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THE ROTARY CLUB OF WILMINGTON, N.C.

Wilmington, N.C.
Feb 9th 1918

Governor Thomas W Bickett-
Raleigh N C

Dear Governor Bickett-

Yours of recent date received. Chairman Hurley will hardly come until the latter part of next week, or probably the first of the succeeding one. We will telegraph you as soon as the exact date is decided, so that you may arrange your plans accordingly.

If you would be so kind our Rotary Club would much appreciate if you will write letters to Chairman Hurley, and Secretary McAdoo, inviting them to Wilmington on behalf of the State. While Mr Hurley has already agreed to come, we feel that your invitation will lend great weight with him, as well as with Mr McAdoo. The latter has promised, if within his power to pay a visit to the South Carolina legislature during the present session. We then invited Mr McAdoo to inspect Wilmington’s port advantages, on the same trip. He has stated that he will do so if possible. A letter from “Our Governor” to Mr McAdoo, we know will incline him, all the more, to accept our invitation. Therefore, if you will comply with these requests, we will be deeply grateful.

As you are aware we are making a sincere and determined effort to have Wilmington, the only North Carolina deep water port, recognized and used by the Government. More than a million dollars has been expended by the Government in deepening the Cape Fear river, and we feel as an economic proposition, that the Government should make use our State’s chief waterway. South Carolina to the south of us, and Virginia on the North, have gotten millions upon millions of government money expended there, with no more to offer than our State has in the port of Wilmington. In consideration of these facts we are trying to make the governmental authorities inspect and make use of this port, in the confident believe that the entire State, will benefit. We know that your opinion is the same, and every business man in Wilmington, is deeply appreciative of what you have already done.

Very truly yours,

ROTARY CLUB OF WILMINGTON

Louis T. Moore
SECRETARY