The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-06-17
OCEAN FREIGHTERS.WILL
LAND AT ELIZABETH CITY
Such Is the Expectation of Senator F. M. Simmons
Who Has Never Been Called
Visionary n


"The time is coming when
Elizabeth City, Washington and
New Bern, N; c., inland towns
that they are, will be great oc-
can ports" declared Senator F.
M. Simmons in an interview with
a delegation from the Elizabeth
City Chamber of Commerce last
Friday. The delegation, COM
posed OF. Secretary R. C. Job,
Capt. M. P. IIite, C. o. Robinson
and w. o. Saunders, saw Sena-
tor Simmons at his office in the
Senate wing of the capital. The
object of the visit was to seek
the Senior Senator's influence in
securing the governments Inland
& Coastwise Waterways Service
for Elizabeth City. The delega-
ton met with a cordial reception
from Senator Simmons and was
not only assured of his active
support, but found him an en-
thusiast on the subject Of water
transportation.
Senator. Simmons not only agrees to
help Elizabeth City secure the govern
ment barge service if this division of
the war department is continued, but he
is confident that even bigger things are
in store for these near coastal ports of
eastern North Carolina Of which Eliza
beth City is the greatest. Il may not
live to see it." declared Senator Sim
mons, "but you younger men may live to
see the day when n-going freight
ers will make the cities of Elizabeth
City, Washington and New Bern regu-
lar ports of call. This government will
eventually open inlets from the Atlantic
ocean to the inland sounds of North Car
olina and widen and deepen the chan
nels of it's sounds and rivers to accom-
modate craft of great draught. This. is
what European countries have done and
America will do no less than has been
done in Europe where it is not uncOm-
mon for one 10 find ocean ports forty
miles from the sea with only asrcanh
leading to the sea-
But before this vision is realized
North Carolina must first develop in
land waterways transportation and the
barge line now operating between New
Bern and Washington and Baltimore is
the beginning of the biggest possible
use of our present facilities. The growth
of just such a barge service will de-
mand and secure the steady improve
ment of our rivers and harbors.
At the same time Senator Simmons
did not hold out much encouragement
for the continuation of the Inland &
Coastwise, Waterways Service by the
government. Private owners are reach
ing out for this service and the gov
ernment has accepted the offer of a
Philadelphia shipping concern. This
concern has not followed up it's offer
with a cash deposit and the sale may
not be concluded. If it is concluded the
new owners will in all probability grasp
the opportunity to include Elizabeth City
in it's service. The company had already
planned to extend the line from Balti-
more to philadelphia.
But if the Inland & Coastwise Wat
erways Service does not go into private
hands at once, then the government it
self will consider including Elizabeth
City in the service Senator Simmons
declared that he would have had Eliza
beth City included long ago, but Eliz;
abeth City had not asked for it and he
hesitated to take the initiative.
War Department Interested.
From the Office of Senator Simmons
the Elizabeth City delegation saw Col
T. Q. Ashburn, Chief of the Inland &
Coastwise Waterways Service, at the
War Department. Col. Ashburn indi-
Gated that nothing could be done pend
ing the outcome of their negotiations
with the prospective purchasers of the
line, but he was immensely interested
when shown that the tonnage already
available for such a line at Elizabeth
City aggregates 100000 tons annually
and that Elizabeth City has more feed
ers for such a line than the ports OF
Washington and New Bern combined.
Elizabeth City shippers want the
barge service because it means direct
time saving and cheaper transportation
of commodities. Freight rates are u
per cent cheaper by the barges. The
barges as now operated make the trlI
from North Carolina ports to Baltimore
every five days. 1t often takes Longer
than five days to get freight moved
from the yards of a city terminal and
car load freight from New York tt
Elizabeth City is often several week.
or a month in transit.
Congressman Ward Gracious.
J, The Elizabeth City delegation was Civ
en- most valuable assistance by Con
gressman H. S. Ward, who arranged in
terviews with both Senator Simmon
5 and Col Ashburn and piloted the dele
/ CATION in both instances. Mr.. Ward as
= sured the delegation of his genuine in
terest in their cause and left the impres
} sion that in him Elizabeth City will al
= ways have a willing and aggressiv
= friend at court.