The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-09-15
FISH SAVANNAH RIVER.
Siiuority Report to tho Georgia senate Ivy
III" Committee Appointed so Inspect ;hs
D9m At Augusta.
ATLANTA, September 5.

ATLANTA, September 5.
NJ. Matthews Chairman Of the Com
mittec To visit Augusta. and report on
the question OF the obstruction Of the
Savannah river submitted the following
report in tho house Thursday afternoon
Mr.. SrEAKER committee to
whom MAS referred "A resolution TO take
INFO consideration the terms OF the treaty
.. articles Of ihe Convention Of Beauipr.
n To- the line between Georgia aud south
Carolina. and especially rs touching the
question: of distractions in the rivers
forming said boundary line and also.
wfa; acts lave been passed by the Lec!s-
l4turc of Georgia. il any. authorizing or
permitting SAID rivers &c adamnrd up or
obslruCted. and 10 inquire what obstruc-
tions or dams have been placed across
said rivers. at what places, and the char
acter OF such oostructionS. and their
effect upon the avigation and free pas
sage OF fish. AMI To report what action
should BE- taken To indncc a compliance
on thu part ~ Georgia viii. the terms Of
said treaty report.
Your committee find that on Dccrin bcr
=. so, AN act was passed by the I-egis-
| lature incorpora.in. the prop-ietpr- cf
| the Augusta Canal which act authorized
| the construction OF q dam in the Savan-
| nah river above the city of Augusta, but
| the llth section of said act expressly pro-
| vidcd that said tanal Company should
| not be allowed hy any extension OF said
dam. or any other work, To obstruc! the
nav viga'iOn OF said river, or the free pas
sAve OF fish
I BY act approved December ~, lSia the
Board of Managers Of the Augusta canal
| Company were authorized To transfer all
it, property. rights AMI franchises To the
| City Council nt Augusta. BY act approv-
cd December II. 1871, said city .: -\m-
deepen aid canal. and your committee
| find no other legislation upon the sub
! jcrt which they deem material
| Your committee. on the oath day Of
| August, l~Sl, visited Augusta, Ga for
the purpose OF examining the dam across
the Savannah river, al a poiEt about sew
en- miles above said city. They found
| that dam extends entirely across the
| Savannah river AT that point, said dam
extending from the head of said canal
obliquely up and across said stream, a
| distance OF ,HJ2 feet thence almost at
right angles with the general channel Of
the river, distance of 30 feet 10 tho
| South Carolina bank.
| ThG Obliquc dam of most massive pro
| portions, Immense strength and about ~
feet high without any break or opening
| in it whatever. in the other part to-wit
The 20 feet part which is built i'll like
| substantial manner, there arc four open.
! ings, three of them about 20 feet each
and the other IL feet Tie consequence ct
ls that this dam 80 obstructs the entire
channel OF said river rs to dam up the
| same so that the surface OF the water
above the dam is about four feet higher
than below, and thus all OF said Savan.
nah river, except what is turned by said
| dam into tie canal, is forced through
sad openings i'll said dam. Hence the
velocity and momentum OF the streams
which pass through said openings are SC
great that they toally prevent, not only
the navigation of said stream. but render
il impossible for any iiSh To pas, up said
streams, through said openings, and
thus, in the opinion OF your committee
both the navigation of the said stream
and the passage OF fish up the same are
ciltctuuily, totally and entirely obstruct-
I'd and prevented by said dam. in open
and direct violation of the treaty between
the State Of South Carolina aud Georgia
held at beaufort, :. c., oh April 2s. 1877
which said treaty positively prohibits
any Instructions or hindrances whatsO-
ever, and also is contrary 10 the follow
ing acts To keep open the Savannah river
for the free passage of fish and for naviga
ton OF said river by boats. to-wit;
Act approved Dec, ID, 1909, Cobb's di
gest vol. >, p. GA
Act approved Dec. 10, 1912, Cobb's di
gest vol. ;, p. ass.
Act approved Dec. IS, lsl6, Cobbs di
Seat, vol. 3, p. jU6
Ac. passed DC. %, 1929, cobb's digest
Act approved Dec. 20, 1884, Pains di
gcst, vol. 4, p. l09
Act approved Dec. o5, 1887, Pains di
geSt, p. 233'
Act approved Dec. 23, 1889, pamphlet
p. BOB.
Act approved Dec. 25. 1912.
And an act appointing committee tc
keep open the Savannah river approved
February o. 1850.
A j. MATTHEW'S, Chairman.