The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-11

. IN AblNA ~O"As -AA
priation to Show Interior Towns
Why They Should DC Interested
Movement Tor "a Ncw Custom House
: and for Additional and Better Train
Service.
At a special and largely attended
xlssting of the chamber Of commeice
held yesterday afternoon there was
enthusiastic discussion OF the project
for a 3o-foot channel from Wilmington
to the sea and a committee was ap-
DO; nted, by unanimous vate, 10 pre-
pare resolutions setting forth the
needs and advantages of sueh a deVel-
opment and giving facts and figures
which. will show TIE interior North
Carolina towns how they VIII be zen
efittcay in an effort to enlist their sup
port and sympathy II a resolution
was adopted asking an appropriation
of 81. 900 from the city and $500 from
the county the fund thus raised to be
expended ia a "campaign.Of education
throughout the state revealing the ne
cessity for them to have q water rate
to base on, such as an entry port at
WHINING ton would furnish, before they
can be in positio n to compete with
Virginia points, THUS making the move
ment one OF stat divide interest AMI
importanee: MI B. F. Keith, collector
of customs, was advised of the cham
ber's earnest supp 0rt IN an effort to
secure an appropriation from congress
for the erection of a customs house in
this city. commenst!r rate with it's needs
and Importance. Action. was taken
also looking to bett er mail connection
on the Seaboard Air Line and to The
establishment of a. new local DaSsen-
ger Train between Wilmington ami
Norfo TX.
The meeting was called to order
shortly after 4 o'clock by President J.
Allen Taylor, with the following mem
bers in attendance:: W. NJ. Cumming.
w. E. Worth, E.. W VanC.
Luca s. u NJ. Robinson, H. G. Small
bone S, r, A. Parsley, H. G. Mcqueen,
Roger Moore, L. B. Rogers, W. B.
Cool per, H. w. Malloy, Geo. R. French,
B. IF. Keith, F. A. Fetter, Clayton
Gile S, E., c.. N. Evans, J..V. Granger,
John H Brown, Isadore Bear, n. F. II.
Goul veaeur, Sam Bear. Jr., +. W. Yates
W. H. Sprunt, J. A. A~rringdale. Will
lain Calder, j. H. Chadbourn an! J.
S. 1McEachern. Mr.. 7. H. Wells, of Pen
Ho1, county u,ac o1c0 in IA tondon moo
lIr. Taylor stated that the purpose
of. the meeting was tGs take up the
Or oieet for a 30-foot depth in The
oh anuel of the Cape Fearzfrom this city
to. the Sea. He spoke of the tremendous
income of the country and said that
despite the large appropriations of the
hast congress the largest surplus on
record would be on hand at the end
of tae present year. To get our needs
| satisfied and to have appropriations
| made for this section, he said, We must
have some definite project agreed on.
The only hope for interior points in
the state TO get or a. parity with Vir-
gifia points, he argned. is that there
must be some water rates to base on,
and with the 30-foot depth Wilmington
would be the port of entry TO: the
state, which would give relief to the
interior points Of the state, this max
ing it a matter not only of local but Of
state wide interest. Greater import
ance attaches to. the plan by the fact
J that the Seaboard Air Line is eXpend-
ing large sums Of. money to make VIII
mingtan a great coaling station. The
river must then, have depth enough To
accommodate the largest ships. The
increase from the 24-foot to the 60
foot depth will call for a very large
amount of money, but not too large
! for Wilmington as a great coaling
station. The cotton export business
will be benefited. From every point
this is the logical export place for
every cotton fabric and for coal. IA.
Taylor spoke Of the recent visit Of
Congressman Goodwin to the city and
said he had entered enthusiastically
into the scheme and will endeayor to
have the North Carolina delegation
/ interested. He suggested that a :es-
olution be adopted giving important
facts and figures why the proposition
is desirable and he thought the city
could make no wiser expenditure than
to appropriate $1,000 to have these
facts scattered through the state. SO
that interior towns seeing how Trey
would be benefited. would enter with
their influence and help into this de vel
opment whick is Of statewide inter
est. The Atlantic Coast Line would
probably be aggressive in the move
ment as they would then gee a part OF