684 Chronicles of the Cape Fear Rwer

marts of the interior States. Thus there is reason to hope, with
entire confidence, for even a larger development than that of the
last few years, gratifying as that has been.

In 1914 the total taxable city property, per assessment, was
$14,472,564. In 1915, it was $17,273,425, the increase exceed-
ing 25 per cent. The estimated values show even a greater in-
crease, being from $27,000,000 to $33,000,000. From 1910 to
1916 banking capital increased from $1,922,716 to $2,561,-
636.14; bank deposits rose from $9,292,088 to $11,688,675.57,
and banking resources aggregate $15,557,277.47.

It has only been in recent years that the jobbing business has
had a fair chance for development; but, with the removal of
obstacles, the enterprise of the Wilmington merchants at once
brought results. In 1910 the jobbing trade had risen by leaps
to $50,000,000, and in 1913 it was estimated at $70,000,000.
With the new conditions and the rapid growth of interior mar-
kets, due to the wonderful prosperity of the country within the
reach of Wilmington, these figures are destined to be speedily
multiplied.

While manufactures are still in their infancy, yet they are
varied in nature, chiefly, however, cotton goods, lumber and
woodwork of many kinds, and fertilizers. In 1913, Wilmington
shipped 263,000 tons of fertilizers. In 1914, 17,100 carloads,
or 282,150 tons, were shipped. This was a record year for the
industry at this port. In 1915 the total shipment of fertilizer
was 11,587 cars, the decrease resulting from adverse conditions
caused by the European War, and is considered a good showing
under the circumstances.

It is interesting to note that just north of the Hilton Bridge,
on the Northeast, three large fertilizer factories are located, as
well as the Camp Manufacturing Sawmill. These have a water
traffic of 165,000 tons, valued at $2,271,849, and this in spite
of the existing disadvantage of a shallow stream. While vessels
drawing twenty-six feet of water can reach the bridge, north of
the bridge the river widens rapidly, so that within the distance
of half a mile the width of fifteen hundred feet is reached, and
then for a mile and a half it narrows to a normal width of six
hundred feet. In this wide stretch the channel is narrow and
only from twelve to fifteen feet deep—entirely insufficient for
the larger vessels bringing in raw material. It is now under
consideration to have the channel widened to one hundred and
fifty feet, with a depth of twenty-two feet, and when this is

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Peace Restored 685

accomplished that part of the river will become still more im-
portant.

. But as important as are all the foregoing sources of prosper-
ity, the development of the export trade has been the chief factor
in the growth of the city. The increasing foreign commerce has
led to the adoption of plans for a more pretentious custom
house ; and this branch of our trade will doubtless be much bene-

fited if the proposition to increase the depth of water from the
city over the bar to thirty-five feet is carried into effect, while

the coast trade will receive a new impulse when. the Coastal
Canal is constructed.

LOOKING FORWARD.

The development of our resources since the War between the
States probably surpasses that of any other country in any era
since the world began.

Our Department of Agriculture at Washington estimated the
production and value of fourteen of our largest farm crops in

1913 at nine billions of dollars. The estimate of our Southern

cotton crop and its by-products was one billion dollars. The
acreage of this vast wealth-producing area is one-seventh the size
of Continental United States; and yet we are told by President
Brown, an eminent authority, that consumption is overtaking
production with alarming rapidity, and values have been rising
by leaps and bounds; also, that gradually improved methods of
agriculture will increase the yield per acre, but the supply may
never again catch up with the demand.

Our population, now bordering upon one hundred millions
must continue to increase, while any large increase in the abe
of arable land is a matter of the past. Consumption of food-
stuffs has increased in the past ten years almost three times as
fast as acreage and almost twice as fast as production.

These startling developments accentuate the importance of
conserving and utilizing the great waterways upon which the
country depends for the movement of the larger proportion of

our products. Already the railroads are congested, and water
transportation becomes increasingly important.

The improvement of the Cape Fear River is, therefore, of
momentous significance to our maritime community and, to the
State at large. Increased appropriations should be systemati-