592 



FARMERS' REGISTER— PUBLIC WORKS. 



rityof the country realized — an inland navigation 

 from Maine to Georgia. If a canal fifty feet in 

 width and cir^lil feet wafer shall beexcnvafed, so as 

 to afford a direct communication between Beaufort 

 and Norfolk, what will be the effect upon the con- 

 dition of North Carolina and of the Union.'' Ail 

 the produce from the shores of Albemarle sound, 

 from the valleys of the Chowan, Cashie, Roanoke, 

 Tar and Neuse rivers, estimated to be the value of 

 five millions of dollars annually, would find its 

 way into if. That which was intended for the 

 south would reach the sea at Old Topsail inlet, or 

 stop at Newbern or Beaufort. The latter is known 

 to be the best harbor and seaport on our coast; 

 and from its proximity to the Southern and West 

 India market, must at once become an important 

 commercial town. The produce on the other 

 hand, intended for the north, would either <r:o up 

 the Chesapeake and inland to Philadelphia, or out 

 to sea at the Capes of Virginia, or seek a market 

 at Norfolk, now the finest seaport, and which, sup- 

 ported by such a trade, would soon become one of 

 the largest cities in the Union. By this channel of 

 communication our coasting vessels and all others 

 drawing eight feet water, would be relieved from 

 the hazardous and difficult navigation around Cape 

 Hatteras and Cape Lookout, the most dangerous 

 points known to our navigators, and where it is 

 believed more vessels have been wrecked than on 

 the whole coast of the United States besides. 



Nor would the advantages of its navigation be 

 confined to the coasting trade. A farmer descend- 

 ing any one of the rivers connected with this chan- 

 nel might continue on in his own boat either to 

 Beaufort or Norfolk, dispose of his produce with- 

 out the intervention of a commission merchant, 

 purchase his own supplies, and return with equal 

 ease in the way he came. 



An improvement of this character would con 

 tribute much to make us one people. Wilming- 

 ton, Beaufort, Newbern, Washington, Plymouth, 

 Edenton, Herlford, and Elizabeth City would be 

 drawn nearer together. The produce of the West 

 would be brought down by rail roads and improved 

 river navigation, and find its way to the ocean or 

 be concentrated at Beaufort and Norfolk. 



In addition to the facilities this canal would open 

 to commerce, it would have the effect of reclaim- 

 ing a large body of swamp lands, which would be 

 soon brought into cultivation and rendered pro- 

 ductive. That which is now a howling wilderness, 

 the abode of wild beasts and venomous reptiles, 

 would become a fertile and highly cultivated coun- 

 try, and this great highway of trade exhibit upon 

 its borders a succession of fruitful fields and flour- 

 ishing villages, the reward of our enterprise and 

 liberality. 



These" are some of the advantages likely to re- 

 sult to our own state. Let us now consider in 

 what manner the interest of the Union would be 

 effected by the accomplishment of such a work. 

 An inland navigation would be opened from Con- 

 necticut to Georgia, with the exception of a short 

 run, through a safe sea from Beaufort to Charles- 

 ton. If the channel be completed and the tolls 

 made light, the whole coasting trade of the United 

 States will pass through it, to avoid the dansjerous 

 navigation around Cape Hatteras. And "if the 

 banks of the canal be constructed to admit of steam 

 navigation at the rate of ten or twelve miles an 

 hour, all the travelling from north to south and 



south to north, for nine months of the year, will be 

 by this route. 



The general government has been at great ex- 

 pense in constructing a navy yard at Norfolk sup- 

 posed to be superior to any in the Union — the port 

 of Norfolk offering, perhaps, the best possible sit- 

 uation for such a work. It is of great importance 

 that this yard should be well supplied, and upon 

 reasonable terms. This canal would open to Nor- 

 folk a country abounding in almost inexhaustible 

 forests of the finest pine and oak timber and fur- 

 nishing adequate supplies of naval stores. The 

 live oak timber of the south might be transported 

 by this route immediately to the yard, with the 

 greatest economy and despatch. These are some 

 of the advantages in times of peace; in war, this 

 inland communication would be invaluable, and 

 might be maintained in defianceof the fleets of our 

 enemies. Should tlie Chesapeake be blockaded by 

 a superior squadron, our fleets and men of war 

 could at any time receive at Beaufort, through 

 these canals, any supplies they might require from 

 the navy yard at Norfolk. Merchantmen might 

 send their cargoes to the inferior, and receive re- 

 turn cargoes by the same channel. The existence 

 of such a work would give to North Carolina a 

 distinction and consideration in the Union, of which 

 her sons might well be proud. It would more than 

 obviate the difficulty occasioned by the closing up 

 of Roanoke inlet, since instead of one we would 

 have easy access to two of the best seaports on our 

 coast. 



From any point upon the canal, rail roads might 

 be constructed to the interior of the State. The 

 precise location of such roads can be properly de- 

 termined when the necessary surveys and estimates 

 shall have been made. An able communication 

 upon the subject has been submitted to the Board, 

 by Mr. Sullivan, a civil en2:ineer formerly of Bos- 

 ton, but now a resident of New York. The bold- 

 ness, originality and apparent practicability of his 

 plan, will arrest the attention of the Legislature. 

 His opinions have been submitted to an engineer, 

 second in reputation to no member of the profes- 

 sion in that State, who has given them the sanc- 

 tion of his hearty concurrence. They will be 

 stated without further prefatory remarks and with 

 little change of his argument or forms of ex{)res- 

 sion. 



" The Blue Ridge being within the boundary 

 line of this State, and its limits comprehending the 

 head waters and valleys of the Tennessee, we hold 

 tiie key of communication with the valley of the 

 Mississippi. To compare distances, suppose a line 

 of location for the rail road, which seems to com- 

 prehend the most beneficial efiects to the State, in- 

 tercepting transportation by the rivers, as far 

 south as j)ossible, in order to include the whole of 

 the southern cuunties within its influence; and by 

 branches, all to the north-ivest of the base line of 

 the systein. 



" This passage would be direct between New- 

 bern and New-York. It is well known that the 

 cheapest freighting is by large vessels. As time 

 enters so constanfly into mercantile calculations 

 that steam power can be afforded and is principally 

 used on the Hudson, to command regularity and 

 despatch. The step in improvement from steam 

 tow boats to steam coasters, will be easy and natu- 

 ral since the late further discoveries of coal both 

 bituminous and anthracite, in Pennsylvania, hai 



