The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-03-05
Improvement of the Savannah River


Recent able and interesting articles appear
ing in the Augusta Constitutionalist have re-
vived many recollections in connection with
the Savannah River Anterior to A. D. 1877,
the little State of South Carolina claimed ter
ritorial rights to the Altamaha river, and actu-
ally issued grants for many tracts of land
extending far beyond the Savannah River.
Upon this, Georgia petitioned the King of
Great Britain to put stop to these alleged
encroachments, which resulted in the conven-
tion between these two States, held at Beaufort
on the 2Sth of April, 1857, which fixed the
Savannah River as the true boundary. In
1871, a great furor prevailed among the people
of South Carolina for the Improvement of
navigation of the various streams, and, among
others, commissioners were appointed to open
and improve Keowee, Tugalo and Savannah
rivers as far south as Augusta. Again, in 1895,
commissioners were appointed to clear out and
remove distractions between Vienna and Au-
gusta, and empowered to draw one or more
lotteries for that purpose, provided they do not
raise more than s1200 net. The present grand
improvements were doubtless the fruits of this
early enterprise of our forefathers, and afforded
some little advantages to many persons on
both banks of the river. "f.
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 Little Tennessee rivers, at
Rabun Gap, for the purposes of commerce,
and we believe, until railroads were becoming
common in the country, still entertained some
hope of seeing this work undertaken and COM
pleted We remember as late as 1855, he
summoned many of the old and experienced
pilots on the river to meet him at the junction
of Seneca and Tugalo, and spent some days in
collecting information as to the height and
length of the various falls and rapids, and the
probable labor and expense it would require to
open channel for light-draught steamers
From this time, it is believed, he abandoned all
idea of improving the river, and devoted him
self to advising and urging the construction Of
the Greenville & Columbia and Blue Ridge
Railroads
After this long lapse of time, however, WE
still find persons and papers advocating ane
urging the old project-the latest being the
following resolution adopted by the Georgis
Legislature but few days ago:
Mr.. Walsh introduced resolution which
was agreed to asking Congress to investigate
the expediency of slack water navigation or
the Savannah river from Augusta to the heat
waters of Tennessee as of national Importance
to the development of commerce in Georgia
South and North Carolina and Tennessee
asking an appropriation for the survey to b.
made under United States Coast Survey, ur
ging the Representatives and Senators of State
above named to use their influence to secur'
the appropriation, and requesting the Governo
to transmit a copy of the resolutions to Presi
dent Grant, the Speaker of the House ant
President of the Senate.
Of surety, the rich and fertile valley of tn
Savannah both needs and deserves quicker ant
cheaper transportation. Whether it can b.
accomplished by water or rail we leave to thos
who are to furnish the labor and money to de
eide. ID.