12 Chromeles of the Cape Fear Rwer

Inlet, to Smith’s Island. The dam closing New Inlet was con-
structed between 1875 and 1881 and is 5,300 feet long. It is
built of stone, its first cost being $540,237.11. It was badly
damaged by a storm in 1906, and the cost of its restoration and
of other minor repairs made since its completion was $103,-
044.75, making its total cost to date $643,281.86. Swash De-
fense Dam, south of New Inlet, was constructed between 1883
and 1889 and is 12,800 feet long. It is also built of stone, the
first cost being $225,965. The cost of restoring this dam after
the storm of 1906, including other repairs made since its com-
pletion, was $170,109.53, making the total cost to date $396,-
074.53. With the exception of the construction of these two
dams, the results have been accomplished almost wholly by
dredging.

It is interesting to note in this connection that the total ex-
penditures of the Federal Government upon Charleston Harbor
to June 30, 1915, amounted to $5,084,771.90, and the total
expenditures on Cape Fear River at and below Wilmington to
the same date was $5,985,990.01.

Nortrueast Cart Frar River.

Northeast Cape Fear River has a total length of 130 miles
(70 miles in a straight line) and has been under improvement
since 1890, the project including the clearing of the natural
channel for small steamers to Hallsville, 88 miles above its
mouth, and for pole boats to Kornegay’s Bridge, 103 miles
above its mouth.

The work has consisted in removing snags and other inci-
dental obstructions from the channel and leaning trees from the
banks. For several years past, work has been for the purpose of
maintenance only. To June 30, 1913, there had been spent on
this stream for improvement and maintenance $33,738.86. At
present 8 feet can be carried to Rocky Point Landing, 35 miles
from the mouth, 5 feet to Smith’s Bridge, 52 miles up, and 3
feet to Croom’s Bridge, 8 miles further, at all stages. Above
that point it is only navigable during freshets.

Brack Rtver.

This stream has been under improvement since 1887. The
original project of 1885 included clearing the natural channel
and banks to Lisbon and cutting off a few points at bends,

 

 

Exploration and Settlement 13

modified in 1893, and omitting the part above Clear Run, 66
miles above the mouth. This was completed in 1895. Since
that time it has been under maintenance. The total amount

expended to June 30, 1913, for improvement and maintenance

was $32,877.26. The work has consisted in removing obstruc-

tions from the channel and leaning trees from the banks, and in
a small amount of dredging. }

At present a depth of 5 feet can be carried to Point Caswell
at low stages, above which point there is but little navigation
excepting during freshet stages.

Town CREEK.

Town Creek is a tributary to Cape Fear River, entering it
from the west about 714 miles below Wilmington. It is not
now under improvement, but was placed under improvement in
1881, the project being to obtain 4-foot navigation at low water
by removing obstructions from the mouth to Saw-Pit Landing,
20 miles above. After spending $1,000, this project was aban-
doned. An appropriation of $8,500 was made in 1899 to be
expended in obtaining a mean low-water channel 5 feet deep
and 40 feet wide to Russell’s Landing, 1934 miles above the
mouth, and to clear the creek to Rock’s Landing, about 4 miles
farther up. The 5-foot channel was obtained to Russell’s Land-
ing by dredging, and snags were removed from the channel for
the next mile. above, when the funds were exhausted, and no
further appropriation has been made.

Brunswick Rtve_er.

About four miles above Wilmington, the Cape Fear River
divides, the western branch forming Brunswick River. It flows
in a southerly direction and again enters the Cape Fear River
about four miles below Wilmington.

This river has never been under improvement, but the River
and Harbor Act of June 13, 1902, provides for an expenditure
not exceeding $1,000 of the money appropriated for the im-
provement of Cape Fear River, at and below Wilmington, in
removing obstructions at the lower mouth of Brunswick River.
Obstructions were removed from a width of 100 feet during
1903 at a cost of $519, securing a channel at its mouth 100 feet
wide and 7 feet deep.1

petition sase

"The foregoing technical information is from the reports of the U. S.
Corps of Engineers, by the courtesy of Major Stickle.

Wdiisdiataet moe O” % —_
Perea
shes Seat

Ee ee EE ————————— a tll