The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-02-06

- ~ LIN An /
several routes has been made. The
conclusion is reached hat the most
desirable route is that via the AL
bemarle and Chesapeake Canal and
recommendation is made that this
route be selected and improved by the |
United States to a depth Of u feet,
provided that all property rights Of
the Alhemarle and Chesapeake Canal
can be acquired for not exceeding
$500. 900.
1T Is recommended that the neces-
sary steps be taken for the Immediate
purchase OF the Albemarle and Chesa-
peake Canal and for the completion Of
the NOrfOlk-Beaufort section of the
1ntracoastal waterway in accordance
with the project proposed by the spe-
clal board. at an estimated cost OF
$5.4O1.5SO."
Comment OH Dismal Swamp Route.
After referring to the history Of the
Norfolk to Albemarle Sound canal
projects the report of Colonial Black,
of the Special Board, says:
The Dismal Swamp canal deteriO-
rated rapidly and for a numbe Of
years nothing was done to improve it.
The annual average gross income Of
the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal
for the IA years, 18S6-1S99, was APP
proXimately $4,000. In 1892 the Dis
NAL Swamp Canal was old and came
into possession Of its present
for a comparatively small sum OF
money. This new company, called the
Lake Drummond Canal and Water
Company,improvedthe Dismal Swamp
Canal, reduced the number OF locks
from 5 to z, enlarged the channel n
opened the canal to navigation in
1899. From 1901 to 1909 the average
annual gross income Of the Abe
marie and Chesapeake Canal was
about $4,000 and the average an
nual gross income Of the Lake Drum
mond (Dismal Swamp CanaD was
about $4,000. The above statements
show that private capital was at
tracted by the possibility Of securing
adequate returns for the expenditure
necessary to construct a navigablc
waterway from Norfolk to Albemarlt
sound, that the Albemarle and Chesa-
peake Canal commenced in 1856 and
opened a few years later practically
destroyed the business of the then ex-
listing Dismal Swamp Canal and hat
his latter canal when rchabilitated
and opened for operation in 1899 re-
duCed the average gross income OF
it's competitor OVer 60 per cent. These
two canals have been built and Oper-
ated under State charters; each pros
percd when it was without a competi-
tor: both have felt the effect Of COM
petition; neither seems to have SOugh,
from the State any redress when part
Of it's business was about to be taken
away by the authorization Of the con
struction of q competitor"
No Damage to Swamp Land Owners
Again Colonel Blacks report says;
1.-THE Dismal swan Canal route
will be. beyond question, the mos
costly to construct, more costly thar
either of the Cooper Creek routes
even If all the property Of the cana
were ceded to the United
States free of charge. The existing
canal is not located along the short
est line between it's termini nor on tn
lowest profile. The material already
excavated has been deposited on tn
Immediate banks and about one-hal
of it must be moved a"ain on which
eve side the enlargement be made
3 The cost Of moving this material l
t included in the estimate. Its presen
crOSS-sectiOn is small, compared Will
t that which would be necessary il
| the enlarged canal. Extensive area.
, along his canal have been reclai1net
and the cost Of the right of way ma.
: be somewhat greater than the est
l mate. Former boards for eason
t stated at length in their reports hay,
s rejected this route ana apparent,
have considered it the least prac
ticablc of the four. Many Of the resi-
: dents and landowners on and nea
I the line Of the Dismal Swamp Cana
l have called attention to the fact tina
| in addition to providing q Waterwa.
: convenient OF access to them thi
+: canal acts as a drain. keeping dow
the level of the ground water on larg'
tracts Of reclaimed and in the Disma
Swamp They fear that if the govern
ment adopts some other route thi
Dismal Swamp Canal VIII be aban
dOned and they will suffer great loss
From facts which the board has beer
r able to gather it is thought no sucl
t damage can occur.
Blot out vain pomp: check ina
, pulse; quench Appetite; keep reasol
|. urder its own coHtrol.-MarCuS Azure
D Illus.