The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-09-13

That IS per cent of all M from
the lower sounds of North Carolina go
the Dismal Swamp canal route. even
at a higher rate, that it is a more GER
tam route. not affected by tides or
WINDS or storms, the safest route.
Mr.. W. Ira Halstead, of South Mills.
said that to abandon the Dismal
Swamp canal route meant to destroy
many industries and would bring
~stagnation to that section, that bust
ness would be the great sufferer. Mr..
B. S. 3. Stewart, Of Portsmouth, held
1t to be the best route for ommerce.
the naval service and the drainage Of
swamp lands: that from it fresh wa
ter could be nae for the Norfolk naval
station, which last year had paid s27,-t
900 for fresh water, that at Deep
creek a fresh water basin could be es-
tablished for torpedo boats to prevent
fungus and other growths on the
boats bottoms. AS to it being a lock
canal, the government at Panama is
now building a lock canal to connect
two oceans.
President E. f. Lamb, Of the Eliza
beth City Chamber of Commerce, de-
clared the abandonment of the Dismal
Swamp canal meant the displacement
of Elizabeth City from the march of
progress, that it would cripple bust
ness. He said that Norfolk should
help, not oppose, hat the people he
represented had helped Norfolk to
grow, tina the Albemarle and Chesa-
peake route would be forty miles from
Elizabeth City. For the Federal gov-
eminent to abandon the Dismal
tSwamp canal would be to reverse its
plans in the reclamation of arid lands
and swamp lands, opposed to good
roads movements and the general pol
icy of extending deeper waterways,
that it would be a policy Of distinction
and not of conservation. He declared
the people Of his section would bear
their share of the expense in estab-
fishing and maintaining tn deeper wa
terWay, that it was no reason to take
away the canal because to Elizabeth
City comes the Norfolk Southern Rail
road, that a free canal by the Abe
marie and Chesapeake route would
not osffet the value of the Dismal
Swamp toll canal, that it's andon
ment would destroy property values
and ruiz Elizabeth City.
Former Mayor J. B. Leigh spoke for
the preservation of the interests Of
Elizabeth City by keeping open the
Dismal Swamp route, that if it was
closed business would stagnat and
development in the section checked.
Mr.. L. w. c. O~ver'nan, on behalf Of
the pilots and mates who 7 ade use OF
the canal, read a resolution faVorlng
the Dismal Swamp route. Mr.. FRANK
Lindsay, who has developed a model
farm or the Dismal Swamp canal,
told Of the valuable and rich lands
that would be available if the canal is
deepened and the swamp drained.
For the Albemarle and Chesapeake
route Mr.. d. S. BurWell said he was
+ willing to stand by the report OF the
engineers, that some things said DID
the Albemarle and Chesapeake route
an Injustice, that in II years the huc-
+,ot;Dnc IN tho uatar level has never
been more than two feet, that vessels
wre loaded to nine feet, and that six
inches diff erence in the water level
would stop traffic, and this has never
occurred. The canal is only eleven
miles long and the rivers 1t taps can
be easily ~canalized, that it is the best
route available when all the count
is considered. He said he would IKE
to see both routes bought by the gov
eminent, that this would solve the
trouble. Mr.. Tate. Of Currituck, SAD
that Currituck county wanted 10 De
protected as we'll as Pasquotank ana
that the people of Currituck want the
Albemarle and Chesapeake route Sc
lected. The ocean tide, be said, dld
not affect the Currituck Sound.
The last speaker was MIR. Harvey Nd.
representing the Atlanta
Deeper Waterways Association. He
held hat the engineers are capaDle
of handing the rou|e piopieiAh' ~ q
the inland waterway is the paramount
issue and hat he did not want 1t
blocked by lacking on local and lndl-
vidual canals and rivers, that all per
sonal interests must be subordlnst tee
to the project if it is to succeed; tna'
he did not believe the United states
will buy and operate two routes, tnat
if the inland waterways bill IS loanea
down with every locally favored caHaI
80 river the project ould cost lar
more than the Panama Canal
The Intra-Coastal Board today pc
gan a trip through the canals, gong
down through the ana tur-
/ rituck canal and returning hioos
the Dismal Swamp canal.
III .DICATTNG THE CATTLE TICK.