The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1927-09-23
LAST OF STEAMBOATS,
IN HARBOR ARE GONE
The Automobile Drives Last Smokestack From
Elizabeth City Harbor, and Puts Crude
Oil Burners in Their Place

The last smokestack is going
from the Elizabeth City har-
Dor this week, and thus vanish
eS the steamboat service.-an
industry that has flourished in
Northeastern North Carolina
for half century or more. OF
all the boaSted commerce that
once sailed up and down the
Pasquotank River. not a single
steamer now remains in active
merchant service. barring a
supply boat working for one
line.
Due to a rapid decline i'm both
passenger and freight business. Eliz-
abeth City this week saw the tie
up of two of its most important
steamboats,. and the day is not far
distant when the last steam vessel
will he swept from the waters of
Northeastern North Carolina. Mark
ell changes are evident along the
Elizabeth City waterfront.
The steamer Annie l.. yanSciver,
4 large fast and comfortable pas
senger and freight vessel that is the
pride Of Northeastern North Caro-
lima is having to fill i'm with excur-
SionS in Virginia waters for lack Of
sufficient local business to Use its
capacity of 40 tons and to maintain
its double crew of Il score of men,
and operate at profit. The Van
Solver is one of the vessels operated
hy the Norfolk Carolina Line.
And now the steamer Trenton.
up against Il serious decline in buSi-
ness that neceSSitated a reduction
in expenses. iS off the run. and
smaller boat Is takin. its place. The
Trenton i tn be converted into
cruie-oil operated beat. The vessel
for IL years has carried all the mail
going TO Dare County and is one of
the fastest and hest vessels ever
navigating these waters. long hav-
ing given Il hitherto inaccessible sec
tion transportation when it was
needed badly. Capt. Martin John
son master of the vessel has been
on the line continuously for nearly
~ years. The boiler and engine are
to he removed and high speed
crude oil engine installed i'm place.
givin. the Trenton an increased
speed. and more freight and auto
mebile carrying capacity.
The Elizabeth City Boat Line,
operating some half dozen. vessels
from this city 70 Norfolk. and to
points on the Alligator River. has
only one steamer left which is
irre.ularly used as Il supply boat.
for this line is fast convertin: its
steamers into crude-Oil motorized
vessels i'm order to cut down its eN-
nersps i'm the face of Il decline i'll
business.
A number Of smaller boat lines
are putting OH smaller boats. all ot
them propelled by crude-oil engines
which are operated ut Il small frac-
tion of the expense Of steamboats,
and carry far less men in crew.
E,lenton. which once was
flouriShing port. and was the home
of many steamboat lines. has VII
messed IA similar falling of III puSi-
ness that has taken its steamers
AWAY. Among the latest steamers
to fall by the waySide is the steamer
Guide. long familiar sight on theSe
waters hut which had not operated
mt a profit for years. and was re-
Gently sold under the hammer.
The Automobile Did 1t
Elizabeth City, once fhe ieadihS
mort of all Northeastern North 'aro-
linn. with a waterfront lined win
vessels and its wharves veritable
heebiye of IaborerS loading and uh-
loading, carcoes coming from or deS-
tined 10 all the sound and river
n,;nts I'm the entire region. no long
ar presents the picture Of activity
il used to.
The loss of this immense treisht
business. and the throwing out oi
empIoyment many skilled navlSa-
TORS engineers. and dozens or lahor-
ers who we're required TO man me
vessels. is of immense local sisnifl-
,,uce and will occasion ut least
temporary alarm in this ,sectlon'
And MANY isolate localities on the
sounds and rivers. will be serl-
eusly handicapped during the tram
! sit;.u period i'm losing transporta-
t,ops facilities that were far aheilu
If what traffic justified: for good
tr,nsnortotion is the making of any
community. and i'm most cases the
artery that keeps our water bouhd
sections alive.
The taking away of these vessels
from Elizabeth City Is caused prih-
cipally by good roads. when mahes