The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09

commercial stream III tho Tt"~
IS pre-eminent as our gateway 10 tne
ocean. Wilmington and the Cape rear
have each made steady strides unu!
TODAY its trade, boil coastwfse ano
foreign. place ii among the important
ports in the South. | VAS Simply tlS-
ing to emphasize the stationery 'ha'
the cane Fear aud Beaufort Inlet con-
stit,te the only two hA|1sabie out--
lots 10 the ocean for ell the tram
from the inland waters Of the state,
and that Beaufort cannot lie u1lllZeI
for cur northbound traffI> on accouI.
of the dangers from Cape lookup ana
CO Pc 11atteras.
How May a Commercial DHiict &c
Secured?
Between AinemarIe Sound d!I F.liz-
aDyth river in Virginia., tlete Is !
p.r.nsular. A canal through MS slrl''
Of land would connect oic waters Min
Chesapeake Bay. and this has always
been recognized as the most practlca-
BILE methOd for unlocking our INLAND
waters and permitting with
northern ports. In the early history
of Virginia and North Carolina, before
ongre had undertake e the improve
| ment Of our waterways, private PITT
with the cooperation Of the two States
| undertook the construction Of a canal
across this peninsular. The Dismal
| Swamp canal was initiated about 1890.
and after a number of years was COM
pleted, affording a depth OF q few feet.
About 1850. at a time when the former
canal was greatly deter1orated, the AL
bemarle and Chesapeake Canal was
constructed, and for many years this
| latter canal Accommodated all the YES
sells to and from our North Caroline
waters. About 1892 the property OF
the Dismal Swamp canal was sold un-
der the order Of the court as one Of
- 1850 ~ H.
change Bank Of Norfolk, and pur-
chased by the present owners for abou
forty thousand dollars. They recon
structed and greatly improved this
canal, and it was opened for traffic
about 1896, and for the past eight
years has attracted the majority Of the
Vessels trading in our waters.
During all these years, certainly
for more than fifty years, there has
been an agitation for q free waterway
connecting our North Carolina sounds
with Elizabeth river and Chesapeake
Bay. While the discussion has been
sporadic, it has been insistent. Just
SIS toll bridges have been su%ppianteG
by public bridges, just as private turn
pixies and exclusive ferry franchises
have disa appeared, SO have the public
demanded the elimination of private
waterways and the substitution Of
public waters owned by the United
States.
"While wishing to avoid even the
} reference at this point may be par
, reference at this point may be par
, dOned. 1t SO happened when was
, first elected to Congress in 1898, tina
was deeply impressed with the i'm
portance Of having Congress to pro
vide this waterway. and I at once re-
neWed h agitation. Personally, 7 en-
: deaVored to avoid. and ! discouraged
in others, mere talk, and tried to sub
: stitute practical and effective worE
which would arous public sentimenr
> and ultimately secure legislation
There a been employed already Z
r~edundance Of rhetoric and florit
> speech. The time had arrived wher
, we must deal in facts and lemon.
strate that the project was meritori
. Gus, because it would affect and pro.
mote mmerce From 1900 to thu
r good year there has been no cessation
IN the movement. At first these effort.
6 only aroused i~ncredulous smiles. bu
gradually active workers were enlist
= co, and Skepticism was succeeded b,
and hope. In 1893 IN
writer, with representatives Of tn.