the removal of rock near Weldon is, owing to the prevalence of high water, still unfinished. The snag-boat fitted up last year passed over the river from Weldon to Plymouth, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles. Over one hundred logs, snags, and trees were removed, and the worst of the overhanging trees throughout the entire distance were trimmed or cut down. At a place a short distance above Plymouth, known as "the blockade," where the river was obstructed by rows of piles, now removed, against which large quantities of débris had lodged, seven large trees and nineteen scow-loads of limbs, timber, &c., were taken out. An. other snag-boat of larger size has been built and fitted up, for use dur ing the present season, in conjunction with the one operated last year. Under Mr. Foote's contract there have been removed from, or broken up and spread over the bed of the river, so as to be no obstruction to navigation, one large steamer (Southfield) near Plymouth, three hundred piles a short distance above that place, seven schooners at Broad Creek, a floating battery sunk at Gray's fishery, and a double-ender (Otsego) near Jamesville. During the present calendar year it is expected that all of the wrecks now remaining in the river, that in any way impede navigation, will be removed, and such of the rocks near Weldon as obstruct the channel will be blasted and taken out. A contract was signed June 28, 1873, for the removal of additional wrecks. It is also anticipated that by the two snag-boats now on the river the greater portion, if not all, of the dangerous snags will be removed, and thus the navigation of the river be much improved. Expended in year ending June 30, 1873.. $6,923 66 24,073 41 5,000 00 CUSTOM-HOUSE, EDENTON, N. C., SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th ultimo, requesting me to furnish the commercial statistics of the port of Edenton and the Roanoke River. Since my last communication to you on this subject the commercial business of this section has in no respect declined, but from such sources as I can form an opinion, I judge that the statistics will demonstrate a marked increase in commercial transactions. At the port of Edenton the coastwise trade has been steady and prosperous, but there have been no direct foreign importations and exportations. The amount of coastwise tonnage entered at this port for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, is 75,000 tons, and the amount of general merchandise brought to this port in coastwise vessels may be estimated at $350,000. The improvement of Edenton Bay is very much needed, and I consider the widening and deepening of the channel to be of great importance to the commerce of the port. At Plymouth, on the Roanoke River, a very prosperous and flourishing trade has been carried on for the past year, and the facilities for commerce have been greatly improved by the removal of the obstructions, and other work done on the river. The amount of general merchandise brought to Plymouth, and either landed there or carried up the Roanoke River, may be computed at $700,000. Of that amount about $250,000 has been landed at Plymouth, and the remainder has been unladened at Jamesville, Williamston, Hamilton, and various small landings along the river. It is estimated by competent authority that $1,000,000 worth of produce and lumber of various kinds have been shipped to northern markets from the Roanoke River during the past year. In addition to the amount of general merchandise brought from the northern cities and landed on the Roanoke River, there has been about $75,000 worth of fertilizers brought to the planters and consumed by them during the past season. The total tonnage engaged in the trade on the Roanoke is upward of 350,000 tons. The agricul tural and industrial business of this section has increased during the year, and the commercial statistics show that a thriving and prosperous trade is constantly and steadily conducted. The business of this section is principally created by the agriculturist, the lumberman, the fisherman, and the merchant. Their interests are almost inseparable in a business point of view, and each one is more or less dependent upon the other; yet all are deeply interested in the channel of transportation afforded by the Roanoke River, and the complete opening of this highway of commerce to unobstructed navigation will greatly increase the commercial wealth and prosperity of the country through which it runs. Great improvement has already been made, but more work in some parts of the river is absolutely essential in order that the course of general commercial business may not be retarded for the want of safe river transportation. On each side of the Roanoke, above the town of Plymouth, are large fertile plantations affording in abundance almost every product of agriculture known in this country, and the swamps and forests contain vast quantities of valuable lumber, the waters of the river afford shad and herring in great profusion, and nature has done all that its lavish hand could do to make this a most useful and important commercial section of country. But if the outlet for all this wealth remains obstructed and its navigation is considered unsafe for want of slight improvements, it will be impossible ever to develop properly this rich and valuable country. Should there remain any particular point upon which you may desire any information at my command, it will give me great pleasure to afford it. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Collector. T 20. IMPROVEMENT OF THE MOUTH OF CAPE FEAR RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA. The operations of the year have been confined chiefly to the continuation and completion of the work for closing the opening between the head of Smith's Island and Zeke's Island at the New Inlet. On the 30th of June, 1872, this work extended 1,915 feet from Smith's toward Zeke's Island. During the year ending on the 30th of June, 1873, 2,488 linear feet had been added, making the length of the completed work 4,403 feet. The sand accumulates with gratifying rapidity on the seaward side, and numerous shoals are growing horizontally and gradually emerging from the water. Attention has continued to be given to the maintenance of existing sand-hills and beaches, and the formation of new ones by the use of cheap catch-sand fences, which have succeeded well. Shrubbery and other vegetation suited to the locality have also been planted and cultivated with the same object. A Board of Engineers which for some time had been considering the subject of the improvement of the river submitted a report in December, 1872, which was printed in Ex. Doc. No. 108, House of Representatives, Forty-second Congress, third session, and is appended hereto. The programme of operations laid down by that board has been adhered to, and thus far the results are very encouraging. The indications increase of the opening of a new and straight channel through the Baldhead entrance. This channel seems well defined, increasing in depth, and nearly in the position of the deep channel which existed before the opening of New Inlet. There are ample grounds for the belief that, by steadily carrying forward the work in accordance with the project now approved, the New Inlet will be entirely closed in a reasonable time under the agency of the winds and waves, and the river be restored to its condition of a century ago, when New Inlet had no existence and the old mouth of the river had one of the finest entrances on the South Atlantic coast. The strong and increasing probabilities of attaining such a result, which is of national importance, are enough, it would seem, to justify me in repeating the request of a year ago, that Congress give a liberal sum for carrying on the work. Expended in year ending June 30, 1873 $106, 112 65 90,963 68 150,000 00 UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: The operations at the improvement of the Cape Fear River, North Carolina, during the past year, have been confined principally to the continuation of the work for the closing of the space between Smith's and Zeke's islands. This work has been entirely completed during the year. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, the completed work had attained a length of 1,915 feet, extending from Smith's toward Zeke's Island. The work, as completed, is 4,403 feet in length. Considerable attention has been given to the protection of the long and narrow beach of Smith's Island by the use of catch-sand fences, and by encouraging the growth of grass and other vegetation. As the work has progressed, efforts have been made to cause a more rapid accumulation of sand about it, in order to more effectually shut off the water and to protect the timber from the attacks of worms. For this purpose old and otherwise useless flats have been sunk in positions favorable to checking the strength of the currents about the work, and over 30,000 sand-bags have been filled and deposited for the purpose of shutting off these currents. New quarters have been constructed at Federal Point, on the northern side of New Inlet, and at that point a considerable amount of stone, timber, and other material has been landed for the construction of a projected work to be hereinafter referred to. A Board of Engineers, which met at Wilmington, N. C., in January, 1872, re-assembled at New York City in December last, and made its final report on the various matters connected with the improvement of the Cape Fear River. RESULTS OF THE WORK OF THE YEAR. The exceedingly favorable results of the work are (in the immediate vicinity) very manifest. The sand has accumulated outside of the work with great rapidity. Latterly, as the superstructure was approaching completion, and since, this accumulation has been very marked. The work is now protected on the ocean side by a sand-spit or beach, which has closed on the work, and has extended over considerably more than half the space from Smith's to Zeke's Island. Meanwhile the water which extends over the remaining space is rapidly shoaling, and there is every indication of the formation of a permanent beach which will unite the two islands. The shoaling on the inner or river side of the work is not progressing with such marked rapidity as on the outer side, but still sufficiently fast to hold out the hope that nature will, with slight assistance, protect the inner side of the work before the timber will have been destroyed by worms. The steps taken for the protection of the narrow beach of Smith's Island Lave resulted favorably, and the beach is generally higher and stronger than a year ago. Zeke's Island has increased in size, superficially, in all directions, and is apparently resuming the old shore-line which it possessed many years ago before the breaks occurred between the two islands. At the Baldhead or eastern channel at the old mouth of the river, a considerable change and manifest improvement have taken place during the year, the change, no doubt, being due to the progress of the work. In May last a Coast Survey party made a resurvey of this channel, which shows that it is increasing in depth and gradually moving to the position occupied by the channel which existed here before the breaking out of New Inlet. At present 9 feet of water can be carried entirely through the channel, with 100 yards between the 9-foot curves at the most narrow part. At the western or Oak Island channel the water has deepened but very slightly during the year. PROBABLE OPERATIONS DURING THE COMING FISCAL YEAR. In accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Engineers referred to above, and with the project submitted and approved for the expenditure of the appropriation recently made for the continuance of the Cape Fear improvement, the principal work will consist of a jetty or deflector running from Federal Point on the north side of New Inlet, "following the line of shoals in a general southwesterly direction, as indicated on the latest map." The first 500 feet of this jetty is to consist of regular crib and superstructure work, similar to that just completed between Smith's and Zeke's islands. The effects of the portion of the work will probably determine the character of the balance of the structure. The Board of Engineers recommended that some simple form of structure be attempted, as, for instance, pile-work filled with brush and loaded with stone. This pile-work will be attempted immediately after the cribs are in position for the first 500 feet of work. The course which has been selected for this work keeps upon the line of shoals for a distance of about 1,700 feet before the deep water of New Inlet channel is encountered. The projeted work can probably be completed during the coming year, even if the expensive crib-work has to be carried over the entire length. The nature of the work beyond this point can only be determined by the results of the work already decided upon. During the progress of this work a careful watch will be kept of its effects upon Zeke's Island; and it is not improbable that slight jetties will be required to protect that island and the sand-spit which is now so rapidly forming about the work between the islands. A small force will be kept on Smith's Island to protect the work at that point, to encourage the accumulation of sand about it, and to protect and strengthen the beach of Smith's Island. Efforts will also be made to assist nature in her evident attempts to restore the old Baldhead channel. With the comparatively small amount of funds available for the prosecution of the work, these attempts will necessarily be confined to merely dragging or scraping in the channel at such times as the tug can be spared for the purpose. Respectfully submitted. Maj. Wм. P. CRAIGHILL, CHAS. B. PHILLIPS, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. Abstract of proposals received for furnishing and delivering stone for Cape Fear River improvement; opened at 12.05 p. m., November 26, 1872. *If not prevented by ice or dangers of the sea. Twenty days after acceptance of bid. 16 feeet to ton. |