The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-11-30

imously adopted.
It read as follows:
Resolved. That this association re-
specially request the congress Of the
United States TO make an appropriation
adequte for the construction Of the in
land waterway from Norfolk, Virginia
10 Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina
The last report OF the board of engi-
neers made under the authority Of on
gress demonstrates the commercial and
stragetic necessity Of his protected
route, and estimates the cost to be
only 5 3 500, 900.
This association, with great respect,
desires 10 emphasize its conclusion
that there is now, no valid reason why
the construction Of this important
waterway should be longer delayed. 1t
is not only within the Jurisdiction OF
congress but The interests invn'lAla arc
Of sufficient importance to demand fay
cradle consideration
Tho facts which demonstra-a its
necessities are many. bu- this associa-
ton will submit a few Of The control
ing factors, which justify this conclu-
sion. It well known that the value
! OF the coast wise trade between the
South Atlantic and the North Atlantic
ports is comparatively email. both II
tonnage and in value. It is confined II
large steamships and large modern
sailing vessels. This IS true because
OF the hazardous navigation a-uund
Cape Hatteras and Diamond Shoals.
The t~reacherous sands projecting far
ont into the sea Iorn Cape Hatteras
have at all times times created a bar
| rjlr nrNhihifinp froo onn,r ooroial ;ntar
course by water between the people Of
the two sections. The construction of
this proposed waterway will avoid not
alone the dangers of Cape Hatteras,
but also of Cape Lookout, and will
make possible the immediate introduce
tion Of small vessels and steamers,
and particularly of barges in the coast
wise trade. Philadelphia and Balti-
more On the north, together with Jack
sonville and Savannah on the south,
are equally as much interested in this
project, as are other and intermeria-e
seaboard cities and cities located upon
interior rivers. 1t has been shown that
the increased prosperity due to the
commerce to be promoted, added t the
amount saved in cheaper transport,
would in a few years equal the initial
cost Of construction.
This waterway is only one of many
other waterways along the seaboard
and in the interior which are now
pressing for consideration. There can
be no doubt that ultimately a chain of
waterways will be constructed along
the entire Atlantic seaboard; that a
canal across the peninsular Of Florida
will connect the Atlantic with the Gulf,
and that the wonderful commerce of
the lakes will be physically water con-
; nected with that of the Mississippi
and the Gulf; thus forming a chain Of
protected water routes and afford the
greatest inducement for the continued
extension and development of our do
nestle trade. While not minimizing
the importance Of any other m%eritorOus
project, we submit with Difference that
the project under consideration is Of
greater relative Importance, because its
construction will at once make possible
a large coastwise trade.
The congestion Of traffic upon the
railroads of the country has now be-
come almost a chronic condition., relief
has been repeatedly promised and yet
J it has not been afforded. Whether this
condition is due to shortage of cars or
shortage of tracks and terminal facili-
ties, Or both, the movement Of traffic
continues to be slow and trade is re-
tarded. If, for no other reason, the
construction Of interior waterways de-
/ mands the consideration of the CON
gress.
The stargetic importance of the
waterway under consideration cannOt
we'll be exaggerated. The proposed
depth Of II feet will accommodate tor
pedo boats and torpedo boat destroy
ers, and small transports carrying mu-
milton of war. The army engineers
have repeatedly recognized this water
way as another powerful arm of de-
Tense in time of war.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS.
There was some discussion in re-
gard to making the address of Hon.
John H. Small the report Of the meet
ing, but others favored adopting the
report just as made by the committee
On resolutions, which was eventually
done. Mr.. w. D. Morgan made a mo-
ton to the effect that typewriter
copies be made of the address made by
j Congressman Small and sent to papers
in the different cities having delegates
present. This motion was carried.
SEVERAL TALKS FAVORING PRO-
JECT.
Mr.. Taylor, president Of the Will
mington chamber Of commerce, was
called upon by Mr.. Chadbourn and he
i made a short talk on the subject under
discussion.
He said the early ~antagonism Of the
railroads he thought was abatted; that
the canals relieve the railroads Of the
heavy traffic which is not especially
desired by them and IS a means of
bringing in raw matreial for lev in
dustries which eventually furnish the
railroad with the manufactured pro-
duct. Every rate he said was based
On the water rate and when trans
portation is made cheaper by some
water route the railroads as a matter
Of necessity base their Iaies according