SECOND DIVISION-ALBEMARLE SOUND TO PAMLICO SOUND. All routes in this division will be supposed, for ease in comparison, to begin at the "common point" in the Albemarle Sound and to end at a common point" in deep water in Pamlico Sound, about 2 miles east of Brant Island light, near or through which point all possible routes pass. Between these two points there is at present but one navigable waterway, that by Croatan Sound. Croatan Sound route.-This route passes through Croatan Sound and thence along the axis of Pamlico Sound. Croatan Sound connects Albemarle Sound with Pamlico Sound and lies between Roanoke Island and the mainland, which are at an average distance apart of about 3 miles. Its bottom is very irregular, deep pockets and shoals being scattered in confusion; depths as great as 6 fathoms exist not far distant from shoals with less than 6 feet. The general depth is about 10 feet, but there is no continuous channel with a greater depth than 9 feet. From Croatan Sound proper, in either direction to Albemarle or Pamlico sound, the water is shoal for a long distance, so that if this route be chosen dredging must begin within about 2 miles of the "common point" in Albemarle Sound and continue to below Long Shoal Point, a distance of about 41 miles. All of this dredging will be in a very exposed position and the dredged cut will be subject to rapidly fluctuating currents, and it is believed its maintenance will not be easy. Some years ago dredging was done in this sound near Croatan light; the cut was made 200 feet wide and 12 feet deep, and shoaled rapidly. From Long Shoal Point the rest of the route will be in deep water except where it crosses Bluff shoal. This shoal is a very long, narrow reef of sand, running from the end of the left bank of Pamlico River directly across Pamlico Sound to the middle ground at Ocracoke Inlet. It is about 14 miles long, and on its crest the general depth is about 10 feet. At the point selected for the crossing of this route the least depth is about 11 feet, the width between 12-foot contours being about three-fourths of a mile and between 17-foot contours about 2 miles. It is probable that a cut through this shoal must be redredged from time to time. The length by this route is Deep water, Albemarle Sound. Shoal water, Croatan Sound. Deep water, Pamlico Sound. Bluff shoal Bluff shoal to " 'common point" near Brant Island light Total Miles. 2.2 41.0 30.5 2.0 10.7 86.4 Alligator River routes.-All the possible alternative routes for this division of the waterway pass up Alligator River. This river empties on the south side of Albemarle Sound near its eastern end. It is about 4 miles wide at its mouth and for 20 miles upstream it is nearly straight and from 2 to 4 miles wide. Its bottom is sandy and flat and its depth generally from 9 to 15 feet. All routes by this river extend from deep water in the sound to a "common point" near the head of the straight portion of the river. The length of this section is 28.1 miles, of which 4.2 miles is in deep water in Albemarle Sound. The water in this river is nearly free from sediment, and maintenance of a dredged cut will probably not be difficult. From the "common point" in Alligator River there are several different possible routes, all passing through the swamps of Hyde County, N. C. The principal feature of this county is Lake Mattamuskeet. This lake is a large but shallow body of fresh water. It is about 16 miles long by 6 miles wide. Its level varies with the rainfall, but in the dry season is only about 2 feet above the level of Pamlico Sound. Its general depth is about 2 feet, but in some places it is from 3 to 5 feet deep. The lake is surrounded by a rim-like ridge from 7 to 10 feet above sound level. The summit of this ridge is generally 100 yards or so from the lake shore, but on the east side it recedes to a distance of about one-half mile. From this summit the ground slopes off in all directions, except toward the mainland on the northwest, soon becoming low and swampy. The surface of the lake was formerly much higher than at present and has been artificially drained to its present level by several canals cut to Pamlico Sound. The bottom of the lake is quite sandy. The Alligator River routes all pass either through the lake or through the swamps just outside its rim to some of the numerous bays along the shore of Pamlico Sound. These bays all have the same general characteristics, being wide at their mouths and gradually decreasing in width and depth and having broad marshes extending far out from the banks. Through these marshes narrow, crooked creeks or drains find their way. Long Shoal route.-The most eastern of the routes passes from Alligator River to Long Shoal River, through the swamp near Whipping Creek Lake. There is at present between these two points a crooked passage available for skiffs. This passage is too crooked for use, but through the swamp a nearly straight passage about 8 miles long can be located not touching any high ground. The length of this route is: Albemarle Sound to "common point" in Alligator River. Thence to deep water in Pamlico Sound. Thence across Bluff shoal to point near Brant Island light.. Total Miles. 28. 1 8.9 9.0 36.5 82.5 Far Creek route.-This route proceeds from the "common point" in Alligator River across by the shortest line to deep water in Pamlico Sound, reaching the shore of the sound near Far Creek. Except for a narrow strip of farm land near Pamlico Sound, it passes generally through a low swamp covered with a dense growth. The elevation along this route does not exceed 5 or 6 feet. The length of this route is: Albemarle Sound to "common point" in Alligator River Thence across Bluff shoal to point near Brant Island light... Total.... Miles. 28.1 16.5 30.6 75.2 Wyesocking route.-Another route is possible that would pass from Alligator River to the head of Wyesocking Bay, and through that bay to deep water. This route is evidently more expensive than that by Far Creek, has no advantages over it, and will not be further considered. All of the above routes avoid Lake Mattamuskeet, but enter Pamlico Sound above Bluff shoal. Juniper Bay route. This route passes through the lake, and except for the belt of cultivated land around the lake it is located through the marshes or swamps adjacent to the bay and river. It and all succeeding routes avoid Bluff shoals. The length of this route is: Albemarle Sound to "common point" in Alligator River Thence to point near Brant Island light Total... Miles. 28. 1 32.4 10.0 70.5 Swan Quarter route. This route is similar to the one just described. It passes through the lake and thence to Swan Quarter Bay. It is longer and more expensive than the preceding one, possesses no additional advantages, and will not be further considered. Rose Bay route.-This route passes to the west of the lake through the swamp adjacent to the upper Alligator River, thence through the neck that joins the rim around Lake Mattamuskeet with the mainland at a maximum elevation of about 10 feet, thence to Rose Bay. Alligator River from the Fairfield Canal where this route crosses it to the common point" at the head of the lower river is quite crooked. For several miles it is narrow and deep, 30 feet being found in places. As it widens out its depth decreases, and near the lower end of this part shoals of 6 and 8 feet are found. The banks of the river are marshy and swampy, the immediate margin consisting of a semifloating mass of vegetation. Some of this frequently gets dislodged and floats downstream, and some of the points of the river have actually been sawed off. This part of the river is so crooked that it would be cheaper to cut straight through the swamp, and this is the line laid out. The length of this route is: Albemarle Sound to "common point" in Alligator River Thence to point near Brant Island light......... Total. Miles. 28.1 30.6 21.8 80.5 All of these Alligator River routes pass for considerable distances. through swamps, and it is believed that these portions can be maintained at slight expense. Through the high land, and especially through the lake, it will be necessary to revet the banks. THIRD DIVISION FROM PAMLICO SOUND TO BEAUFORT INLET. All the routes in this division of the waterway will, for comparison, be supposed to start at the "common point" in Pamlico Sound and to end in deep water just inside Beaufort Inlet. There are at present two waterways in use between these two points-one via Core Sound and the other via the Neuse River and the Clubfoot and Harlowe Canal. The proposed waterway may therefore follow either of these or some alternative route. Core Sound route.-This route passes through Core Sound, The Straits, and North River. Core Sound. This is a narrow, shallow sound lying next to the ocean and separated from it by the barrier reef only. It has practically no tide, its elevation being affected by winds only. The part of it included in this route is about 27 miles long and averages 3 miles wide. Its depth along the existing channel is generally about 7 or 8 feet, with a few places as deep as 10 feet and a number of shoals of less depth than 6 feet. The existing channel is very crooked, and if this route be chosen for the waterway a new and practically straight channel should be dredged. This would pass over places where the depth at present is less than 4 feet. The Straits.-This name applies to the branch of Core Sound between Harker Island and the mainland. It is about 5 miles long and averages less than one-half mile in width. The channel through it is slightly crooked, is of sufficient width, and has depths ranging from 10 to 20 feet. To straighten it and to deepen it at the shoal places would require that it be dredged throughout nearly its whole length. North River. The part of this river from The Straits to the deep water inside Beaufort Inlet is about 5 miles long and has a channel slightly curved and of irregular depth. Dredging would be required for about half the distance. This, the Core Sound route, throughout its whole length lies parallel to and close to the ocean and is subject to all prevailing storms. The bottom is composed generally of shifting sand, and except in The Straits and in North River its maintenance would probably be difficult and expensive, especially at the entrance from Pamlico Sound. The distance by this route is: Alternative routes.-All other possible routes in this division pass up the part of Neuse River where it is wide and straight and generally exceeds 20 feet in depth. Between it and Core Sound is a neck of land averaging 10 miles in width and generally low and flat, its elevation not exceeding 10 feet above low-tide level. On both the ocean side and the Neuse River side of this neck are a number of shallow creeks. These creeks near their mouths are very wide, gradually narrowing up toward their heads and become little more than crooked ditches winding through broad marshes. In several places the heads of the creeks on opposite sides of the neck come within 3 or 4 miles of each other, thus offering possible routes for the waterway. Adams Creek route.-Adams Creek empties into Neuse River where the river is over 20 feet in depth. For 6 miles from the 17-foot curve in the river this creek is from 1,500 to 2,000 feet wide and has but a single bend. The natural depth within this distance is from 9 to 12 feet. At the head of this section of the creek it divides, one branch proceeding off at a right angle; the other branch continuing for about 2 miles farther, gradually decreasing in width and depth. At the head of this creek there is a neck separating it from the head of Core Creek HD-58-2-Vol 50-2 on the ocean side. The distance across this neck is about 4 miles and its elevation does not exceed 10 feet. Core Creek.-Core Creek is a tidal estuary of Newport River. Its banks are marshy and through these marshes a practically straight channel can be dredged to the marsh of Newport River. Below the marsh in Newport River less than one-half mile of dredging would be required before reaching the deep water at and below Morehead City, which deep water extends to the bar at the inlet. This route throughout its entirety will be protected from storms, and it is believed that the maintenance of a channel will not be difficult. The distance by this route is: "Common point" to Neuse River opposite Adams Creek Adams, Core Creek, Newport River to Beaufort Inlet.. Total..... Miles. 28.4 21.6 50.0 Clubfoot and Harlowe Canal route.--This route passes up Clubfoot Creek, thence by a small canal to Harlowe Creek, and thence to Newport River. Clubfoot Creek.-This creek empties into Neuse River about 6 miles above the mouth of Adams Creek and several miles above the end of the deep water in that river, and should this route be chosen several miles of dredging will be necessary in Neuse River. Clubfoot and Harlowe Canal.-This canal, owned by a private corporation, is about 4 miles long, about 30 feet average width, and at low water its available channel is less than 2 feet in depth. It was constructed a number of years ago and at one time was well maintained, but in recent years little has been done in the way of maintenance and tolls are no longer collected. The material excavated was placed right on the bank and is constantly slipping into the canal. Harlowe Creek. This, like Core Creek, is a tidal estuary of Newport River, but it is not as wide nor as deep nor as straight as Core Creek, and has the additional disadvantage of emptying into Newport River several miles higher up. While the existence of this canal would naturally call attention to this route, its value in the present consideration is more apparent than real. It was not located at the narrowest or lowest part of the neck nor between the creeks best suited to the purpose, the principal object in its location having been apparently to obtain the shortest distance from Newbern to Beaufort. The prism of its excavation is very small compared with that desired for the waterway, and as the material excavated has been placed right on the top of the bank, at least half of it will have to be moved over again, and this route has the disadvantage of requiring several additional miles of dredging in both Neuse and Newport rivers. Compared with the Adams Creek route it is longer, requires more dredging, and is therefore more expensive, and is no more secure from storms. It will therefore receive no further consideration. Other routes.-There are other pairs of creeks which might possibly be used, but an examination of the map will show that there is no other pair so favorably located as that which has been considered. |