The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-11-03
WOULD LOWER
FREIGHT RATES
Governor Morriso1's Latest
Vision Would Develop New
Commerce AS Well
BY COL. WADE n. HARRIS,
In The Charlotte Observer

In The Charlotte observer
Governor Nlorrison'S proposition
to embark the State in steamboat
business on its own hook appears to
have been received with more than
ordinary interest by tho public. The
instantaneous welcome accorded th"
suggestion by the shipping people Of
Boston was in itself an incident Of
much Significance. Among the bust
ness people Of the State the matter
is undergoing enthusiastic discussion,
because for them it holds out the
substantial promise Of breaking a
hole in the high freight-rate wall
which has been built up around the
State and which 50 far has remained
unbrcachcd. But the cheaper freight
proposition is only one of the excel
lent items in the prospect. Through
out all the eastern section Of North
Carolina 4 commerce. Of tremendous
bulk lies rottinG, because. while we
have the water upon which it could
be fioatcd to market, there are no
ships 10 carry it. The east Is in
pretty much the same condition the
west would be IN with fine system
Of good roads and no automobiles or
motor trucks to take advantage of
these highways. It is not So much
the saving in freight rates that would
result. as in the new commerce that
would be developed.
There was Z time in the past his
tory Of North Carolina when there
was discussion and action in the mat
ter Of Stntc operated steamboats,. II
was in 1859, aud John Motley More
head was Governor OF the State. He
had got the great project of q rail
road from GoldSboro To Charlotte
under way and being a man Of vision,
be knew that the railroad could not
pay unless il could Ur extended east
wardly TO deep water. His project
would stand uncOmpletcd unless the
road could Gc extended from Colds
Dor to Shcppard's Point. There was
70 Morchead City in existence, but
Governor Morchcad proceeded to
found il. The town was built while
the railroad was being laid from
GoldSboro 10 the water. Then, hav-
iug got his railroad and his port,
Governor NIorchcad's next concern
was for boats. North Carolina had
been pretty we'll drained Of financial
resources in bringing the railroad s.
the Atlantic IL North Carolina, from
Mcrchead to Goldsboro, and the
North Carolina from GoldSboro TO
CharlUttc-into existence, but it was
yet able to buy couple Of steam
boats. One was named the Govern
or Morchead and the other was
named the Astoria and they piled the
PamlicO Sound and the NcuSc River,
operating as feeders for the railroad
terminal at Morcbcad City. So, the
idea Of State operated steamboats, IS
by 10 means a new one and what the
State was able 10 do with its limited
means 67 years ago, it should be- able
TO do now to the full requirements
Of the opportunity, with its enor
mously developed wealth in rcsourc-
cs.
Governor Morchead's venture in
steamboating was followed by water
activities that eventually covered all
the uavigablc streams and sounds.
The Baltimore packet bo4Ss came in
and there were regular Landings Of
boats from New York and Boston,
not only at Morcbead City, but at
New Bern, WILLIAMSON, Elizabeth
City, Edcnton, Plymouth and Wash
ington. and smaller boats trafGckcd
with Weldon and TarbOrO and kius-
ton. There was great commercial
prosperity in those days by reason
Of water transportation for fish and
oyster products, in corn, wheat, cot
ton and other agricultural products
from the great farms that bordcrcd
these eastern waters. And all the
while the waters Of the Cape Fear
we're churncd by steamboats, passing
between Fayetteville aud Wilmington
and these being the days Of tar, pitch
and turpcntinc, the port Of Whining
ton was in its glory.
The story Of eastern North Caro-
lima in the days when its water COM
mcrce flourisbcd reads like a ro-
nance. And the North Carolina OF
that time was true to the dcscrlp-
tfou in, the old Biographies. 1t was
known merely Us Il producer 0t the
products Of the pine forests, and yet
the steamboat was its most prosper
-ous institution. That having been
the case when the State knew none
Of the resources of the present time
-Iwhen it had-but one or two far
inland cotton factories and knew
rotb;np whatever of other manutac-