The Wilmington morning star., 1946-02-17
Cape Fear River Shipping
Is Expected To Climb
Steadily In Future
BY COLONEL G. W. GILLETTE,
USA
District Engineer

by COLONEL G. W. GILLETTE,
USA
District Engineer
Waterway improvements In
eastern North Carolina, in com
mon with the rest of the country,
have been dormant for several
years due to the war which re-
ouired the attention and energy OF
every man and woman in the
country. With its successful con-
elusion, the attention Of the Army
Engineers is turned to the i'm
provement of the more important
rivers and harbors in order to &C
commodate the upsurge in COM
merce that will result as soon as
reconversion to peace-time condi-
tons is completed. This increase
in commerce is already noticeable
although reconversion has been de-
layed to some degree by labor
troubles and other causes which
have not yet permitted the full
force of peace-time efforts to be
felt.
In eastern North Carolina, the
amount of goods awaiting import
and exporting is impossible to es-
innate, but it is reasonable to sup
pose that it will be much in excess
OF pre-war years. On the Cape
Fear River, the largest calendar
year commerce reached an all
time peak in 1941 OF 1928, 900 tons.
Due to the war this declined rap
idly in 1912 and 1943, reaching a
low in the latter year of $4,000
tons. In 1914, it picked up consid-
erably, showing a total of 1862
900 tons. With statistics incom-
piete 1945 is expected to show a
further increase. Imports particu-
larly will show decided increase
although the shipment OF petrole-
UNI products declined.
So many factors come Ia for
consideration, such as lend lease
shipments and other wartime &C
Invites, that clear picture of
what may be expected cannot be
toretold with accuracy until peace
time reconversion has been COM
pleted.
Present Preparations
At present, preparations are be-
ing made by the local Army En-
Rineer Office to undertake the en-
larged project for the Cape Fear
river at and below Wilmington.
This project provides for an in
crease in the length Of the south
erly approach to the anchorage
basin from 1900 to 1850 feet and
tor a depth Of 80 feet at mean
low water from Wilmington to the
outer end of the ocean bar chan
mel and In the turning basin at
Wilmington with an increase IN
width of the entire chanel from
800 to 400 feet; also for icreasing
the width of the present turning
basin at Wilmington from 900 to
600 feet with suitably heightened
approaches at both ends; and TOT
4 channel IL feet deep and LOU
feet wide extending from a point
near the eastern entrance OF the
finland waterway to a connection
with the main river channel at
point about miles above. Action
has already been taken to acquire
the necessary land for rights-of-
way, spoi-disposal areas, etc. IN
order that work may not be de-
layed in starting work shortly aft
er funds are made available. The
board of county commissioners OF
New Hanover county is now hand
ling this feature Of the proposed
Improvement.
Two government-owned dredges,
the Talcott and Huston, are now
At work in the lower river, restor-
ing the channel to it's present pro-
iect dimensions of 80 feet deep
by 300 feet wide. This work is
expected to be completed shortly
and a depth of 80 feet from Will
rnington to the ocean will be re-
stored.
Old Dredges Gone
Tn two government dredges
formerly owned by the local Army
engineer office and which former
" worked on the Cape Fear river
and inland waterways almost con-
tinually were requisitioned for war
work and are not now available
for maintenance work. The sea-
going dredge Constock employed
on the Ocean Bar channel for
many years was converted into a
cargo ship early in the war and
transferred overseas. Likewise the
pipe line dredge Henry Bacon,
long q familiar sight on the Cape
Fear river, was transferred TO the
Pacific theater.
Wilmington Project
Another project affecting Will
nington which was approved by
the River and Harbor Act OF
March 2, 1915, is to provide a
rh.uraI N Roe% daon and 100 feel