The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-04
ton has on the interior sections of the

past might not nave been as large as
they should have been blu the money
had certainly been expended wisely and
no similar amount Of money expended
he supposed had dom as much good.
When the national government began
to improve tire haroors the average
depth was only L - feet and at the
; present time it is about Is feet.
The speaker contrasted the differ
. ence in rates for the transportation of
wheat today compared to what it was
some years agO In years gone by he
said it cost II cents per bushel I o gel
wheat from New York to Liverpool and
from Chicago TO New York it cost SO
: cents per bushel. Today it costs but
2 per bushel to carry the wheat
from New York to Liverpool and 4
cents to get it from Chicago to New
York. This shows a difference i'll
freight rates OF SO cents. The farmer,
Mr. .Davidson said was benefited greatly
by this saving in freight rates. The
value OF wheat he declared was fixed
by its value at Liverpool, less the
freight rate.
He said some might think that those
interested in railroads would oppose
improving the waterways but il is just
the opposite. By having a water route
certain raw materials can be brought in
that could not be brought in by the
, railroads by reason Of the rates being
! too high. This means the establishing
of industries along the water routes and
the railroads han1to the manufactured
product. 1t thus acrues to the ad-
vantage of the railroad TO have the
water route. AS an illustration Re
pointed out Erie canal which, he said,
had made the New York Central rail-
road one of the Wealthiest roads III
America. All along the canal are en-
terprises that are made possible by
| reason Of having a water route.
He also e~ndeavored TO IMPRESS upon
his hearers the fact tEGt what is OF ad-
vantage to this port 80 helps the in
terror towns. The il growing of the
| river up to Fayettevi'fe would, help
| Greensboro and the for many
miles inland.
The engineers who nave charge of
the work in the different districts were
alluded to in theh ighest terms and
Mr.. Davidson who said he did not be-
1ievt the government had a more faith
full, conscientious or earnest BODY Oh
men employed in it's service.
Representative Small next addressed
the business men and dWelt on the
fact that the entire delegation from this
state should take an interest in the ap-
propriation made for rivers and har-
bors. Of the ten representatives In
congress only three Of them he said
were from districts along the coast and
the other paid but scant attention to
the entire representation to use its in
fuence as a united body.
Mr.. Small referred t o the inland wa
terway project and said the last pro-
ject would make the outlet into the
ocean at Beaufort harbor. An inland
| waterway he thought you'd be of the
greatest benefit to the entire STATE Of
North Carolina and especially b east.
Representative Patterson made a few
remarks. Hi said the members of the
rivers and harbors committe present
might not berthe actual representatives,
in the matter and in this name get
these appropriations. Public senti-
ment he thought should be aroused
when it come to improving the harbor
for all the money secured had to come
through their recommendation. He
spoke in the highest termsFof the mem
bers of the rivers and harbors COM
mittee and said he believed they had
done all possible in the way of appro-
prfations but the trouble was, that the
general appropriation was SO small that
there was very little money to dis
tribute.
Major Hale was called upOn and
made an interesting talk ir regard to
making certain improvements on the
uppe Cape Fear. He mentioned the
country west Of Fayetteville and what
a wonderful benefit it would be to have
the river navigable to such an extent
the vessels of some consequence could
go to Fayetteville.
Gave Their Endorsement
Before the meeting adjourned Mr. W.
B. Cooper made a motion that the
chamber of commerce go on record
as favoring the appropriation OF not
less than $50, 600, GOO for river and
harbor improvements and that the bus
mess men as firms and also as indivld-
ua1s aid along this line; The motion
was unanimously carried.
Lunch al The Orton-
After the speaking the party ad-
iourned to the Orion where they had
lunch and afterwards took a second
| trip on the river. This time the Mer-
cur was boarded at the f""+ # Market
street. at the steamer W~ilmington's
dock.
It was a delightful afternoon and the
visitors seemed to greatly enjoy their
| ride on the beautiful Cape Fear. The
| Mercur went 10 a point just to the
| north of the new Swift factory and
| then turned and passed the city and
went down the river to Big Island.
The representatives seemed to take
F.! considerable interest in the work being
lone by the dredge, which was at work.
| It was the opinion of Mr.. Ransdell that
! it would be best to use a hydaulic pipe
| line dredge in deepening the channel.
| He said he believed the work could be
! done cheaper and furthermore it could