The gold leaf., 1906-06-21
Norfolk and the Proposed Inland
Waterway.
Norfolk Virriuian-PilOt.

Norfolk VirginianPilot
Elsewhere III today's issue is pub
lished o. communication from Repre-
sentative John II. Small, of the First
North Carolina District, endorsing
an article recently appearing i'll these
columns, calling the attention OF the
business men of Norfolk to the i'm
Dortance and necessity Of developing
trade in the territory to the South OF
us. Representative Small points out
that to the almost marvellous growth
Of the commerce OF this port iii recent
years, az shown by the last annual
report OF the United States District
Engineer, Major Winslow; by figures
compiled by Secretary Lulnsden OF
the Chamber of Commerce, and by
reports OF the customs officials, the
territory to the South of us has con-
tributed but little That trade has
continued to pass by our very doors
and go to ports far less favOrably
situated for the securing and hand
line OF it. New York and Philadel-
phia have long been its beneficiaries,
and recently Baltimore has been MAX
inc energetic and determined efforts
to secure a share OF it, and not with
out success.
This trade naturally belongs to
Norfolk, is essential to the proper
development OF the port, and the
surest and most practicable means
OF securing it is furnished by the con
struction OF the proposed inland
waterway from this port to Beaufort,
y. C., u project of which Representa-
tive Small was the originator and
has been the earnest and persistent
advocate. The construction OF this
waterway would not only furnish a
safe and easy passage for cOastWise
shipping, enabling it to avoid the
dangers of Hatteras, but it would
also open up II fertile territory which
is now handicapped in its develop
ment by the lack of cheap transpOr
tatiOn. Small steamer lines could
engage in trade between Norfolk and
points throughout this territory at
rates which would defy competition,
bringing the bulk of that trade to
this port. The bulk of the cOastwise
shipping would also pass through
this waterway rather than incur the
hazards of the outside route, and
Norfolk being the Northern terminus
OF the route it would have to pass
directly through this port. Under
such circumstances it is incOnceivable
that the vast ma jOrity of this trade
should not stop here instead ofgoing
to Baltimore, New York, Philadel
phia and other Northern ports as it
now does. Furthermore, as the ma
iOrity OF the points on the proposed
route are connected v lUh the interior
by a network of railroads, the trade
of the entire section would in a great
measure be DETECTED to this port to
its rapid upbuilding and develop
ment and the enormous swelling OF
its export trade.
And what the handling of the trade
of that section would mean to this
port it is difficult to properly appre-
ciate as yet. The South has really
begun only to develop. When the
development gets we'll under way the
trade of the section will be the largest
and most profitable in the country,
and the port which secures the bulk
of it will become not only the COM
mercial metropolis of the South, but
one of the chief commercial centers of
the country. Nature destined Nor
folk to become such II port, and the
opening of the proposed waterway
will facilitate if not insure the fulfill
ment of that destiny.
But not only will Norfolk and the
territory through which it passes be
greatly benefited by the cOnstruc-
tion Of the proposed waterway, but
the entire Atlantic Seaboard from
New England to the Gulf as well. The
Federal government is also directly
interested, as the waterway would
furnish to naval vessels of light draft
safe and protected passage in time
OF war Under such conditions there
should be concerted action on the
part OF all the States on the Atlantic
Seaboard to secure the necessary leg
islation. The plan is practicable and
feasible, and it is understood that the
engineers who have completed a sur
vey of the proposed route will make
favorable report, estimating the cost
ut an amount which will amply iusti-
fy the expenditure.