The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-14
WILMINGTON. N. c.
FRIDAY, JUNE "A, 1907.
DIR DEEP CHANNEL TO THE SEA

DIR DEEP CHANNEL TO THE oEfA
We are glad to note the great IN
terest Congressman Goodwin is taxing
in the movement to secure a thirty
foot channel from our city to the sea
We feel assured that he Will exert
himself to his utmost ability to secure
the necessary appropriation for the
work. He realizes TIE Importance OF
the scheme, not only to Wilmington,
but to this entire section of the state.
Intact the benefit would not be limited
to the area Of his district, or to VIII
mington's present sphere OF CONNER
cial influence, but would extend over
a much larger section Of the state.
The burden of this undertaking
should not be borne solely by our con-
gresham and the business men of
Wilmington. Mr.. Goodwin should nave
the assistance in congress Of both OF
eur senators and Of every one Of u
representative , III II wilmington
promoters of the plan should receive
the energetic support and encourage
metn of men of all callings through
out this whole section, fop the bust
ness men of the interior and
their customers are as deeply inter-
ested in this matter as are the people
of this city.
Give Wilmington a thirty-foot chan
nel to the sea and she will be recog-
inzed as a competing point by water,
thereby securing for inland points
cheaper freight rates from almost ev-
cry section of the country. Merchants
and other business men as far inland
as Raleigh, Greensboro and Char
lotte will no longer have the present
Just cause of complaint of profit de-
stroying discriminating rates in fav-
or of Virginia cities which the latter
enjoy because Norfolk is a competing
waterway point with the all-rall
routes, No longer will it be, as we saw
it stated to be a fact the other day,
that goods are shipped from certain
western cities through Greensboro tc
points in Virginia at less freight rates
than are charged on similar goods
from the same points of shipment K
that North Carolina city. Whining
ton will be to the North Carolina in
land towns in the way of getting low
er rates what Norfolk is to the town.
of Virginia.
These are the reasons why tn
entire North Carolina delegation il
congress should unite in a determine
effort to secure this important govern
ment work on the lower Cape Fea1
1t is not a local matter, but on
which concerns the entire state.
We do not want out readers to thin
we are trying to create the impre'
sion that business men Of Wilmingto
have undertaken the task of securin
this appropriation solely or eve
chiefly because of the benefit it Wi
be to other sections of the stat
While a generous people and desiro1
of seeing all sections Of the state pro
porous and increasing in wealth tn,
are not SO wholly nnselfsh in Il
matter as that. Thcy know that
will be of vast benefit to our CITY
have this proposed deep-water cha
mel to the sea. It will increase c
commerce. both foreign and coastwi
of this port. 1t will enlarge the bu
ness and will extend the area of ira
of our wholesale merchants and j.
bers. 1t will put Wilmington on
par with Norfilk and make her seco
to no seaport on the Atlantic 81
board between Baltimore and Saw
nah.
We are making no fancy sket
Ask any business man who has ma
a study of the subject and he will
you that we have not too highly c
ored the picture or exaggerated
advantages which will accrue to t
city, to those of the interior and
the dwellers in the ruyal districts "
deal with the merchants of the citi
from the making Of an imports
seaport of this city by constructing
assp water channel 70 the sea.