Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-09-22
Fish in Savannah River.
MINORITY REPORT TO THE GEORGIA SEN
ATE by THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED
TO INSPECT THE DAM AT AU.
QUSTA.
ATLANTA, September 6


Mr.. Matthews, Chairman of the Com.
mittee to vlsit Augusta, and report on the
question Of tho obstruction Of the Savau.
nah River, submitted the following report
in the house Thursday afternoon.
MIR. SpEAKER--The committee to whom
was referred Il resolution 'to take into
consideration tho terms of the treaty or
articles Of the convention Of Beaufort as
to the line between Georgia and South Car
olina, and especially as touching the ques
ton of distractions in the rivers forming said
boundary line; aud, also,, what acts have
been passed by tho Legislature of
Georgia, il any, authorizing or permitting
said rivers to be damned up or OBJ
structcd, and to inquire what distractions
or dams have been placed across said rivers,
at what places and the character of such
obstructons, and their effect upon the
navigation and FREQ passage of fish, aud to
report what action should DO taken to in
gia with tho terms of said treaty, report.
Your committee 6nd that on December
27, 1S45, an act was passed by the Legis-
lature incorporating the proprietors of the
Augusta canal, which act authorized the
construction of dam in the Savannah
river above tho city of Augusta, but the
llth section of eaid act expressly provided
that sald Canal Company should not be
allowed by any extension of said dam,
or any other work. to obstruct the naviga-
ton Of said river, or the free passage Of
fish.
BY on act approved December 10, 1849,
the Board of Managers of the Augusta
Canal Company we're authorized to transfer
all its property, rights and franchises to the
City Council Of Augusta BY an act ap.
proved December IL, 1861, said city Of
Augusta was authorized to enlarge and
deepen said canal, and your committee find
no other legislation upon the subject which
they deem material.
Your committee, on tho Gath day of
August, 1881, visited Augusta, Ga, for
the purpose of examining the dam across
the Savannah river at point about seven
miles above tho city. They found that a
dam extonds entirely across the Savannah
river at thut point said dam extending from
the head Of said canal, obliquely up and
across said stream, distance of 1902
feet thence almost at right angles with
tho general ohuDnel Of tho river, dis
tanoe of 720 feet to the South Carolina
bank
The oblique dam of most massive pro-
portions, immense strength and about 10
feet high without any break or opening in
it whatever, in the other part, to wit: The
620 feet part, which is built in like
substantial manner, thero are four openings,
three of thom about 20 feet each and the
other IL feet. The consequence is that
this dau 80 obstructs tho entire channel of
said river as to dam up so that the su,facc
of tho wster above the dam is about four
feet higher than below, and thus all of
suid Savannah river, except what is
turned by said dam into the canal, is forced
through said openings in said dam. Hence
The velocity and momentum of the streams
which p,ss through said openings are SO
great that they totally prevent, not only
the navigation Of said stream, but rendor
it impossible for any fish to pass up said
streams, through said openings, and thus,
in the opinion of your committee, both the
navigation Of the said stream and tho pas
sage of fish up the same are etfeotually,
totally and entiraly obstruoted and pre-.
vented by said dam, 10 open and direct
violation Of tho treaty between tho State of
South Carolina and Georgia, held at Beau