The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-10-06
OPENING UP THE SAVANNAH.
Letter From Hon. Alexander II. Ste.
nhenS.

A gentlemen recently received the following letter
from Mr.. stephensin response to one written hun on
tie subject:
Sept II, 1850.
MY DEAR SIR: Your esteemed letter of 3lst Au.
ghst was received yesterday, l have not a copy Of the
Gil containing the appropriation referred to. 1t is n
single item In the general river and harbOr bill, which
covers over 100 pagesa as printed BY tho House, and will
appear In the acts OF the last Congress when rhcy
come from the press. This volume may not appear for
n month to cmne. The item, however. In 1t covering
the appropriation referred to is In about these words
"F6r the Improvement OF the navigation of the Sa.
vannah river above Augusta, the sum Of twenty thou
sand dollars"
This is the amount to he expended during tho fiscal
year beginning July /, 1880, and ending June 80, 1881.
Like oil other appropriations In the same bill, which
arpreca' to between eight and ten million dollars the
moneS Is to he under the direction of the chief engI-
neer Of the United States. lie, In this as In oil other
cases, will appoint some subordinate officer to super
wise the work.
prove, but It will he impossible to get such an net pass.
ed by Congress. Federal RpI ropriAtions for improve.
mcnts in rivers and harbors are always expended un.
der the direction and control Of federal officers, and IN
fcers. In this case l had m act passed ordering a sur.
yey to be made, with estimates tor improving the Sa.
vannah river above Augusta up the mouth OF Tugalon
river. The survey was made By. Lieut.. Carson, I
think his name is, two years $40. He made a favorn-
bic report. The aggregate l now think. WINS about
$3.50. 600 to complete the work RS he thought the pub.
lie interest re9Hhca. Forty or fifty thousand he rec
commended Il think this was the sunny to be used m.
uuully. I made every exertion in my power to have
his Recommendation, Whatever 1t was, carried nut, tu,
conld not get the appropriation the first year lur a lar
cor sum than $40, 900. This WINS about the same ratio
granted to estimates made by engineers on other rlv-
ers.
I snppose on officer will DO detailed to take charge
OF this work within q month at least. huve not ns
vet heard from the engineer in chief. There are 40
many works Of this sort provided for in the bill 1t will
require some time for him to organize bis numerous
corps
/ supposo also the work will begin at Augusta and
proceed upwards. / mn not certain Of this however.
The engineer may upon arrival and examining the re-.
bort of Lieut.: Carson come to the conclusion that $40 =
900 may be more usefully expended upon some points
or shoals above Augusta. AS soon as | know who the
officer is will give him q letter to you and other well
informed Practical men along tho line who can lot him
know where the chief difficulties and distractions lie,
and to consult with him as to how the money can be
most usefuIly expended according to the purpose Of
Congress.
wish lind a copy Of Lieut.. Carson's report on the
whole Improvement had m abstract OF II published
In the Augusta papers two years ago. Perhaps yon
cav 1t and preserved It. l want you to Sec tho entire
report, and II / live to get to Washington l Will en-
deavor to get q copy and send you.
Yours truly.