The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-01-16
Navigation of the Savannah River

We noticed an article in the Surannal
Morning NeuS Of q recent date, on the aoovt
subject. In that article 1t is urged that II tle
government ut Washington would make ar
appropriation suttici ent, such an engineer at
Col. Frobcl could not only greatly Improve
the navigation of the river from augusta te
light draft steamboats, for one hundred and
fifty miles above Augusta.
1t seems u great pity that such q fine stream
as this should pass through a long sLEetca "
the finest country ON earth, and when Is cut
Off from the outside world for want OF an OUT
let and means Of transportation alld reuiatit
entirely useless asa means OF shipping r Inc e
produce of that country ito market. rms
FLYER has ample capacity for floating steam
boats OF considerable draft, for many inlleS
above Augusta, but 1t Is not open 10 sleiul-
boats of any draft on account Of a lew miles
OF shoals. This river, 1t is said, has 6eeh sur
veyed by competent engineers who pro
mounce the making u passage lot ste'iiloohts
through these shoals MS altogether peyoLu
the skill OF modern engineering, unaess i.
enormous cost. 1t really, seems prcposterons
in us, who.know not only nothing about en-
cheering, but know nothing about THIS river
to express n contrary opinion. All that we
! will say, therefore. Is. maj II tnls rlvtr wa
located in Massachusetts or New York IT
would nave been for many years naFlSated
it's entire length. ~
The valley Of the Savannah river is a most
ing with wealth but it is cut of from the out
side world with no outlet to market. ms
river is the natural outlet for oil this vast re-
gion, and 1t Is closed. 1884,. at.
valley are trying to build II railway up inc
banks of this stream, lcavinG the nhtuIai
highway for an artificial one. .Wouid noil Tess
money open a channel through the shoais LOT
steamboats,? or would not a portion of this
money together with an appropriatlon 4y
Congress-, which our members ought 10 DeHpie
to obtain now,b be sufficient to open II: II az
cannot be obtained Mt once, why canno ~
,,,rh In on,,rnbrinfat from ynnr 10 wear 10
meet ali requirements as the work progresses
till it be completed?
we propose that, instead Of attempting to
go through the Shoals. weg0 around thcnl, M
Stead of cutting a channel through them, to
cut d canal around each and every shoal tnn.
presented insuperable obstacles. 1t does seem
that a canal could be du? on one Sldc OF tne
stream, from some point above each shoai 10
q point below, large enough to float 2 llght
draft steamboat. Our people have looked al
most, ii not entirely, to the RAPID trahspoIta'
ton by railways and have neglected inc SLOW.
er bat safer and cheaper route. a lew lhlies
of canal would certainly cost less than q rail-
way from Augusta, to Knoxville. .,,
But If the canals are not practlcapie, sun
we do not think it necessary to give up the
river altogether as q highway for carrying
passengers and produce, but are of the oplli-
ion that those long stretches which are now
navigable without costing a dollar shouid ne
made use of. If u ratlWa cannot De con-
structcd, on account Of the difficulty OF pro-
curing Il sufficient amount of money rom our
IMPOVERISHED people, why not build q rail-
way up the river from Augusta TO a point
above the shoals, then put STEAMBOATS, and
barges on the river and make use OF IT to al
point where 1t can be navigated no higher?
Suppose one hundred miles of the river can
thus be used, this would save n vast deal OF
money by rendering the construction OF q
railway for this distance unnecessary. we
hope That the navigation Of the savannah
above Augusta will not yet be given up
Washington Gazette.