Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from Duke University Libraries » https://archive.org/details/reportofsecretar1887nort REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION, IN RELATION TO Swamp Lands, AND ALSO REPORT OF AGENT AND ENGINEER. RALEIGH: P. M. Hale, State Printer and Binder. 1887. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION, IN RELATION TO SWAMP LANDS, AND ALSO REPORT OF AGENT AND ENGINEER. To the State Board of Education: Gentlemen : — At a meeting of your Board, held on tbs 7tli day of September, 1886, the following resolution was passed: u Resolved, That the Secretary be requested to report to the Board of Education a full history of the swamp land transac¬ tions from the beginning, including money spent on them and received from them, and the probabilities of realizing from them by prosecuting the work of reclamation by drainage.” In compliance with the resolution I beg leave to report as fol¬ lows: 1. An act of Assembly in 1822 prohibited the entry of swamp lands. 2. An act of Assembly in 1825 constituted the Literary Board. 3. Surveys and improvements of these lands were under the control of the Board of Internal Improvements until 1833. 4. No money was spent on these lands except a small amount for surveys prior to 1837, at which date by act of Assembly the Literary Board was invested with authority to survey and reclaim them, the sum of ($200,000) two hundred thousand dollars out of the school fund being appropriated for that purpose. 5. All the surveys made then and prior to the late war had reference more to the general location and their drainage than to the establishment of their boundary lines; and until quite recently no definite boundary lines have been established—the boundaries relied on being the indefinite edges of the swamps. t 4 REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. \ 6. The work of reclamation has been confined to Hyde and Carteret counties except the roads recently made in Jones, Ons¬ low and Pender counties. 7. As an experiment before extensive operations were begun, a canal was cut in Hyde county which lowered the water in Mat- tamuskeet Lake (34) three and one-half feet and cost eight thous¬ and dollars. 8. For a period of four or five years after the passage of the Act of 1837, the Board was actively engaged in work in Hyde county, the results of which were as follows : A canal from Rut man’s Creek to Alligator Lake £>ToF miles long, 32 feet wide at bottom, and average 7 feet deep, at a cost of. $ OSjIOO.SO 1 A canal from Pungo River to Pungo Lake, 6^^ miles long, 22 feet wide at bottom, and average 6 feet deep, at a cost of.. 35,316.55 Tributaries to Alligator Canal, at a cost of. 24,584.95 Tributaries to Pungo Canal, at a cost of. 23,576.00 The aggregate length of these tributaries is 204 miles, the width 8 feet, and depth 4 feet. Surveys, &c., &c.,. 29,688.77 Total for this work. $176,965.86 9. This work was intended to drain about 65,000 acres of the best public lands. 10. In 1841, these lands were offered for sale, but for some reason very few persons attended the sale, and no bids were made. 11. In 1849, they were again offered, by sections, at public sale, and small amounts were bid off at 124 cents to $5.00 per acre, the timbered lands only being sought after. 12. The total amount received for Hyde county lands up to 1849 (including the&e sales in that year) was $5,876.99. 13. In 1852, $5,000.00 was appropriated for the drainage of the Open Ground Prairie, in Carteret county, and a canal was cut from Ward’s Creek to the highest point in the open ground, and transverse ditches were also cut to drain a square mile. 5 REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 14. Notwithstanding efforts were made to sell the lands in Carteret, no sale was effected until 1859, when 2,000 acres were sold for twenty-five cents per acre. 15. In 1855, a road was constructed, or rather repaired, from the vicinity of Pungo lands, in Hyde county, towards Plymouth, a.t a cost of about $10,000. 16. These works in Hyde and Carteret counties, including salaries of surveyors aud agents, aggregate a total cost of $200,- 357.22, as I find from the State Treasurer’s books, the principal items of which are given above. This was the total cost of the Board’s efforts to reclaim swamp lands from the beginning up to 1860. 17. The total sales up to 1860 were as follows: Sales up to and including 1849.$ 5,876.99 “ in 1851 and 1852. 1,223.67 “ “ 1853 “ 1854. T,886.08 “ “ 1855 “ 1856. 3,773,72 “ “ 1857 “ 1858. 3,251,00 “ “ 1859 “ 1860. 1,321.50 Total sales to 1860.$17,332.96 I find on hand now some promissory notes given in payment ■of some sales, included in the above amount. These notes are now worthless, I think. Some small sales may have escaped my notice, but for the purpose of your inquiry, the amount is, I trust, sufficiently accurate. 18. In 1866 the Board again engaged in surveying the swamps, and for this purpose, and for agents up to 1870, spent $7,657.70. 19. In 1867 Lake Ellis, in Craven county, was sold to W. F. Lewis for $8,000. The note given in payment is still on hand, and the deed has never been made. In 1868, Little Lake was also sold to Mr. Lewis for $250. 20. In 1870 the Board sold the whole of their lands in Hyde, Washington, Tyrrell and Dare counties to Messrs. Bible and Carrow, for the sum of $50,000 on deferred payments. The 6 KEPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. purchasers paid on the purchase money $14,363, and failing to make further payments, the Board, August 3, 1883, ordered suit to close out the purchasers’ equities. This suit was termin¬ ated in 1885, at a total cost of about $2,000. The Board bid in, and now owns the lands. 21. Iu 1883, the Board, nothing having been done since 1870, again began the accurate survey of the swamps, with the inten¬ tion of fixing the boundaries so that they cotdcl be more intelli¬ gently offered for sale, should it be deemed best to sell, and the better to prevent trespassing. For this purpose $11,763.86 has been expended up to date, 1st of December, 1886. 2.2. In 1884, Big Swamp, in Robeson county, was sold at 27% cents per acre, for $3,030.50. 23. The total expenditure on swamp lands to this date, as I find from the State Treasurer's books, the principal items of which are named above, is $226,587.50, and the total amount received is $32,975.96. 24. In addition to this expenditure, there have been some ex¬ penses on roads by the Penitentiary Board, the amount of which I am unable to state, but approximately I can state that the road recently constructed in Angola Bay cost about $1,000 per mile, which I think is a very near approximation to the aver¬ age cost of such roads when constructed with convict labor. Thus it will be seen that the balance sheet is against the swamp lands to the amount of $193,611.54, almost the whole amount appropriated in 1837. While these figuijps may not be entirely accurate, some small sales possibly escaping my notice in the search, they are sufficiently so to give a clear insight into swamp land transactions to date. In answer to the last inquiry in your resolution, “the proba¬ bilities of realizing by prosecuting the work of reclamation by drainage,” I shall have to depend largely upon the opinion of engineers and others who have carefully examined the lands. The reports show that almost all of the swamp lands owned by the Board are so elevated above tide-water, not far away, as to make their drainage possible. If this is so, why did the efforts REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 7 of the Board prove unsuccessful iu Hyde and Carteret counties, where the lands seemed to promise most and where so much work was done? After personal inspection of the lands there and the character of the work done, I answer as follows: 1st. The lands were not actually drained, but only a basis laid for possible drainage by smaller ditches. Indeed, while the fall from Alligator and Pungo lakes to tide-water is sufficient to make fair drainage, almost all of this fall is at or near the rim of the swamp and near to tide-water, the rim being higher than the main body of the swamp in this locality, as indeed in most, if not all others. The swamps are almost level, so that unless the fall is carried up regularly through the rim, beyond that point the fall will not be sufficient to cause an easy flow of the water. To do this would require that the canals be much deeper at this point than at any point beyond. Just here is the point of fail¬ ure in the drainage in Hyde county, and just here heavy and expensive work is indicated. The work in Hyde lowered the water, but not sufficiently to give fall for the necessary transverse ditches. 2d. Under the most favorable circumstances, these swamps will require a heavy expenditure of money, even after the main canals are made of the proper depth and width; and as lands have been and are now comparatively cheap in this State, there has been and is now no special inducement to purchase these lands except for timber and cattle-raising. If therefore anything of consequence is to be expected from these lands in Hyde or elsewhere, it can only be after large sums of money are expended iu draining them—much larger than is usually sup¬ posed. As to title, it seems to me that there is no trouble, as the Sec¬ retary of State’s office shows that hundreds of thousands of acres of these swamp lands were bought in for taxes, in accordance with the statutes. If it were a question of hiring labor to do the work, I would unhesitatingly say that the Board would stand a most excellent chance of losing money by attempting drainage. So too, if the work is to be done by convict labor and the cost, which is, even under favorable circumstances, about 40 cents per day 8 REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. for each convict, is to be charged against the lands, I would say for the most part, let it alone. But if the cost of the convict labor is to be considered as a legitimate expense of government and not charged against the work, it should go on cautiously and at the most favorable points. At all events it seems to me that a force of convicts should be employed in constructing roads through .some of the swamps at the expense of the State. As the law now stands, reclamation is made the first object of the Board. As to any general and extensive work to reclaim the swamps for cultivation, if to be considered merely in the light of a financial transaction, without the use of convict labor, or with the cost of convict labor charged against the work, I think it of doubtful propriety. Perhaps in the progress of our surveys, which I think should be continued, some lands may come in view on which it would be wise to use convict labor, with the primary idea of bringing them directly in cultivation, but their fertil¬ ity and reasonable possibility of drainage should be first well determined. For valuable help in my investigations of this subject I am indebted to Hon. D. W. Bain, State Treasurer. I herewith hand you the report of the Board’s Engineer, Gen. W. G. Lewis, covering operations of surveys and work during the last two years, and some items of information relative to the Board’s oper¬ ations in former years, which will serve to throw further light upon the history of our swamp laud transactions. All of which is respectfully submitted. S. M. FINGER, Secretary of State Board of Education. Goldsboro, N. C., December 1, 188(5. To the Honorable Slate Board of Education, Raleigh, A. C.: Gentlemen: — I have the honor to submit to you the follow¬ ing report of the work I have done since my appointment bv you as Agent and Engineer, under Act of the Legislature of 1885. REPORT OP SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 9 When appointed to a similar position by your predecessors in office, April 15th, 1884, I received the following instructions as to the work, which instructions were continued in force by reso¬ lution of your Board, of date March 19th, 1885: “ 1st. You will survey White Oak, Holly Shelter and Angola Bay Swamps, as claimed by the Board, surveying each tract as a ^vhole, and report to the Board a plat, giving courses and dis¬ tances and number of acres. “2c], If, in surveying the same, you shall find that any por¬ tion of said lands, as claimed by this Board, is also claimed by individuals, you are to ascertain the number of acres so claimed, by an actual survey of the same, and will locate such claims on the plat of each swamp respectively, so as to show their exact location and area on the general plat, and your report shall show the whole number of acres, including such claims, and the num¬ ber after deducting such claims. “3d. In all cases where adverse claims of corporations or of individuals are brought to your notice, you will secure the title deeds or certified copies of the same, and all information bearing on the matter, accessible to you, and return the same with your report to this Board, so that the validity of such titles may be examined. “4th. In your survey you will also take levels, so as to show the practicability of draining the said lauds, and report, in detail, definite information in respect thereto. “5th. You will also classify the lands in said swamps in such manner as you may deem best, in order that your report may show the character and quality of the different sections of the lands, and of the growth thereon. “ 6th. That the engineer employed to survey the swamp lands under the instructions contained in the report made by the com¬ mittee to this meeting, and unanimously adopted, be instructed to collect information as to the lands in Columbus and other counties, their location, &c., and to incorporate the same in the report to be made to this Board.” 10 REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. It was also ordered by your Board, at meeting held March 19th, 1885, “That the convicts employed in the swamps shall be worked in such localities aud on such work as the committee shall direct, the engineer to direct the details of the work; aud it was also ordered that the committee inspect the work whenever they deem it expedient to do so, and report on any and all subjects deemed by them to relate to the interests of the Board in these lands.” I have reported all the work done up to December 26th, 1884. See last biennial report of Hon. J. C. Scarborough, then State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Since that date I respectfully report as follows: ANGOLA BAY. In 1885, ran and located all the boundary lines, aud located all the claims of which we could get information by pateuts or deeds. Ran out and staked off the James-Croom Road, also the proposed road from two miles east of Croom’s Bridge, on James- Croom Road, to the Wilmington and Duplin Road, near Hussey’s Store, called the Chinquepin Road. Ran levels and staked out canal up Gum Swamp, from John Batts’ to the head of the swamp. Completed surveys of all the roads adjacent to the bay. Total number of acres in Angola Bay, 44,738. Of this, 20,050 have reed growth. Gum Swamp has 4,688 acres, which is all No. 1 land. The reed land is No. 2—20,050. The remainder I classify as No. 3 land—20,000 acres, and is mostly open, briery bay. Total number of acres covered by patents and deeds, 8,858. A large number of these patents have been granted since the land was given to the Board of Education bv the State. A map showing the complete topography of this land aud all the field notes of the survey, and the levels taken, are on file in the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The following shows analyses of soil taken from two points on the James-Croom Road: REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 11 The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Analysis No. 3364. Raleigh, July 28, 1885. Sir :—The sample of soil sent to the Station for analysis, in a-, marked No. 1, Croorn Swamp, Angola Bay, taken from south ditch of James-Croom Road, about 1- mile east of Groom’s Bridge, about 18 inches below the surface md just below the roots and vegetable matter indicated, contains : Fine earth, ....... 87.30 percent- Coarse residue, ...... 12.70 “ “ Composed of sand and organic matter with two apparently water worn peb- bles, a chemical analysis showed the fine earth to contain : ;Hygrometric water, ...... 5.607 per cent. Volatile and organic matter, 11.252 ll a Sand, 81.507 ll it Phosphoric acid, .144 ll u Potash, .068 ll ll Lime, .070 1C a Oxide of iron and alumina, 1.431 ll ll Magnesia, .063 u ll Soda, . . .071 ll ll Sulphuric acid, . .000 it ll 100.213 u ll [l. s.] Your obedient servant, (Signed) CHAS. W. DABNEY, Jr., Director The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Analysis No. 3413. Raleigh, February 4, 1886. Sir: —The sample of soil sent to the Station for analysis, marked No. 2, Angola Bay, taken from north ditch of James-Croom road, 560 yards east of one mile post from Groom’s Bridge, 2 feet below surface and just below roots md vegetable matter, contains: Fine earth, ...... 95.27 per cent. ^Coarse residue, ...... 4.73 “ “ A chemical analysis of the fine earth showed it to be composed of: Hvgrometric water, 15.16 per cent. Volatile and organic matter, 18.84 ll It Sand and insoluble matter, 63.37 ll ll Phosphoric acid, .... .08 ll It Oxide of iron and alumina, 1.795 ll ll Lime, ..... .47 ll It Magnesia, .... .077 ll ll Sulphuric acid, .... It It I *Composed almost entirely of rich black organic matter—principally roots. 12 REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. Potash, ....... .07 per cent, Soda,..101 “ “ 99.963 “ “ [l. s.] Your obedient servant, (Signed) CHAS. VV. DABNEY, Jr., Director. Estimates of work done by convicts in Angola Bay in th construction of the James-Croom Road, from Groom’s Bridg to the Wilmington and Duplin Road : Total length of road. 8.88 miles “ “ of canals and ditches. 17.76 “ “ number of cub. yds. of earth moved. 96092.3 “ “ of acres of land cleared on road. 41.7 Number days convicts were on work. 20,795 “ “ “ lost. 4,479 “ “ “ worked. 16,316 Average number of convicts on work. 56.97 Cost of each convict per day. 42.88 cents. Total cost of convicts.$8,917.19 Number of cub. yds. moved each day, one con¬ vict. 4.62 Number of cub. yds. moved each day, one con¬ vict, actually at work. 5.88 Cost per cubic yard. 9.28 cents. A very large proportion of this work was done in watei The canals and ditches were much obstructed by stumps, log and roots. The road is an excellent one, with the exception c about 11 miles not properly completed, and a few wash-outs ii Gum Swamp, caused by the highest freshet ever known in tha section. The road is regularly travelled over with heavy loads and has so far shown no indications of any serious wear, but i would be much better to fully complete the road, which ca be done in a short time and at small expense, while the convict are again in Angola Bay, to complete the Chinquepin Road Their quarters are there, and in good order. These roads are no only of great value to the Board’s lands, but they are of vas benefit to a thickly settled, hard-working-people. These swamps REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 13 Without these roads, are as impassable, or more so, than our most igged mountainous country. The building of these roads is )o expensive for individual or local enterprise, but the State ^funded for cost of their construction by the increased value f its lands and additional taxation, which always follows the irift engendered by public improvements. My estimate of the cost of the Chinquepin Road, from basis f cost of the James-Croom Road, $4,553.94. About mile f this road was partially built before the convict force left Angola Jay to grade the Clinton and Warsaw Railroad. This force ame from the Quaker Bridge Road, Jones and Onslow counties, nd commenced work on the James-Croom Road about January st, 1885, and left Angola Bay, for the C. & W. Railroad, early i December, 1885. They have not worked in Angola Bay ince that time. OPEN LANDS, CARTERET COUNTY. It is estimated that the area of the “Open Grounds” of Car- 3ret covers about 87,000 acres. Of this, 10,537 acres have been urveyed as directed by you, as follows, viz.: “ Resolved, That the Agent and Eugineer, Gen. Lewis, be irected to proceed to Carteret county and survey a portion of he ‘Open Ground Prairie/ not to be less in amount than eight or more than twelve thousand acres, which may be included in , contract with B. L. Perry and others, for the drainage thereof, le will make accurate plot of the said lauds, with plans for the ize, number and character of the canals and ditches necessary or the thorough drainage.” Under these instructions the survey was commenced May 3d, i 885, and completed July 30th, 1885. On the basis of this survey a contract was made by the Board with B. L. Perry, of the county of New Hanover, and J. C. Davis and J. H. Davis, of the county of Carteret, to thoroughly drain all the lands covered by the survey, in consideration of the Board making title to one-half of the land so drained, under ; pecifications and directions of your Agent and Engineer. This 14 .REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. contract was made July 7th, 1885, and the work was to begin on or before October 1st, 1885, and to be fully completed and ended on or before October 1st, 1890. Under this contract Mr. Perry and his associates did a small amount of work on the ditches of the Turnpike before the 1st of October, 1885. Since then they have set out, or planted twenty- five thousand “sets” of cranberry plants. This is the extent of their work as far as I am informed. This land was fully surveyed and the levels run in all direc¬ tions 'hat would indicate the thorough drainage of the land. The canals were laid out and fully staked, and the ditches located on the maps, so that the contracting parties to do the drainage should have no ground for complaints, but could readily prose¬ cute the work. This tract of land is located between the head of North River, South River, Ward’s Creek and State canals and the State Turnpike. SIMMONS’ BAY, COLUMBUS COUNTY. The survey of Simmons’ Bay was commenced October 15th, 1885, and was completed December 20th, 1885. Total area, 9,276 acres. Of this area, 8,276 acres are covered with a good growth of cypress, gum, oak, juniper, Ac., and the soil is No. 1 swamp land, capable of producing ten to fifteen barrels of corn per acre, and well adapted to rice and cotton. One thousand acres of this swamp is covered with briary growth, usually called Savannah, and briary land, and is not of much value. There are 1,170 acres of grants of different dates. There is a growth of juniper timber about J of a mile wide and 7 miles long, lying on the west and south sides of the swamp. This is very valuable, as it is now used very extensively in manufacturing. The levels taken show ample fall to thoroughly drain the swamp, with not very heavy cost. Simmons’ Bay is located about 18 miles from Whiteville depot, on the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad It is REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 15 skirted by the Wacgamaw River on the east and north, which river is navigable for large flat boats to Old Dock, which is oeated above the swamp. High, long straw, piney lands dmost surround it. County roads skirt it on all sides. This swamp has been plundered to some extent. I have made R. A. Hannawacker pay for cypress shingles gotten on the Board’s lands, and a suit is now pending against several other oarties for trespass on same lands. I regard this a valuable swamp, both for timber and agricul¬ tural purposes. Copies of all the field notes of this survey and a map of the swamp are on file in the office of State Superintendent Public [nstruction. SEVEN CREEKS BAY, COLUMBUS COUNTY. This swamp is about an average distance of four miles from Minmons’ Bay and lies to the south and west of it. The survey of this swamp was commenced May 3d, 1886, ind abandoned July 1st, 1886. | The survey was made on representation of citizens living on Seven Creeks, who very much overvalued the Board’s interest loth as to timber and lands. I ascertained from actual surveys, :hat most of the Seven Creeks Bay is covered with patents to such an extent that the Board’s interest w r as not sufficient to I ustify the expenditure of money in making a complete survey; consequently I stopped the survey and proceeded to more im¬ portant work. I would respectfully recommend that all lands of the Board lying in Seven Creeks either be offered for sale or made subject to entry. The Board’s lands there are in detached bodies and pretty well surrounded by grants already issued by the State. This renders the sale of the swamp in a body impracticable. I WHITE AND BROWN MARSHES, COLUMBUS COUNTY. In July, 1886, I made a full and complete reconnoisance of chese swamps, and found the laud covered with patents of vari- I 16 REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. ous dates, except about 600 acres. Concluded not to make a survey at present, but ran a line of levels from Old Dock, on the Waccamaw River, connecting with the level surveys of Simmons’ Bay, up White aud Brown Marshes to the Carolina Central Rail¬ road, with the following results : Elevation of surface water (J a freshet) of Wacca¬ maw River at Old Dock.=91.37 feet. Elevation of surface water at culvert of Wilming¬ ton, Columbia and Augusta Railroad.= 112.63 “ Elevation of surface water on County Road one mile east of Whiteville, in White Marsh.....=114.36 “. Elevation of surface water at the Marsh'Gould, at Hanes High’s held, about 34 miles above County Road crossing .=116.26 “ Elevation of surface water at the Gould, west of J. X. Shipman’s, about 6f miles above Whiteville,=123.91 u Elevation of surface water at Red Hill crossing, Brown Marsh.=125.12 “ Elevation of surface water at Brown Marsh, at crossing of the Carolina Central Railroad.=127.68 “ This shows the surface water in Brown Marsh, at C. C. R. R., to be 36.31 feet above surface water of Waccamaw River, at Old Dock. LAKES IN CRAVEN COUNTY. Iu the winter of 1886, I made personal examination of the lakes in Craven county belonging to the Board, also caused to be ruu a line of levels from tide-water to Slocumb’s Creek, just below Masters’ mill-dam, to the lakes. Elevation of tide-water.=100.00 feet. Elevation of surface water in canal, in front of W. Elom’s, near the mouth of Bear Branch.=118.19 “ Elevation of surface water of Ellis Lake.=132.43 “ “ “ “ “ “ Great Lake.=137.10 “ . “ “ “ “ “ Little “ .=136.70 “ j REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 17 Ellis Lake has been drained, which accounts for its elevation being lower than the elevation of the other lakes. It will be noticed that the elevation of these lakes is abont the same. The small difference is probably caused by wind-tides. Ellis Lake is about 3 miles long by 2J wide. Great Lake is about 3 miles long by 2 miles wide. Long Lake is about 24 miles long by 1J miles wide. Little Lake is about 1 mile long by 1 mile wide. Catfish Lake lies to the northwest of Long Lake, about 4 miles distant, and has abont the same dimensions as Lake Ellis. A portion of Lake Ellis has been planted in cranberry sets, which grew well and bore abundant fruit, until purposely killed by overflow. This lake was once in the possession of W. F. Lewis, Esq., of Edgecombe, but is now the property of the .Board. When he held it he planted the cranberry sets, but since his possession, they have been overflowed and killed. Little Lake was purchased from the Board of Education by W. F. Lewis, and is now his property. All these lakes abound in a great variety of fish, and in win¬ ter are favorite resorts of wild fowl of all descriptions. These lakes lie very near each other and the forests surrounding them are full of bear and deer and other wild animals, and if made conveniently accessible, would furnish rare sport to the large number of sportsmen who annually visit our State. A small convict force could, in a short time with little expense, make the lakes and surrounding country readily accessible to Croatau, a station on the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad. This work, in connection with the proposed construction of the new city on the Neuse river just below New Berne, would add very materi- a y to the passenger and freight receipts of the A. & N. C. R. R., in which the State holds a very large interest. Besides, this would bring these lakes and the adjacent lands which may be the property of the Board, into market at a good price. As they are now, they are worthless. A large proportion of the vis¬ itors to our State for sport and to avoid the rigorous winter cli¬ mate of the North are men of wealth. While here they are 2 18 REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. often attracted bv the fertile soil and equitable climate, and the kind disposition of our people, and consequently often make investments, which are followed by a residence among us. We must not fall behind the industrial progress of our sister States, and to avoid it we must exert ourselves to improve our State lands for market and to disseminate knowledge of the vast unworked resources of North Carolina. SURVEYS AND WORK IN HYDE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES. I commenced surveys of the extensive swamp lauds of the Board in Hyde county August 5th, 188G, and I think it will require another year to complete them. Surveyed Alligator and Puugo canals. Alligator Canal is 5.86 miles long, from Butman’s Creek to Alligator Lake. Using tide-water in Butman’s Creek as 100.00 ft. above datum plane, the elevation of surface water in the canal at Lake=108.61; elevation of surface of Lake water=111.68. Pungo Canal is 6.34 miles long, from Pungo Biver to Puugo Lake. Using surface water in Pungo Biver at the mouth of Pungo Canal as basis=l 00.00 ft.; the elevation of surface water Pungo Lake=l 12.17 ft.; elevation of bottom of canal at Lake= 109.02 ft. Heavy freshet at time levels were taken. We surveyed the county road bordering the State lauds, from Fairfield, Ilvde county, to the head of Pungo Biver, and thence the old Plymouth and Pungo Turnpike to Boanoke Biver, at Plymouth. I had a survey made of a line from head of Bose Bay to near head of Alligator Biver. Course of this line is North 44° East. Its length is 104 miles. The following are the elevations: Stations=100 ft.; sur¬ face water at head of Bose Bay, at medium tide, used as basis = 100 ft.; elevation of surface water at head of Broad Creek, 99.72, at medium tide water. Elevation, Station (< U (( U 52=105.84 105=106.67 158=107.31 REPORT OP SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 19 Elevation, Station 66 u u u u 66 u 66 u 66 a 66 211=108.64 264=110.07 316=109.26 369=109.00 422=107.70 475=105.02 528=103.20 Elevation surface water Alligator River, at mouth of Blount’s Canal=102.66; bottom=98.86. Elevation of surface water of Mattamuskeet Lake=102.61. SOUNDINGS. Station 0, head of Rose Bav=9 feet of mud to blue sand. / J Station 10=3 feet black soil to bl ue sand. 66 20=24 u 66 66 66 32=3 66 66 66 66 40=31 66 66 66 66 50=5 66 66 . “ 66 80=5 66 66 66 66 90=4 66 66 66 66 140=5 66 66 66 66 150=41 66 66 66 66 163=5 66 66 66 66 210=5 66 66 66 66 300=6 66 66 66 66 317=6 66 66 66 66 375=7 66 66 66 66 385=64 66 66 66 66 390=6 66 66 66 66 409=7 66 66 66 66 421=7 66 66 66 66 445=7 66 66 66 66 475=7 66 66 66 66 481=7 66 66 66 66 491=7 66 66 66 66 r- GO CN *0 66 66 66 20 REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. GROWTH. First, 600 feet=is marsh. Second, 500 feet=medium gum swamp. Third, 45 stations=bay and small pine. Fourth, 31 stations=high reeds, bay and pine. Fifth, 16 stations=low reeds, bay and pine. Sixth, 59 stations=bay and small pine. Seventh, 22 stations=medium gum swamp. Eighth, 18 stations=reeds and pine. Ninth, 255 stations=open grounds. Tenth, 27 stations=Bull bay. Eleventh, 76 statious=Bull Bay, briars, reeds, &c., to Al¬ ligator River. Stations=100 feet each. This survey was made with a view to increase the accessibil¬ ity of your lands, and as a sequence, their value, by the con¬ struction of a ship canal across from the head of Rose Bay, or of Broad Creek, to the head of Alligator River. This canal built, the vessels now plying between New Berne and Norfolk, or Edeuton, or Elizabeth City, or from Washington, N. C., to same points, would have 70 miles less distance to traverse than they now have. Thev would also have absolutely inland navigation, free from exposure to storms, which are at times very severe and dangerous in Pamlico Sound, which is protected from the ocean only by low ridges of sand hills. I also had in view the inter¬ est of the people in that isolated section. The construction of this canal will almost complete the inland navigation of the North Carolina coast. Convict labor can do all the work necessary except the dredg¬ ing. This is proposed to be done bv appropriations from the United States government. This can be justly requested on the grounds of inter-state commerce, and the greater protection of our seaboard in case of war with foreign powers. This survey was made from head of Rose Bay, but the line from head of Broad Creek would show the same elevations, soundings, growth, &c., and is only one-eighth of a mile longer. There are many reasons why the canal should be built from REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 21 head of Broad Creek. It is better protected from the influence of tides, and has less mud and sand to contend against. The country is well settled along Broad Creek, whereas Rose Bay has a wide expanse of mud flats uninhabited, and the entrance of the canal to Rose Bay would be continually subject to filling up by action of the tides. However, this matter needs a more thorough survey for proper settlement. ALLIGATOR CANAL, HYDE COUNTY. The General Assembly of 1885 passed an act requiring the State Board of Education to clean out Alligator Canal, from its mouth, at Rutman’s Creek, to its head, at Alligator Lake. The act required not less than 50 convicts to be used on that work. In compliance with this act I was directed by you to do this work as required by said act. Under your directions I com¬ menced the work on May 18th, 1886, and completed it October 13th, 1886. I found this canal almost filled up, and obstructed by logs, trees and drifted soil. Islands had been formed in it almost its entire length, and there was very little waterway for the discharge of the waters of the lake. The banks on either side were grown up with large forest trees, tangled vines, Ac. The canal, to about one mile of its head, had been cut out only eighteen feet wide and about eighteen inches deep, and was full of stumps, logs, roots, Ac. The original fall contemplated had been carried only about half way up the canal. I had all the trees, bushes, vines, Ac., cut off clear 70 feet on either side, measuring from the banks. I had the canal thor¬ oughly cleaned out by removing all obstructions of whatever kind, and carried the original fall of 4J feet into the lake, by which the water in the lake will, in my opinion, be reduced three' feet. It had fallen 15 inches five weeks after the canal was finished. The area of the lake is great, consequently the reduc¬ tion of the depth of the water by a 30 feet canal must be slow. Capt. C. J. Rhem, supervisor of the convict force, did his work well, and made as good progress as could be expected under the circumstances. A large portion of the time there was an 22 REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. extraordinary fall of water, more than had ever been known by the oldest inhabitant. The reduction of the water in this lake will relieve about thirty farmers settled immediately on the lake and a large and thrifty population at and near Fairfield, who have been seriously injured in their farming operations for many years, by the over¬ flow from this lake. All the people in that section express entire satisfaction at the manner in which the work was done, and believe the object has been fully accomplished. There were 10,135 days expended by the convict force, at a total cost of $6,162.10. This includes all expenses of transpor¬ tation, clothes, rations, tools, guard, &c. The lands of the Board in that section have been made a great deal more valuable by this work, and continual propositions to purchase are made since this work was completed. The lands on either side of Alligator canal are well adapted to stock rais¬ ing, and their capacity seems unlimited for that purpose. The soil is also very good for agricultural purposes. PLYMOUTH AND PUNGO TURNPIKE, WASHINGTON COUNTY. This road was built by the State. The first work was done on it in 1831. Again it was worked on in 1840, and again in 1855. The road-bed was made only 14 feet wide and turnouts were made at every change of direction, and posts put up to be climbed for purpose of observing whether any vehicle was meet¬ ing you. The road was badly constructed and never properly completed, and was soon abandoned. I am now building a road, using the old one as a basis, 24 feet wide from ditch to ditch, and raising it about 18 inches above the natural level of the swamp. The general course is N. 38° W. Length, 8.27 miles, from Pungo River to the Long Acre Road, at a point 5 miles from Plymouth. With the exception of about 1J miles, this road passes through one of the very richest and most val¬ uable bodies of swamp land in this State. It is well timbered, rich soil, and an excellent range for cattle. BEPOBT OF SECEETAEY OF BOA ED OF EDUCATION. 23 The difference in elevation between surface water in Pungo River at end of the Turnpike, and the end of same at Long Acre Road=16.97 feet. The rise for first 4 miles from Pungo River=9.43 feet. This road shortens the distance between two thickly settled communities by more than half and gives the people a much better line of communication both for travel and shipping the products of the country. It makes a much needed outlet for a considerable portion of Beaufort county and the whole of Hyde county, opening up Ply¬ mouth as a more convenient shipping point than they have here¬ tofore had. Steamers from Plymouth connect daily, each way, at Eaenton, with the Norfolk Southern Railroad, and tri-weekly with Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad up the Blackwater river. Other steamers ply direct between Plymouth and Norfolk and Baltimore regularly. This road, opening up this section of country, will add very much to the value of your vast tract of swamp land in Hyde county, as well as some in Washington county. Cattle-raising, to be profitable, must be aided by a convenient market. As it now is, beef cattle from that section cannot be put on the Northern markets until after being driven 60 to 80 miles. This road will afford an outlet by which the drive will be only from 13 to 40 miles. STATEMENT OF WOEK DONE BY THE STATE ON SWAMP LANDS. At the request of your honorable Board, I have collected the following information as to all the work ever done by the State on the swamp lands of Eastern North Carolina, which I most respectfully submit: Alligator Canal, Hyde county—length, 5.86 miles; width, 32 feet at bottom; average depth, 7 feet; fall, 10 feet. This canal was almost entirely tilled up, and has been cleaned out this year, at a cost of $6,162.10. Pungo Canal, Hyde county—length, 6.34 miles; width, 22 feet at bottom; average depth, 6 feet; fall, 12J feet. This canal has been kept open by lumbermen rafting timber down it. 24 ' REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. The tributaries to these cauals aggregate 204 miles iu length; width, 8 feet; depth, 4 feet. Pungo State Road—length 2J miles from head of Puugo Canal around the border to west end of Pungo Lake. These cauals, tributaries and road were constructed about 1840. Canal and tributaries—Open Lauds, Carteret county—Ward’s Canal—leugth, 3 miles; width, 6 feet; depth 4 feet. Lower tributary—leugth, 1 mile; width, 4 feet; depth, 4 feet. Quaker Bridge Road, Onslow and Jones couuties—leugth, 20 miles; average width, about 20 feet; ditches on both sides. Width, average, 6 feet; depth, 4 feet. Richland Branch of Quaker Bridge Road, Onslow county— length, 3 miles; width, 18 feet ; ditches on both sides. Width, 3 feet; depth, 2 feet. Wier Lauding, branch of Quaker Bridge Road, Onslow county—length, 5 miles; width, 16 feet; ditches ou both sides. Width, 4 feet; depth, 3 feet. Core Creek and Trenton Turnpike, Jones county—length, 8J miles; ditches on both sides. Width, 4 feet; depth, 3 feet. James-Croom Road, through Angola Bay, Pender county— length, 8.9 miles; road-bed, 22 feet wide; ditches ou both sides. Number of cubic yards moved from ditches and put iu road-bed, 96,092.3. The work on the Quaker Bridge Road and its branches, and the Core Creek and Trenton Turnpike was mostly done iu 1883 and 1884, bv convict labor. The work on James-Croom Road was done during 1885, by convicts. LANDS OF THE BOARD NOT SURVEYED. Carteret county, open lands, 87,000 acres, approximated. Craven “ 15,000 “ “ Bladen and Sampson couuties, 12,000 “ “ Dare county, 80,000 “ “ Jones “ 15,000 “ “ U U Total, 209,000 REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 25 LANDS OF THE BOARD PARTIALLY SURVEYED. Pender and Onslow counties (Holly Shelter), 110,000 acres, approximated Hyde and Washington “ 300,000 U a Total, Onslow and Jones counties 410,000 (6 u (White Oak), 84,000 a u This swamp has been surveyed, but not as per such instruc¬ tions as I am now surveying the swamps. It requires very much time to get in the patents and deeds, and in finding a corner to connect our lines with. The claim¬ ants very often know nothing of the corners of their lands; and it frequently happens that some old inhabitant, living some dis¬ tance away, has to be sent for to indicate the corner desired. Frequently these claimants are from home when we call, and consequently, several visits are necessary before we can accom¬ plish our purpose. Although much time is required to survey these lands as instructed by you, it is the only intelligent way it can be done. I think it will be of vast advantage to the lands of the Board to have them surveyed, as per your directions. All should be surveyed, and maps made, that they may be in shape for sale. When that is done you can decide with more intelli¬ gence when to sell, and you will find purchasers more readily. Land buyers always want maps and surveys before purchasing. MISCELLANEOUS. The question of thorough drainage of your swamp lands for reclamation for agricultural purposes involves the question of the expenditure of a large amount of money, and the further question, whether such expenditure would result in a sufficient additional market value of these lands as to reimburse the Board for such expenditure. Your swamp lands cover a vast area located in many counties of the East, and in tracts considerable distances apart. On them 26 REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. is a great diversity of timber and soil. The levels so far taken show that they are all capable of drainage; but there is a consid¬ erable difference as to the cost of drainage of the several swamps. Some can be drained and reclaimed by you in such mauner that would, in the sale of the lands, reimburse you. Others have not this advantage, and great care should be taken in deciding which to drain. The expenditure of drainage, for agricultural pur¬ poses only, of the swamps of large area, I would not recommend to be made at present. There are many of these swamps whose value can be materially increased by the construction of good l oads through them in such localities as would render them acces¬ sible to parties desiring to purchase. These roads should be so located as to afford the greatest good to the inhabitants of the section of country in which they are built. The main trunk lines of the Western North Carolina Rail¬ road and the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad and the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad are now almost completed. These railroads will be of almost incalculable value to the peo¬ ple of the sections through which they are located, and of great benefit to the State as a whole. The completion of these rail¬ roads will return to the Penitentiary at Raleigh a large number of convicts. Five hundred or more of these convicts can be most profitably employed on canals, roads and railroads in the eastern section in such a manner as to be of value to your lauds, a great convenience and help to the people and a great benefit to the State at large. The health reports of the convicts show that they can work in the eastern swamps all the year without detriment to their health; that they are at least as well off in the swamps as elsewhere. I would respectfully recommend that some action be taken by your honorable Board to have more stringent laws enacted by our General Assembly, soon to convene, as to obstructing the canals and ditches on the Board’s lands, especially Alligator Canal, which has recently been thoroughly cleaned out. Also that such laws as will prevent the further depredations and trespasses on your lands be enacted. REPORT OF SECRETARY OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 27 Hoping this report will be satisfactory to your honorable Board, I am, very truly, your obedient servant, W. G. LEWIS, Agent and Engineer. RESOLUTIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDU- CATON, ADOPTED DECEMBER 17th, 1886: Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board, the true policy of the State in reference to the swamp lauds, to be effected by appropriate legislation, is 1st. To forbid the sale of any body of such lands, until the same shall have been acuerately surveyed. 2d. To ascertain and mark the boundaries of said lands, so that there may be no difficulty in ascertaining, hereafter, whether a given piece of land be subject to entry or not. ■ 3d. To suspend efforts to drain or reclaim these lands, except by the construction of such roads through them, by the aid of convict labor, as may be deemed necessary to make them accessi¬ ble, and develop their resources. 4th. To make such roads with convict labor only, and only when the counties through which they run will undertake to make them public roads, and keep them up as such. 5th. To make such roads, under above limitations, with liberal hand. The above is a true copy. S. M. FINGER, Secretary Board of Education. [L. 8.] Jas. D. McNeill, President. Date Due .ATO'W JUN 1 0 ’44 m 7 f PftP2«^ Form 335—25M—7-35—B-M.Co. CALL NUMBER Vol. ) 975.61 v. 1-22 _ 1 N873 Date (for periodical) _1 - m*. _ _ 1 V.l 5 .ol UB73 ? 13 P- 9-90 27015 J