Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-18

TYBEE KNOLL AND ST. MTcHAEL's CHANNEL.
At this part of the outer channel the
steamer Henry Burden was employed for
several weeks during the winter In deepen
ing the water Considerable improvement
was made, some OF which remains, while
portions have shoaled up, and give some
trouble TO passing vesselssof large draught
Along the northern edge Of this channel,
across 8 portion of Catalogue Sound, in my
Judgment, jetty or training wall of timber
and stone should be placed, and it should
be undertaken with as little delay as posi-
BILE. On the accompanying sketch of the
river have shown its location.
THE REMOVAL OF THE DRY DOCK oBsTRUC-
TIoN IN ST. AUGUSTINE CREEK.
The old dry dock that was sunk during
the late civil war-at the confluence of
ThuHderbolt river with st. Augustine creek
has been removed under a contract with
Mr. John g. Smith, of Charleston, s. G.,
who completed the work early in Septem-
Der. Everything was removed to a low water
depth OF ten feet. No obstruction above that
depth now exists, though for short time
after the removal of the blown up frag-
ments Of this wreck, some live oak tree
tops, said to have been sunk alongside,
seemed to offer some obstacles to passing
vessels. They have since disappeared, and
no complaint has been received from per-
sons navigating these waters.
DREDGING.
The dredging by the United States suction
dredge Henry Burden at the wrecks chan
mel was IL 019 cubic yards. At the obstruc-
lions 1926 cubic yards a. the upper
and lower fl its 10, $50 cubic yards, and al
Tybee Knoll 23,77l cubic yards. Total
SO, 416 cubic yards. Work was suspended
on January %, 1881, and the dredge sent to
Charleston.
Under a contract with the American
Dredging Company 203 ,668 cubic yards of
material have been removed from the Sa-
vannah river and harbor, in addition to 5, 1876
cubic yards of q previous contract. This
gives total amount of material removed
during the fiscal year, by dredging, Of 1885,
go cubic yards.
WIDENING THE HARBoR.
The amount of land damages on Hutchin-
sons Island has not yet been determined,
but it has been reduced to the actual cost of
a change of the improvements made upon
the land to be cut away. The city has,
learn, agreed to supply an equal amount of
land in the rear to parties whose land will
be taken for the Improvement. / believe
that seventy-fve thousand dollars will be
ample to make all the changes Of mills,
wharves, marine railways, etc.
CONCLUSION.
In concluding this annual report-proba-
bly, the last one of this work shall ever
make to you'll desire to invite your atten-
ton to the somewhat sudden, but very large
present and prospective increase. Of the
commercial business importance Of the port
of Savannah.
l have In sundry previous communities
tiOns upon this subject stated in detail the
extensive railway connections and combi-
nations by which 1t seems beyond a doubt
that Savannah is to be the centre of sys-
tenn of transportation, both by land and
water, and of trGnShlpnlent, of vast amount
of the products of the Great West to for
eign as well as domestic points, and in q
short time to become large importing port
for the same great Western markets OF this
country.
If there we're any doubts upon this subject
they would all be removed by the we'll
known ard extraordinary efforts that are
now being put forth by the able head of the
railway and steamship management here to
increase the number of steamships and add
to he railway facilities, in connection there
with at Savannah, such as wharves and
docks, grain elevators and the like.
l enclose statement from the Collector
of Customs of the port, giving the CONNER
cial and statistical information needed with
this report.
The project and estimate for the further
improvement of the Savannah river will be
submitted, as directed, jointly with Captain
Green.