The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-12-17

than that assigned pToYerDlaliy 70 colAoeuee
by human uwisdom; for accumulation ls'at,
tanned wholly by the patient labor and careful
economy Of generations; and paralysis or the
South means stagnation at the North.N-AugaS- gus
-, ''D' 49," ~ esi;;, = fav a"r' -" n
:" Improvement of the Savannah River. !, =,
Some time since Mayor Estes conceived the
idea ofimproving the navigation, of the Savan-
nah river so as to permit steamboats, to ascend
the stream from this city to Andersonvllle,
SOUTH: Carolina Last August the matter was
brought to the attention of the City Council,
and that body passed resolution authorizing
a preliminary survey of the riverby an engin-
eer, for the purpose of ascertaining the practi-
cability and the approximate cost of the con-
templated improvement. Dir. W. W. Thomas,
a skillful and experienced civil engineer, was
employed under this resolution tor make the
survey. Mr.. Thomas finished his labors and
submitted a report of their results to the City
Council some two weeks ago. Mayor Estes re-
ferred to this report in his inaugural address
last Thursday, and gave some intimation of its
character, but the reading of the document was
postponed until the regular meeting of the City
Council next Monday. We presume that in
view of the importance of this matter and the
interest felt in it by the people, Council will
orderits publication n, e1tenso. In the mean
time, as the nature of the report has already
been alluded to, it may not be amiss to give
brief synopsis ofits contents. '' -: ,-'
Mr. Thomas reports that in order to obtain
q complete view of the existing distractions
to navigation and to become acquainted with
the present system of fnavigation and its wants,
a a"Petersburg boat" was employed from this
city to "Craft's Ferry" in Hart county. At
this point the volume of water was so small and
theiobstructons in the stream so great and so
numerous that the remaining distance had to
be traversed in a batteau. From Augusta to
Petersburg the engineer expresses the opinion
that steamboat navigation would prove difficult.
Within a space of about fourteen miles seven
dams. would have to be constructed with locks
varying in Gift" from four to nine feet. Be-
sides these, between the points mentioned ca
nal of about FIVE and half miles in length and
having four locks would have to be cut for the
purpose ofavoiding the dangerous shoals known
as "Ring Jaw":s-now the terror of bOatmen.
Above Petersburg the difficulties to be sur
mounted are still more formidable. The shoals
follow each other in rapid succession and there
is very little smooth or deep water. The fall is
great and but few boats of any character are
able to navigate this portion of the stream.
The river has fall of nearly four feet per mile
all the way from Petersburg to Andersonvile,
or total fall of one hundred and eighty-tive
feet in fifty-one miles. Between these points
Mr. Thomas encountered nineteen namedledges
and shoals, varying in length from one-quarter
of mile to seventeen miles. Besides these, in
Vulnerable obstacles for which there are no
names present themselves "at every turn OF the
river" Of the 81 miles "not less than 80 are
shoals of the most dangerous character and un-
less under charge of an experienced pilot,
would not be safe to travel in life-boat" The
improvement of this portion of the Savannah
for steamboat navigation would cost not less
than two millions of dollars-a cost which at
once eXterminates any scheme ofimprovement
by city government From the canal locks to Pc
tersburg Mr. Thomas thinks the river can be
made navigable for small steamboats, at an ap-
proximate cost of half q milion-including ca
nal, dams, locks, dredging and excavations.
But even this improvement Mr.. Thomas does
not recommend for reasons which appear to US
sound and convincing. The great fall of the
river-at one shoal being 81 feet in 81 miles
and reaching 255 feet in ll5 miles is the prin-
cipal obstacle. Without dams and locks the
shoals could be changed but not removed. A
channel cut through the shoals would prove
impossible on account of the velocity of the
current, and shoal, perhaps one of more for
midable character, would appear higher up the
river. The shoals can only, be successfully
avoided by. means of dams aud locks-what is
known in engineering as SLACK water nayiga;
tion." This system would prove costly, slow,
tedious and uncertain. 1t would be liable to
SERIOUS damage and numerous accidents" by
reason of the liability of the river to sudden
rises and frcshets nccessitating frequent and
costly repairs. Mr.. Thomas, therefore, reports
as the result of his survey of the Savannah riv-
er: ~ That its opening for steam navigation
above Petersburg is impracticabe at any rea-
sonable cost; ~ between Augusta and Peters.
burg it can be made navigabe for steamers of
$50 or 200 tons capacity at cost of $500, 900,
but that this Improvement on account of the
uncertainty of it's results and the proportionate-
ly small benefits to be derived, is not advisable.
The report closes with a brief but interesting
sketch of the system of navigation now and for
many years past in operation on the Upper Sa-
vannah by means of Petersburg boats, and a
recommendation of its improvement and extern
son by the city government OF Augusta. MIR.
Thomas says that to accomplish this it would
cnly be necessary "to make the navigation of
GOATS of double the capacity of those now in
use both easy and safe by the removal of such
al part of the shoals rs would give q straight,
unobstructed 'sluce' for loaded boats coming
down stream, and another more shallow chan
mel, with less momentum of water, for passage
up stream" This he thinks could be done at
an expenditure of 100000 for the entire dis
tance from Augusta to Andersonvile, or $780,
900 from Augusta to Thompson's Factory on
Broad river and to "rrotter's Shoals" point
on the Savannah five miles above Petersburg.
Such improvements would give a safe passage
all the year round to boats capable of carrying
one hundred bales of cotton. ...
Mr.. Thomas report is ably and carefully
written, and is most Interesting paper, and
no one can doubt the candor and sincerity of
the writer. The great trouble experienced in
ting of trustworthy survey and report. Many
engineers make their figures and conclusions
conform to what they think the views or
wishes of those by whom they are employed,
while others are tempted to make incorrect