Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-09

width or bUU feet Is estimated at about l10. 600
cubic yards The total length of shore line
along which cutting viii be required is about
$500 feet, the average width of the strip 65
feet, and average depth of cutting 20 feet.
Ia ADDITION to this, the river bed has been
considerably lowered to permit vessels draw
ing p feet to be moved about in the harbor as
any stage of the tide
The volume Of material thus taken out is
estimated 10 be about 600, 900 cubic yards The
aggregate amount Of material stEll to be re-
moved for suitably widening and deepening
the harbor Of Savannah appears therefore TO
pc not less than about 10000 cubic yards. 1t
IS IS not supposed that all this material must be
Iaken out nv dredging; it is expected that the
securing effects of the increased current will
perform part of the work.
THE NEW CHANNEL AT THE WRECKS.
Curng the first quarter Of the past fiscal
Eear p,r5,, sne Untea states dredge steamer Henry
Burden removed from this channel I20I9
euolc Yards OF material This channel has
generally maintained its full low watar
depth OF about II feet, with the excep-
ton or small shoal formed at tlle
mouth or the creek by a deposit of sand and
mud brought down frem the rice AeIds and
which requires periodical dredging until a
larger volume OF water can be forced through
this channel Opposite the lower end of Fig
Island where Front river enters the new chan.
nell It had been observed that a projecting nor.
tion of the main land known as ''Screven's
great shoal of the wrecks. causing great incon-
venience and danger to vessels. Cases of
gre unding on that shoal are not infrequent.
The Savannah, Florida and Western Railway
Company have recently increased their front
age on the river with the intention Of extend
ing their present wharf. A considerable
distance down stream, a bulkhead line
was fixed defining the future wharf
line, and cutting off Screven's Point 10 a length
of about 800 feet. and a width of about 100 feet
at the widest point. The reduction of Screven's
folnt was commenced in the latter part of the
past fiscal year; the aggregate amount of
material here removed was 80 sos cubic wards
The result has been satisfactory and the re-
moVal OF about 5000 cubic yards more win
complete the work
The necessity for building a training wall
or some other suitable work extending from
the lower end of Hutchinson's Island or Fig
Island down stream has lately become mora
apparent. Such a work. it is Thought. win
efectually protect the channel at the wrecks
and promote its gradual deepening through
scour by preventing the silt brought in from
Back river by strong northeast winds from
being deposited in the channel.
DAMS BETWEEN THE ISLANDS AND IN THE SOUTH
CHANNEL.
As stated in my previous annual report a
contract for building these several dams was
made November l5, 1879, with R. @. Mckay, Of
Philadelphia
The works comprised a submerged dam
across the upper end of the South channel.
head of Elba Island, and three closing dams
across the opening between the islands from
Elba TO Long Island. Up to June 30, 1890 about
425 lineal feet of the bottom course of the
South channel dam and some work on the
shore ends had been partially completed. Dur
ing the past fiscal year the bottom course of
mattresses for this dam was completed
Ii Is estimated that about $50 lineal feet of
the upper courses will finish this dam so far as
contemplated in the contract Under the
present project it is proposed to keep the South
channel dam submerged, but it may have to
be raised somewhat higher than originally CON
templated.
No other work was done under the Mckay
contract during the last fiscal year, with the
exception that some piles were driven for the
proposed dam at Phibrick's cut
In July, 1850, the sureties of r @ Mckay
were informed that the latter had failed to do
the work according to his agreement and were
asked whether they were prepared to carry it
on themselves, otherwise the contract would he
annulled. By request of Nathaniel Mckay
one of the sureties, and with the approval OF
the Chief Of Engineers. the contractor was
allowed TO give power of attorney to r. @.
Ross, or Wilmington, N. c., to proceed with
the work. This arrangement was made in Au-
gust, ls6O, but operations under it were not
resumed until December following They were
then carried on so slowly that the contract was
aunulled by the department Nav 19 1881
Preparations are now being made to do this
work by hired labor, purchasing the materials
in open market.
Dredging at Tybee Knoll was done last win
Ter; about 20 OOe cubic yards of material was
taken out, and the low water depth of the shin
channel increased from II to Ia feet The
american Dredging Company was directed to
remove troublesome lump in the channel
opposite Oyster bed light, and considerable
work has been done in this direction.
WORK CONTEMPLATED DURING THE PRESENT Ffa-
CAL YEAR.
During the present fiscal year it is proposed
to raise the crest of the dam at Cross Tides to
a higher level; to enlarge the water way at
shoal places above the city, with a view of aid
ing the increased flow along the city whsrves;
to widen the gap iu the old Kings Island lefty;
to widen and deepen the water way in
front of the city. in accordance
with the, present project; to further
improve the Wrecks channel below Fig
Island by dredging and perhaps by construct
ing work to concentrate the current through
the channel and protect it from silt brought
down Back river; to complete the submerged
dam at the head of Elba Island in the South
channel as originally proposed: to build the
three dams as designed between the islands
from Elba to Cockspur and to dredge at such
points as may from time to time require it,
The necessary work for bank protection and
channel contraction may be begun at two or
three points where they will, beyond doubt, be
required
Since the works of improvement were COM
menced, the following appropriations have
been made: