Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-30

/ feet. subsequently IL was ueCiu0u "
increase the width to 600 feet, which, in
the judgment Of the engineers, seemed
essential for this portion Of the river.
| The proposed increase of width, it was
calculated, could be secured by cutting
away on the north bank a portion
of Hutchinson's Island at Kinsey's
mill for a length of 900 feet and maxi
mum width of 80 feet, another
portion lower down for a length
Of 900 feet and a width of 100
feet, and a portion of Fig Island,
opposite the Savannah, Florida
and Western Railway wharves, for a
length of 1 400 feet and a width
Of about 100 feet Thus the
total area to be taken from Hutchin
sons Island would be 30 100 acres.
and from Fig Island 3 37-1OO acres. The
proposed new line Of bulkhead suggest
ed by these Improvements was to begin
on the west from Duggan's wharf on
Hutchinson's Island Opposite the Ogee
chez canal on the Savannah side, thence
easterly through KinseY's mill and Viii
links shipyard, and thence along the
margin of Hutchinson's and Fig Islands
to the wrecks channel" widening out
somewhat in area at this point.
These important improvements might
have been commenced at once, but a
serious obstacle presented itself. 1t was
found on inquiry that it would be i'm
possible to get possession of the lands
required in the prosecution OF the
plan at anything like reasonable cost
by purchase, in consequence of the
high speculative value placed upon them
by the owners, and in consequence the
General Assembly Of the State was APP
peale1 to, and the passage
Of an act to empower
the appointment of a commission to
assess and value the property was asked
for and secured The commission ap-
] pointed placed the value of the Fig Island
strip at s., 500. This sum, being con-
sidered too high, it was reduced to 5000
on reference to trial by jury, and the
owner of the land, appealing to the
Supreme Court of Georgia, new trial
was granted, which resulted in fixing
the award at 81 ,OOO 1t was believed
that the government would pay the
amounts assessed for the land thus taken,
but a reference of the matter to the
United States Attorney General at Wash
ingtOn elected an opinion from that Off
Ger that the amounts could not be paid
from the appropriation for the improve
ment of the river.
There was, hence, no other recourse
but for the city to assume the obligation,
and the difficulty has been arranged by
The payment Ct the award. The pro
/ jecting point of Fig Island was then sur
rendered by the owner and has been
dredged away by the United States con
tractors.
This experience clearly shows that I'M
der the decision of the Attorney General
it cannot be expected that the General
Government will pay for the right Of way
involved in the contemplated increased
widening of the harbOr. 1t will there.
fore devOlve upon the authorities Of the
city of Savannah, as the parties most
directly interested in the improvement
Of this port, to secure without loss of
time the possession of such margins on
the north bank of the river as may be
needed to obtain the width desired. Re
Gently, it viii be remembered, a resOlu-
ton was passed by the City Council look
ing TO some action in having the harbOr
front water way increased to an average
maximum channel width of 800 feet IL
stead of 600 feet, as projected by the
Engineer Department. Should this
measure be accomplished it will of
course increase the margins of land to
be provided for, including the compen-
satiOn involved in the obliteratiOn of the
dry dock
While this improvement is desirable,
depth Of ,oater rather than space across the
river from one bank to the other should
be primarily kept in view Possibly a
width of 200 feet instead of
800, as suggested, with low wa
ter sOundings of twenty-five feet, I'M
der all the circumstances, would more
practically meet the needs of the port,
present and prospective
We are truly gratified to note the
active interest now manifested by the
authorities in this important and vital
matter The work in an engineering
point of view, we are informed, whether
for 500 feet or less, is of easy
and permanent accomplishment, as the
whole is to be undertaken inside of the
sea bar, and consequently within the
entire control of the engineer.
Through the Central Railroad and
its connections, the Savannah,
| Florida and Western Railway
and the Charleston and Savannah Rail.
way, the port of Savannah affords an
outlet to the commerce of fourteen
States. Over these lines there passes to the
sea the products of Georgia, Florida,
South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois. Indiana.
Ohio, Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas and
Texas The business, as we have init
mated above. is steadily increasing, ana
in the course of a few years will require
ampler harbor accommodations than our
port now possesses. Let, then. the work
of improvement be for the future, as
well as the present needs.