The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-08-29
WANT FREE FERRY FROM
THIS CITY TO CAMDEN
Chamber Of Commerce Takes Steps to Bring Com
rnissioners of Pasquotank and Camden
Counties Together To Get This

The first definite step looking
toward the opening Of a free
ferry between Elizabeth City and
Camden was taken Tuesday af-
+ernoon at an informal confer
ence of Elizabeth Nity business
men in the room of the Elizabeth
Citv Chamber of Commerce.
The Directors of the Elizabeth
Citv Chamber of Commerce will
endeavor to bring about joint
meeting of the County Commis-
sioners and Highway Comm1s-
.;ons Of Camden and Pasquotank
counties and the Board Of Alder
men of Elizabeth City.
Tho Chamber of Commerce will pre-
ront to this joint conference the neeos
of free highway between the two coun-
t;,s ond will offer the commissioners
-or,- nossible service in solving this ve1-
,,rob1em of transportation and com
municatlon.
r1;zabath City is the logical trade
oo,,+or for the counties of Camden anu
C,1rrituck. Elizabeth City's outlet to the
Sor+b and east is thru the counties OF
Camden and Currituck. And EllzaDetn
Ci+v is barred at its very doors Dy par
- toll roads, the only highways connect
inr those counties at or anywhere near
Elizabeth City.
And the worst feature of the sltua-
+;on is that both of these toll roaos arc
thru miles of swamps and are lmpassaDie
MANY weeks in the year. EllzaDeIn lily
hoe lost thousands of dollars week Inis
summer because these roads nave oeen
oh.o1n+a1v impassable for days and weeks
at time.
Not on1y is Elizabeth City shut OH
from thousands of potential customers o.
,,,+ E1;zabeth City is shut off from 1nat
boo1+b DEVELOPMENT that can only come
br and thru the most highly developed
4 ro.ds highways of trade and traVel.
Tt is clearly up to Elizabeth City, fas-
,,o+onk county and Camden county 10
ID avav with tool roads and develop
e.oo ond dependable highway between
the two counties. Il mis- musI NC uo>
bv buying and improving the noOinsoi
ferry property or by bridging tne l %
ouotank river at some new poln' no
E1;1.bo+b City which will connect tns
roads sytem of Camden county VIII LIN
road system of Pasquotank.
Tho nroblem is one for the admins
4.o+ions of the two counties to solve
but for more than century tne 'o
roissioners of Camden county anu 'n'
commissioners of Pasquotanh coun''
bovo made no move toward gert"s "
no+bor Now that they are to be Drousn
topether something may be oone'
Addressing the conference IN .ne
rb,r,her of Commerce rooms Iuesoas
oft.rnoon. G.. o. Robinson, manager %
tho Camden Ferry Road stated tna'
while the road was now passaDie' =
nrobably would be impassaDle LII W.
tho coming winter. Mr.. Robinson s'a'e'
+bo+ the road can not be made pernan
emf except by an expenditure OF an ehol
mons sum of money, the owners can ~ =,
afford to spend considerable sums on 'n'
road because a public highway pro1ec
conld at any time reduce their invest
mont 70 an absolute loss. Mr.. Roolnso'
stated that he would sell the ferry prop op
ertv to the two counties fSr soo'ooo
The property consists Of a brldge 'na
cos+ s11 600 to build when building wa
cbean. lot 80 by go feet on Ware
street in Elizabeth City; a two stor'
frame dwelling for the bridge keeper VI
the Camden side of the river; ana wv
and five eights miles of road IN Camue'
conntv ON which thousands OF oonar
have been expended.
Mr. Robinson states that the roau
question can not be made permanent ca
cent bv the most costly form Oh 'on
struction. 1t would be necessary -
buiId the road above tideWater ieV1'
which could be successfully done OIL
by LAYING a foundation of heavy logs a.
hnildino q base of clay and crushed roc
On +his foundation. After this tounoa
ton and base had been laid, concre. :,
or brick surface might be successlun
attempted. Mr.. Robinson thinks al Ga
penditure of $4,000 would put the ro'
j in condition for concreting.