-
animation of the records at the war
department, they found al estimate by
the engineers would give a depth Of
twenty feet at low water upon Beau
fort bar n a depth Of twent-four feet
at high water, at a cost of $4,000 By
a Of a new system Of hydaulic
steam dredging. For many a past
but little work had been done upon
Beaufort harbor and no work, in fact,
except keeping up existing jetties at
Fort Macon and on the banks at the
entrance to the harbOr. This appro-
priation in the house bill which is an
available cash appropriation, will i'm
mediately begin the work of deepening
the bar to a depth of twenty-four feet
at high tide, which is desired by cit
liens of Beaufort and Morehead City
and by the Atlantic and North Caro-
lima Railroad Company. It was at first
supposed a larger sum would be requir-
ed, but the engineers estimate for a
depth of twenty-four feet at high tide
is specific and Chairman Burton. at
my request included it in the BILL"