The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-12-14
THE INLAND WATER
R0UTE0FATLANTI
Congressman SmaIr's Ad-
dress on Project
ITS BENEFIT TO THE SOUTH

Congress at Washington by the
North Carolina Congressman From
the First District-Tells About the
conditions and the Plans and EN-
phasizes the Great importance of
Project.
The following speech was delivered
by Congressman John II. Small at the
National Rivers and Harbors Congress
at Washington last Thursday:
Inc Benefit to the South of the Jntra-
Coastal Waterway Along the At
lantic Seaboard.
Among the several projected inter-
nal waterways which are being advo-
Gated and have commended them
selves to the favorable consideration
Of h country, there stands out CON
s~picuously the project for an intra-
coastal waterway along the Atlantic
Seaboard from Boston to Florida
It's construction does not involve any
unusual Or difficult engineering
problems, and whether considered
with reference to its actual cost, or
with reference to the amount of COM
merce involved, it would be the cheap
est as Well as the most important of
any Of the great waterways.
There exist along the entire coast
numerous inland bays and sounds, all
protected from the dangers of the
ocean either by narrow sand dunes
or by wide stretches of land, which
only need to be connected by canals
in order to furnish a continuous water
way. The excavation Of these canals.
and in a few instances the slight
deepening of the natural waters,
make up the project known as the
<Intla-Coastal Waterway This
physical conformation naturally di-
Nides this waterway into several links,
rot ayeaa9ipO aiob 1fnoafhav
For the information Of those not
familiar with the details of this in
land route, it may not be inappro-
pirate to specify these several links.
Beginning with New England. there
is, first. the link from Boston to Long
Island Sound, which avoids the dangers
of Cape Cod and affords a safe route
to New York Bay, and thence to Rari-
tan Bay and river.
The second will require the construc-
ton of a canal or the enlargement Of
the present canal extending from the
Raritan to the Delaware river, across
the State Of New Jersey, a distance of
about forty-four miles.
The third will connect the Delaware
river with the head of Chesapeake
Bay, and two boards Of engineers, ap
pointed under the authority of Con
Gress, have heretofore recommended
the existing and Chesapeake
Canal as a most feasible route, which
inteFsects the State of Delaware and
the eastern edge of Maryland, and has
a total length Of about fourteen miles.
This gives entrance to Chesapeake Bay
and it's important tributaries, and af-
fords communication with the great
cities of Baltimore, Richmond and
Norfolk.
The fourth link extends from Nor
folk via the Southern branch of the
Elizabeth river, and thence through
the inland sounds of North Carolina
to Beaufort, in the same State, where
there is a fine harbor and outlet to the
ocean of ample depth. This part1cu-
lar link saves shipping the hazards OF
Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout, and
from even the greater perlls or the
Inner and Outer Shoals,
upon whose t~reacherous sands SO many
gallant vessels and brave seaInen nave
perished. as to have been denomInated
for more than a century the Grave
yard of the Atlantic" rms INK Is
about two hundred miles long, but
only involves solid OF the
length of five miles, according to the
route heretofore selected by the en-
gineers. and adopted by Congress ano
the total cost for a minimum depth
of twelve feet is only a little more tldh
three million dollars. Without Intend
ing to disparage any other mix III tH!s
waterway, it may be stated that this
PARTICULAR route DtIfIlu
most important, and if the route dc
not extend any further south thar
Beaufort, the chief purpos would be
accomplished in the development OF q
greater coastwise trade, because coast
wise navigation south Of Beaufort
lacks the perils which exist turthef
north. Still there are ample reasons
for it's further extension
From Beaufort to the Cape rear
River, upon which Wilmington, Norm
Carolina is located may be classed as