Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-03-12
Improvement ofthe Savannah Riyer

Improvement ofths Savannah River.
Recent able and interesting articles
Appearing in tile Augusta Constitutions
list have revived many recolections in
connection with the Savannah River.
Anterior to A. ID. 1887, the little State Of
South Carolina claimed territorial rights
to the Altamaha river, and actually is.
sued grants for many tracts of land ex.
tending far beyond the Savannah River.
Upon this, Georgia petitioncd the King
of Great Britain to put a stop to these
alleged encroachments, which resultedin
the convention betaccn these two states,
held at Beaufort on the 2Sth of April.
1857, which fixed the Savannah River
rs the true boundry. In 1871, "a great
furor prevailed among the pecple of
South Carolina for the Improvement of
navergation of the various streams, and
among others, commissioners were ap.
pointed to open and improve Keowee,
Tulalo and Savannah rivers as far south
as Augusta. Again, in 1875, commissions
ers were appointed to clear out aud re-
move obstructions between Vienna and
Augusta, and empowered to draw one or
more lotteries for that purpose, provided
they do not raise more than 9120O net.
The present grand improvements were
doubtless the. fruits of this early enter
prise of our forefathers, and afforded
some little advantages to many persons
on both banks of the river.
When Mr.. Calhoun was Secretary of
War he made report, recommending
the Government of the United States to
connect the waters of the Savannah and
ldttlc Tennessee rivers, at Rabnn Gap,
for the purposes of commerce, and we be-
lieve, until railroads were becoming com.
mon i'll the country, still entertained
some hope of seeing this work undertaken
and completed. We remember, MS late
as 1896, lie summoned many of the old
and experienced pilots on the river to
meet lin ut the junction of Seneca and
rugalo, and spent some laysi in collecting
information as to the hight and length
of the various falls and rapids, and the
probable labor and expense it would re-
qnire to open channel for lght.tlraught
steamers. From this time, it is believed
he abandoned all idea Of improving the.
river, and devoted himself 10 advising and
urging the construction otthe Grccnville
d Columbia and Blue Ridge Railroads.
After this long lapse Of time, however,
we still find persons and papers advosa-
ting and urging the old project-the
latest being the following resolution
adopted by by the Georgia Legislature
but IL few dnys ago:
Mr.. Walsh introduced resolution
which WIS ngccd 10 asking Congress to
Investigate the cxpedicncy o. slack water
navigation on the Savannah river from
Augusta to Tie head waters of Tennessee
aS OF national importance to the develop.
mcnt of commerce in Georgia, South and
North Carolina and Tennessee; asking
an appropriation for the suvcy to be
made under United States Coast Survey,
Urging the Representatives and Senators
OF States above named to use their ini!u-
ence to secure the appropriation, and
requesting the G., vernon to transmit Il
q copy Of the resolutions to President
Grant, the Speaker Of the House and
President OF tile Senate.
Ola surety, the rich and fertile valley
OF the Savannah both needs and deserves
quicker and cheaper transportation.
Whether it can be accomplished by water
or rail we leave to those who are to furn-
ish the labor and money to decide. III.
| A Lock OF HAIE.-Nlajor John T..
Osborn of this place has in his posses
| sion n lock of cold ITickory's" hair cl;n