The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-25
MR.. SMALL URGES
|...LAND ROUTE
Has Been Working for Eight
Years for Passage Between
Norfolk and Beaufort.
THE PLAN MUST BE ADOPTED
Able Brief Filed by Mr.. Small
With Committee on Rivers
and Harbors.
THE PLAN MUST BE ADOPTED

tFrom Our Regular Correspondent)
! WASHINGTON, d. c., january a.
Representative J. II. Small, OF North
Carolina, Is still struggling to have the
government undertake tho construction
OF the inland waterway from Norfolk to
beaufort Inlet, N. C. During great por-
ton OF MI. Small's eight years in Con-
Rress, the far greater portion. In fact, he
mas cherished his scheme designed to
opViate In very great measure the dan
gerous navigation, and while he has not
met with success. every year adds en-
couragement. 1t is but a question of time
until tha national government will I'M
dertake tho execution Of this project. That
much Is settled fact Below is printed a
brief filed by Mr.. Small with the Com
mittee on Rivers and Harbors this year.
1t was prepared ut the request Of sew
eral members OF the committee and rep
resentatives who have taken an active
interest In the subject. The brief is as
! follows:
The present project is for waterway
OF the depth OF twelve foot. extending
from Norfolk. Va. to Beaufort Inlet via
Elizabeth River. tho Almebarle and
| Chesapeake Canal Route, Albemarle
Sound. Croatan Sound, Pamllco Sound.
Neuse River. Adams Creek, Core Creek
and Newport River to Beaufort Inlet.
The total distance via this route
between tho two terminals Is 205
miles. The survey of this project was
authorized In the River and Harbor Act
or March 3, 1906 which authorized the
detail OF special board OF three engi-
neers to select the route. make the neces-
| sary surveys. estimate the cost and mako
their recommendations
iheir report. together with the report
| OF the Board of Engineers of Rivers and
Harbors. and the recommendation Of the
chief engineers was forwarded to Con-
gress on December 8. 1906. and Is contained
in House document No. 4s, Fifty-ninth
Congress. second session, to which re-
ference is made.
The engineers divide the project into
! three divisions
FIRST Dlv.s.on. Norfolk and Albemarle
| Sound:
Lensth of this division. es s-1o miles;
Estimated cost OF twelve foot depth ST.
| 500. go.
10 this must be added the purchase
price OF the Albemare and chesapeake
Canal, the value OF which to the United
States esfiS tea he engineers to
be not exceeding $4,000.
In the event this canal cannot be pur-
chased for tits nr oUnt ~ cngineers
recommended that what is known as the
Coo, er CrenE ron g he rio 4 The.
,, differences In cost is not very great: but
the eng reers for the rensons - "a
! commend the Albermarle and Chesapeake
Canal route. under the limit of cost
named
Second Division. AlbemarIe Sound to
Pamlico Sound via Croaton Sound route:
Length of this division Sc 40 miles:
estimated cost OF twelve foot depth, $780,
$50. .
Third Division Parlco Sound 70 Reau-
fort Inlet via Adams and Core Creek
route:
Length of this division 30 miles; os-i-
mated cost Of twelve foot depth. S7ois7o.
Maintenance.
AS to maintenance. the engineers re-
commend the albemarle and rhasaneake
way should be done by the United States
rather than by contract. To this end
they estimate as the original cost OF the
plant for this purpose. $4,000; annual
cost OF operation, $4,000.
Recapitulation.
The engineers in their report recaptu-
latn their conclusions no follows:
That the cheapest feasible route is the
ono above outlined, and the d"nth re-
commended is twelve foot. and the es-
timated cost $2,9OO,425
To this should be added the cost Of the
Albemar and Chesnnen'Se Cn.r1 proper,
ty, the value OF which is estimated not
exceeding, $4,000.
Former SURVEYS.
The first survey OF the inland waterway
between the two termini named was
authorized in the River and Harbor Act
OF June 1869, which was for depth of
sixteen foot.
81
which ','Ho tbn'r rnnort md Is contained
In House Document &c., 5sth Cong. End
Session. The special Board of Engineers.
as appears In this report selected a route
concluded that the commercial benefit to
be derived justified the expenditure. and
estimated the cost at. sloooo,0oO.
The Board OF Engineers for. Rivers ana
Harbors In reviewing the report of the
special board concluded that the snec,al
hno~d hod ov,~-o~o4ad tho cor,,oo-c,,,
benefit OF the waterway in the coastwse
trade between Norfolk and the South. and
suggested that waterway ten or twelve
foot in depth was sufficient.
In Difference to the opnion OF the sup
cruising Board OF Engineers for Rivers
and Harhors, CONGRESS- in the River and
Harbor Act Of March 3, 1905 authorized
~ H-nn'ntmnrt or y BOARD of Ereineers
to mako a survey between Norfolk and
OF ten and twelve foot respectively; and
the result in the present project under
consideration
Recognition by Congress.
THIS "roinct has been in part recognized
by Congress-
In the River and FIarbor Act of March
Z. 1903 occurs this '.~rs IF .rnro-ri, tion.
'1mproving Beaufort Inlet. N c., in ac-
cordance with the report submitted In
Houso Document &c" Fef,r Conc o,d
Session, With the view to securing chan
mel twenty foot deem $4,000"
The report referred tots the report on
this waterway for depth of sixteen foot
aud hcretoro"e referred ~ ~ ~eo-oo 10
this approniation and the deepening Of
the channel in Beaufort inlet to twenty
FOOT this nrn'ect hNe rlrn,1v haen g., ,,ort
adonted nv CONGRESS-: and to that extent
the cost Of the project has been reduced
Commercial Berafits
The dement's to accrue from tho con-
struction OF this waterway may under
the peculiar conditions hereinafter stated
W 7fr'ded nto local md General.
r. local honefts " IS intended 70 ern-
brace the BENEFITS to accrue to the I'M
mediate section hetween the two termini.