The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-25

|
| tending from Neuse River to the Vir-
| tiii-, line embracing about two-thirds In
width OF the State, ind having the two
large sounds ul Panlco and Albcmaile
as VOL as others, with at least i've bold
navigable rivers etnptying into these
sounds, with several cities and numerous
smaller towns, containing some OF tho
most fertile lands Of any section and pro-
| duclng large quantities OF agricultural
! products, containing numerous manufac-
| turing plants OF lumber and other pro-
ducts,-this entire section with these riv-
ers and sounds is literally land-locked
from the ocean.
There Is not navigable outlet to the
ocean on the North Carolina coast for all
this territory. There are only two navlga-
bic outlets to the ocean In Eastern North
Carolina, one at the mouth OF the Cape
Fear River, and the other Mt Beaufort,
and neither Oh these is accessible from
this large section. This largo territory
borne traffic on the North except
through a private canal entering the
Elizabeth River. There Is no similar large
area In the United States bordering upon
naviSable waters WHICH Is land-locked.
Is not this section and are not these
people entitled to relief at the hands OF
Congress? Certainly It is not necessary
to emphasize further the commercial
benefits which would accrue to this Sec
ton by the construction OF this waterway.
General Improvements to Coast
wise Trade.
No one has attempted to deny the local
benefits OF this waterway: but some have
quest oncd is beneficial ehe.t In rro not
Ing the coastwise trade between the North
Atlantic and the South Atlantic ports.
1t would be profitable to examine the
facts. Speaking generally. 1t may DO
said that Cape Hatteras and Diamond
Shoals. on the North Carolina coast, when
project far out into the ocean. constitute
the barrier in this coastwise trade. Small
vessels and steamers will not encounter
the dangers OF rounding this Cape, and
barge transportation Is completely pro-
hibited, although several attempts have
been made to establish lines OF barges.
The coastwise trade around Hatteras Is
limited to large steamships and the large
sailing ships which have recently been
constructed and which give Hatteras
wide berth. An examination OF the stats
tics OF movement OF bulb products be-
tween the North and the South, and
such as would naturally seek safe In
terror waterway. will show that a small
proportion only is now carried By these
large steamships and large sailing vessels.
With the construction of this waterway
freight steamers and barges--say with a
maximum draft OF ten feet-would be once
enter into this trade through this safe
and protected passage ana thus greutly
augment the volume OF coastwise trade
with the North Atlantic ports.
1t may be asked. why will the construct
Ion OF this particular waterway so greatly
promote this trade? and the answer is
a In,
"a Because it Will eliminate the
dangers Of Cape Hatteras by substituting
safe route. (2) Because navigation
south of Beaufort Inlet Is comparatively.
without hazard and may be safely en-
gagged In by freight steamers and barges
having draft of ten foot. and as far
south az Jacksonville. t3) Because this
waterway would give entrance into the
Elizabeth River and Chesapeake Bay
and thence to Norfolk and Baltimore. and
to Richmond and the other cities and
ports on Chesapeake Bay and It's tribu-
taries. 90 Because barges and freight
steamers having maximum draft OF
ten foot. and constructed properly,
would be sufficiently seaworthy TO
sail out Cape Henry and make
the outside trip to Philadelphia,
New York and the intermediate cities
% Because It has been demonstrated
that a barge having a draft of ten foot
with freight capacity of one thousand
tons, affords one of the cheapest methods
Of movement by water. and such barge
would be seaworthy (See Report of Major
Symons on the proposed enlargement of
the Erie Canal, for which depth OF
twelve foot has been adopted)
1t is not intended to minimize the i'm.
portance of the proposed Delaware and
Chesapeake waterway nor any of the
other projects along the Atlantic Sea-
board, but simply to point out that the
present project, the Norfolk-Beaufort In
let waterway will tend more to promote
and develop the coastwise trade. because
1t will make possible a method of trans
portation which Is not now available, and
for other reasons?
Commercial organizations from Balt!-
more to Jacksonville inclusive have ol-
cially approved this project, and have
authorized statements showing that the
coastwise trade with each Of these cities
would be augmented by its construction.
In the report on this project for six
teen foot depth blouse Document $685. 5stli
Cong. End Session, supra are printed
number OF reports from commercial or
CARNATIONS, showing tho benefits to their
several ports; and it will be profitable to
append a summary Of same.
Baltimore: The Merchants and Manu-
facturers Association Of this city sub
mitted n report estimating that
the amount saved annually in
freight charges to the South At
lantic ports would amount to s1,974,Oso.
Or this sum 1t was estimated that Balti-
moro would share largely though no at
tempt was made to estimate in dollars
the saving to Baltimore alone.
Norfolk: The Chamber Of Commerce
Of Norfolk estimated that the commercial
interests OF that port. together with
and Newport News. by the
OF the waterway would save
annually s25s5O. This sum was based
on the present traffic and did not include
the benefit from the prospective traffic,
which was placed at q much larger sum.
Wilmington, n. c.: The Chamber OF
Commerce Of this city, through special
committee. reported that "the aggregate
OF saving on inward and outward freight
which would directly accrue to US by
reason OF the construction of this water
way would be s276,00O annually, and of
immense benefit Indirectly
Georgetown, S. c.: The Board of Trade
of this city, through special committee
made comprehensive report and their
recapltulation is here quoted: