Newspapers / The Durham Recorder (Durham, … / Dec. 20, 1820, edition 1 / Page 2
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before leaving that neighbourhood, ?* uimne U e White Oak. \'co will then examine the New river, an-' the inlet at its mouth. The Ik>?ic1 wish you, on your way to the Albemarle, to visit the works now in progress on the Roanoke; and to give to the company incorporated for the im provrmcnt of that river such advice and ins: ructions as they may require; and, if necessary, to lay out the line of the canal yet to he cut at the Great Falls, and determine the site of the locks: it being a principal objuct with the board to give to the several navigation com panies every aid and facility in prose cuting i heir works." In pursuance of these instructions, t?ie engineer proceeded to Roanoke is land, and commenced his observations r.nd survey, which he completed about tne f. st of May. He has drawn up a detailed report, accompanied with a map of the Roanoke and Croatan sounds, and jUo of the marshes and banks. In thii map the soundings at various pla ces tire laid down, with all the locali ties which were thought necessary to ba taken into view in forming an opinion on ihb subject of making an inlet. The result of his survey, has been a decisive o{ h ion in favour of the practicability of making an inlet at this place; and the engineer has set forth, in his report, the pi hi which he thinks should be adopted. *1 his p ar. is illustrated b, several draw ings. which accompany his report. The board were desirous of obtain ing upon this subject the opinion of the board of the United S'.ates' engineer*, wli i were la:eiy or. our coa?t. The pre si.vr; of the United Stairs had instruc ted i .em to fjive their attention to the subject; and the secretary at war gave no* i' c of this fact, and of the time those engineers wouid be on our coa*t. But t?.t hoard not being in session, it was fjrnd impossiole, notwithstanding an ert'>rt was made for that purpose, for tie civil engineer of this state to meet tic hoard ot U. States' engineers on our *.oa->t. Copies of Mr. Fulton's report, D?p and drawings, have been forward ed to them, and their opinion solicited, topics will also be forwarded lo Eng > n and France, in order to obtain if - visible, the opinions ot the most cele inai d civil engineers of those countries \ pon the subject. As connected with a survey of our in - ids, the engineer was instruct d to ex a ?.ine the shoal in the Pamplico below the (own of Washington, and report up t i lite deepening of the channel of this ??>(>*.. It wili be seen by hi* report, that tris channel can be deepened at a mo d<-r%ic expense, 111 such way that ves v is crossing the bar at Ocracock can p-.?cred directly to Washington. The report* of the engineer on our ir.lcts, contain a mass of information which is >iglily interesting. They pre s nc to us the obstructions whioit exist, V r rxtt-ut to wMC. ih.-y an be remov c . >d t.-.e expense which must he in rvirrri in thtir removal. Tne entire *? .>j- c? is thus presented, and we are /- r ? longer left in 'he daik in adopting C t ?-iir: s as to any par o{ it. During the presint year, the rngi D (_r has examined Tar, the Cataw* ! . and the Broad rivers; and in his r~ ; r:s, has given a detailed account of t.'t obstructions in each, and pointed 0 t the manner of removing them and c improving the navigation of each of tl ose rivers. He has also had a survey 1 ade between the waters o! the Ntnsc a; '? the Tar river*, by the way ol the 'I oss-not and Contentney crteks. 1 lie engineer has visited tne several t **i.;?tion companies, and given mem i - ructions for carry ing on their works. 1 ;tore the emplo> ment of an engineer the staie, these companies weie n.ostly without the assistance of any { -i on of competent knowledge to plan . i ir works, or superintend their exe rtion. ? The consequence' was, that ? ich rno' ey was very injudiciously ex 4 n.ltd. F.arly in the present yeai, the t .a?d addr.-sscd a circular to the scvc r ! companies, recommending to tliem i place all their woiks under the im : ediate direction and superintendence the civil engineer to the state. This ? commendation has been in part ac { ? d* d to, and the engineer has drawn ? [ iuns and ^pecifv aUons of the work*; ''-.ere has been a gre*t saving in the ' cost of tne work, and, at the same time, tie woik. has been much better exe < itrd. The piincipal works which are now ?ing on m tne state, a/e those on tne oanoke, Cape Fear, Yadkin, and Ca .vi>a. At the main obstruction to tne <\vi g?uon of the Hoanoke is at the L- eat 1 alls, the company lor the im k^jjrovemeiit of that river nave concern ted their cfl\>rt? at that place; and, Hiig the next year, it it expected |y will complete the canal and most L.e locks. The most difficult and tx nive p?rt of the cannalling i* com I"*'. and two of the lock* are in pro i. i lie civil engineer is now engag lUyinfc oui the line for the residue \ canal, an<J determining the sites lb other lot ks. This company, be E. lioemlly aHed by thr state ol mia, ** well as by thin state, has a led advantage ovtr ail the other >anifs, in point of lunds, and their itss progressed more steadily. \e ( ape 1 ear com; any have tatri itheir wo.\ bei'?w, at, ai.d above Letilie IJrlow, they tiave been Bd in oltaruig ?ut the logs and sand shoals, and rendering the river na vigable for steam boat*. Th? works pro jected at Fayetteville, are intended to accommodate both the ascending and descending trade of the river. The town is situate at nearly a mile from the river; and the transportation of produce from the town to the river, and of mer chandise fron; the river to the town, is carried on at great expense and incon venience, in waggons and carts. Boats descending the river with produce from above Fayetteville, have to lie with their cargoes nearly a mile from the market. To avoid these inconveniences, the company are making a canal through the town to the river; and when com pleted, boats either ascending the river with merchandize, or descending it with produce, can pass up the canal, and lie aloi^side of the warehouses in the to?n. As Fayetteville is the prin cipal commercial town of the state, this improvement seemed necessary, not only for the accommodation of mer- I chants, but of the planters and farmer* who send their produce to this market. The company have been under the ne cessity of expending the canal several miles from town, to get a feeder, and this has aoded much to the * .pense of the work. Nearly five miles of this ca nal have been completed. One mile more has been partially done. An em bankment and aqueduct are to be made at Cross creek, and the locks are to be put in at the river. A drawing of the i canal and locks has been made by the | civil engineer, and accompanies his re port!! on the subject. Above Fayetteville, at the Buckhorn falls, the company have executed a con ' sideiablf work. They have made a ca nal neaiiy t> mile in length, and are now cqga};ef. in erecting the locks at this piace. One of the principal dams has beei. mult, and another is in a state of for* wardntss. From Buckhom to Haywood the uavigation is good. The engineer ( has recommended to the company to ? improve the navigation from Buckhorn j to Fayetteville, by dams and locks; and it is believed that eight locks will be sufficient for this line of the river. The Yadkin company have contract l ed for sluicing that river, from Wilkes 1 borough to the Bean shoals in Surry county, a distance of sixty miles, and the work naft been commenced. At the Bean shoals, the Yadkin passes the Btushy mountains, where the company are canalling. They have here made a canal about a miie in length, supported on one side around a prtcipice of the mountain, for 12oo feet by a stone wall. A dam has been built across the river, at the head of the canal, to pond the water over the shoal above, and fill the canal. From the Bein shoals to Bru ncr's ford, a distance of ninety miles, it is intended to sluice the river; and the work nas been contracted for. A con tract has been uiade for improving the navigation of tne river from the foot of gtnetai Smith's snoais, below the mouth c I the L'iiaric river to the South Caro tin* lint, a distance of sixty miles. At t ne tails, ruai tne line ot South Caroli na, the company has made a canai near ly iWj m.ies in length, which will soon he comp.eud. Tu' C?tawtj* Company have been engaged in improving the navigation of tnat river by sluicing, by dams and 1' cks, and canalling. The obstruction* in this river, and the wark which has been done by tne company, are particu larly detailed in the report of the civil engineer, upon his late survey upon that liver. All the companies except the Roa noke, are d ficient in tunds to complete their works; anu, as soon as the state of the fund for internal improvements will anmit of it, the board recommend to the general assembly to aid them by additional subsci iptions of stock. Inde pendent of tne general benefit to be conferred upon the people by the com pletion of those works, it is probable that this stot k wnl become a profitable source ol tevenue to the state. Some of our sifter staies derive a large portion ol the public revenue from meir inter nal improvements, hoc] no rearm accns I lo cxnt why (h- at nr. may not be cx pecieu in t .is -.laic. I. requires time, patience a-.d perseveia.i<?? 10 effect any gie.t puoiic wuik. The prosperity ol a s'.uie is not uie taUoi ol a day. It is the .e-.ua ol a sysiem of policy wmch is lounded m wisdom, and reared up with toil aiiU tabor. Public works arc motiu menis < t ti.e wisdom .<l trie people who accomplish them, and remain Diossings 10 in* m and their posterity. The boarJ vert directed by an act of ? he last general as?eui'?iy, to contract tor opening a road through the Chero kee country. As none of tlie members of the board had a personal knowledge of the country, they empowered the three commusioners, who were ap pointed 10 lay out the road, to contract lor opening it. 1 hey declined tne ser vice, and the board nave not been able to contiact fortius wo.k. It is probable, that in a short time, a contract will be made. The board hive received for the u?e of tne state, from Jamea Monroe, Ksq. president of the United States, Mont. Ha^eau's work on the canal which unites tne Rhine with the Maese. The superb Atlas winch accompanies this work, containing splendid drawings ot every p?rt of the canai, locks, ku wa? forwaidi u by geneial Stokes, one of our ?viiatuu in con^roM. Hamilton Fulton, Esq. has resigned hi* appointment as civil engineer to the state. This resignation, according to the terms of his contract, will take effect in January next. The reports, maps, pro files, plans, and various drawings of Mr. Fulton, will be found useful to all who are concerned in the internal improve ment of the state. The board have also given notice to Mr. Robert H. B. Brazier, assistant en gineer, that his contract will be consi dered at an end three months from the date of such notice. The hoard have under consideration the condition of the public highways, and a plan for keeping them in repair, and hope to be able to aubmit to the present general assembly a report on this aubject. JOHN BRANCH President of the Board of Public Improvements. J. Gales, Secretary. HOUSE OF It /: I'RESEJVT. 1 TI YE & Monday, December 4. Mr. Smith, of Maryland, from the committee of ways and mtans, reported " A bill for enrolling, and licensing, and granting allowances to ships or vessels to be employed in the mackerel fishery, and for the government of persons con cerned tharein." The bill was twice read and com mitted. Mr. McLean, of Kentucky, from the select committee, to whom was referred the petition of Matthew Lyon, made a report thereon, accompanied by a bill for his relief. [The bill directs that there be paid to Matthew Lyon, out of the treasury of the United States, one thousand and six ty dollars, being the amount of a fine and costs recovered against him in the circuit court of the United States, (un der the old sedition law,) with interest thereon from the 9th day of February, 1799, until paid. 3 The bill was twice read and com mitted. On motion of Mr. Darlington, it was Rcnolvcdi That the secretary of the treasury be directed to report to this house the amount of fines certified to the comptroller of that department, to have been imposed upon the militia of Pennsylvania, for neglect of duty, dur ing the late war with Great Britain; the amount of said fiaes which has been le vied and collected by the marshals of the respective districts in that state, or their deputies; and the amount there of tv hie h has been actually paid into ihe treasury of the United States; also, what proceedings, if any, have been instituted for the recovery of the moneys thus col lected within said districts, and not yet received at the treasury. Mr. Strong, of N. Y. submitted for consideration the following resoluiion: Retolv edy That a committee be ap pointed to ascertain and report to this house the amount of individual claims upon the United States, in favour of American citizens growing out of the last war with Great Britain, the Creek war, and the Seminole war; designating the classes of the claims, and the names of the claimants; together with the sum or sums which, in their opinion, shall be oquitaMy and fairly due to each, so far as the same may he practicable: and also upon the expediency of providing for the same, by issuing scrip, receiva ble in payments for the public lands, or in such other manner as the com mittee m.?y deem more advisable. After some debate, the motion to lay the resolution on the tabic was decided in the affirmative, by a small majority. On motion of Mr. Forreit the house proceeded to consider his motion for requiring ir. formation from the war de partment respecting certain loans of gun powder, See ? and the same having been modified by striking out the pre amble, was a^reeO to. COM M KMC P. OF THE BLACK S T.K. AJ r. Fuller, of 3/us*achusett?, offer ed for consideration the following rc? solwion: Kraolvdi That the committee on conimorce he instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law such means as may he nectssary to obtain for the citizens of the United States the navigation o* the Euxine Sea and a par ticipation of the commercc of its porta and dependencies. Mr. F. after remarking on the expe diency of ?(fording to commerce, under present circumstances, all the facilities in the power of the government to bes tow, went on to say that our commerce with Russia, it was well known, was at present almost entirely carried on through the Baltic sea, which it was equally well known, was closed against navigation lor the greater part of the year by the severity of the climate. The Kuxine sea, he said, afforded much greater facilities, by means of the rivers which fall into it, for cat rying on the trade with Russia. But, not having any i agent there, we have no means of pro cu?ing the permission to pass the Straits I of the Dardanelles. From the information of others, however, Mr. F. aaid he had no doubt, that the requisite permission could he obtained by asking it in proper forin and manner. The free intercourse with the F,ua<ne would, he said, be of much advantage to ui in another point of tUv. At present, all our commerce with Turkey is carried on through Smyrna. Several ports of the Darda nelles, Mr. F. said would be more con venient for this purpose than Smyrna. Upon the whole, he thought it qaite advisable to have an inquiry made into this subject through the medium of a committee of the house. Mr. Stevens, of Connecticut, said, in reference to Mr. Fuller's intimation that permission to pass the Straits could be obtained if asked in a proper man ner, that he presumed the agent who asked it must go with something in hand, and suggested the propriety of ascertaining, before they went further, what would be the cost of this project. Mr. Rhea suggested that the mover would perhaps get more directly at his object by moviug at once to request the executive to sead a minister to Turkey. The motion of Mr. Fuller was thu? agreed to without a division. Mr. Mercer submitted the following: Retolved, T..at the president of the United States be requested to lay be fore this house any correspondence that he does not deem it inexpedient to dis close, which may have existed between the executive of the United States and the governments of any of the maritime powers of Lurope, in relation to the African slave trade. The question thereon, being taken without debate, was agreed to without division; and a committee wu ordered to be appointed to present the same to the president. Mr. Eustis, of Massachusetts, after some introductory remarks, in the course of which he contrasted the old system of the pertsion establishment with that which had more recently prevailed, , advantageously to the former, proposed the following resolve: Re?olved% That the committee on pensions and revolutionary claims be instructed to report a bill, providing that, from and after the 4th day of March next ensuing, no officer, soldier, seaman, marine, or other person what soever, shall be placed on the pension list of th? United States, except by vir tue of a law in which the name of the pensioner shall be inserted, together with the amount of pension to which he be entitled. The resolution being read Mr. Lowndes rose, not to object to the principle of the resolution, thinking it probable that the long experience of the mover would enable him to suggest valuable improvements on the present system, but to suggest, as the resolution was affirmative, and not proposing in quiry merely, that, with a view to deli beration, it should lie on the table one day. Mr. Eustis assenting to this course, the resolution was, after a few words from Mr. Rhea, indicative of hostility to it, ordered to lie on the table. The speaker then laid before the house a letter from the secretary of the treasury, transmitting his annual report on the state of the treasury; and, on motion of Mr. Storrs, three thousand copies thereof were ordered to be prin ted for the use of the h >use. And the house adjourned. Legislature of North Ca rol i na . SENATE. Friday, December 8. Mr. R. I). Spaight introduced a bill to repeal an act passed in 1819, giving to the county courts power to regulate separate elections, which passed its first reading. The house resolved itself into com mittee of the whole, Mr. L. D. Wilson in the chair, on the bill to repeal an act passed at the last session to create a fund for internal improvement, and to establish a board for the management thereof. Alter some debate on a motion to strike out the first section, the mo tion was carricd, and the committee rose and reported the t ill wnh the amendment. The house took up the bill, and on motion of Mr. A'kinson, the bill with the amendment was inde finitely postponed, 30 votes to 21 Mr. Wellborn, from the committee of finance, reported, that the amount of small treasury notes in the treasury, unfit for circulation, amounts to 7,7 10 dollars. Ordered to be burnt. Saturday, December 9 Mr. Locke, frotn the judiciary com mittee, reported the bill to limit the time of bringing suits against executors, administators and guardians, without amendment, which pasted its first read ing. Mr. L. from th? same committee re ported it to be inexpedient to pass any low on the subject of persons clandes tinely removing their property, Jcc. On motion ?f Mr. Walton, the judi ciary committee were instructed to in quire into the propriety of passing a law for the general regulation of county finance; of passing a law placing each county t>n an equality in the payment ol jurors and witnesses; and into the ex pediency of taxing all suits for the pur pose of paying jurors. On motion of the same gentleman, a 1 select committee was ap|>ointed to in quire into the expediency of altering and amending the patrol law. The bill to authorise the trustees of the Milton fciualo avtclctny t j raise a certain turn by way of lottery, was sed the third time and ordered t0 k. enrolled. On motion of Mr. Calloway, ^ committee on internal improvemevj were inatructed to inquire into the ex. pediency of making an appropriation -j aid in opening a road from Jonnhv, Woody's blacksmith's shop to the Te&. nessee line. The bill to repeal an act passed q 1819, giving to the county courts p?,. er, to regulate aepaiate elections, taken up for a second reading and rt. jected. Mr. Locke, from the judiciary com. mit'.ee, to whom was referred a resold tion touching the duty of sheriffs, uxj proposing to raise their fees, rtported that it ia inexpedient to increase the fees of sheriffs for the set vice of writs and other process^ but that it is espedi ent to increase the penalty on sheriff, failing to make due return of all pro cess to them directed; and recommend ed the passage of a bill for this purpose, which pasaed its third reading. - Mr. Gilchrist introduced a bill fix ing the sum recoveiable in any court tf U? by slaves who may hereafter reco ver their freedom; and Mr. Shober, a bill to amend an art concerning clerks of courts passed in 1819. Both bills passed their fip>t read ing. The first was afterwards referred to a select committee. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Friday, Dcccmbcr 8. The following bills were presented; By Mr. Cameron, a bill to require sheriffs to settle with nirdeni ot tie poor earlier thin they now do. By Mr. M'Lean, a bill concerning the public road* in this state. These bills were read the first time ? the In. ter referred to the committee cd inter na! improvement. On motion of Mr. Graham, Resolved, That the judiciary com mittee inquire into tlic expediency ot making some provision that may se cure infant female wards against bcin drawn into premature marriage by the interested views of unprincipled guar dians. Mr. SpeV.cer reported a bill, which was read the first time, appointing commissioners to fix on a suitable place for the court-house in Hyde. The house took up the order of the day on the bill to divide Rowan. [Tht blank for the name of the new county, on motion of Mr. Henderson, was filled with Davidson, in honor of gen. (leorge Lee Davidson, a distinguished officer in our revolutionary war.] The bill was read the second time, and rejected, 53 in favour, and 62 against it. After some time spent in committer of the whole, Mr. A. Moore in the chair, on the revenue bill, the committee rose, reported progress, and asked leave lu sit again. Saturday, December 9. The following bills were introduced By Mr. Roberts, a bill to compel tht clerk of Sui ry county court to keeph;? office in the town of Rockford. By Mr. Poindexter, a bill to autho rise John Frost, of Rowan county, \* erect a dam across Mitchell's river in Surry county. By Mr. Pope, a bill to prevent tlw fishing with nets at the mouth of Great Contentnea. By Mr. Hampton, a bill allowing ju rora in the county and superior tomti of Wilkes fo receivc pay for sei vices. By Mr. B*ll, a bill to appoint a toni mittee of finantc for the county ol Car teret. Karh read the first time and passed The house proceeded to the order of the day and took up the bill to amend the art laying duties on sales at auction of merchandize. ? Also the bill allow ing addi:ional compensation to the at torney general and solicitors fur the state. Head, amended, and passed the se cond time. A hallutting was had for a hoard of commissioners for internal improve ment. Alfred Moore, Thomas Turner, Archibald I). Murphey, John L). Haw* kins, Durant Hatch, and Charles D. Connor, Esquires, were elected. The bill to authorise county courts to alter separate elections, 8cc. was re ferred to Messrs. Hilltnan, Bateman, M ? rtin, Blount and Carter. The resolution presented on Thurs day last by Mr. Iredell, to appoint a committee revise the laws now in force relative to executors and administra tors, 8cc. was taken up, and the blank filled with the names of Wm. (?as'on and John R. Donnell, of Newbern. I ho resolution was engrossed and sent to the senate. The bill for regulating the pilotnfce at Ocracock. ? The bill prescribing the time within which mortgages, deeds ol trust, 8tc. shall be registered, and the bill to provide for the payment of costs when slaves are convicted of capital of* fcnces, were each read the second time arid passed. Mr. Alston, from the committee ap pointed to examine the public account* ot the treasurer, made a report, which was ttnammoutly concurred with both bouses. Mr. Mebane, from the committed reported unfavorably on the propose"
The Durham Recorder (Durham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 20, 1820, edition 1
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