Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-12
nnr River and Harhor.


Tuesday appeared an article referring 10
the difficulty and danger attendant upon
the navigation of the south channel OF
the Savannah river, due to the fact that
the channel near Msckey's Point and
Elba Island is not only obstructed by
the cribs sunk therein during the war,
but also to the fact that the government
is constructing a submerged dam only
about three hundred yards from those
distractions. The openings for the pas
sage of steamers and other craft both
through the Instructions and the dam are
very narrow, and as there are no lights
at either of them, and as at high tide
neither openings nor Instructions can be
dlscerned, it may be readily seen how
much risk is run by any vessel attempt
ing to pass through them, particularly
after dark
The condition of the channel between
Savannah and Tybee is also a source Of
constant complaint True, the govern
ment has spent, and is still spending,
much money to give US satisfactory river
and harbor improvements, aud the work
has been consigned TO the care of expert
enced and capable engineer officers.
1t appears, however, to drag its slow
length; and delays and other drawbacks,
to the annoyance and inconvenience Of
shippers and ship owners, are of frequent
occurrence.
This condition of affairs should not be
permitted to continue. 1t is of vital
necessity to a seaport city that she
should enjoy easy and safe access to the
ports of the world and possess a de-
sirable and commOdiOus harbOr, and
Savannah-whlch is now, and has been
for years, the largest cotton port Of the
South Atlantic, as well as the eHtrepot of
a large trade between the North, South
and Vests city of too much COM
mercial importance to be neglected in
this respect. How much can be done for
port by the proper improvement of its
channel has been cOnspicuously and
practically demonstrated in the case
Of the city of Baltimore. A few
years ago and there was scarcely a
seaport in the country which labOred
under greater disadvantages in this re
spect than did Maryland's great com
mercial emporium. The government,
however, made liberal appropriations for
giving her such facilities as her situation
and commercial Importance demanded.
The work of improving her channel was
entrusted to Colonel William P. Craig
hill, one of the most accomplished en-
gineer officers of the United States army,
and what is the result The "Craighill
channel" from the PatapscO river to the
city is now one of the finest water high
ways in the United States; ships of the
largest burthen can easily sail through
it to the city basin, and the increase Of
the trade of Baltimore through this
agency alone has been enormous.
What has been done for Baltimore can
Just as easily be done for Savannah. The
distance from this city to the bar
at Tybee IS not very much greater
than is the distance from the
mouth of the Patapsco to Baltimore;
while we have twenty-seven feet of
wafer, at high tide, over our bar, and
sufficient volume of water in our river to
give US any depth required. What is
needed indeed demanded-by our pres
ent and steadily increasing commerce, is
a safe and easy highway, navigable at all
times for the largest ships direct from
The ocean to the city, and also the i'm
prOvement of the south channel, at least
as far as the mouth of Augustine creek,
so as to make it safe for vessels bound
southwark by the inland route To
give US such a water highway and to i'm
Prove our harbOr to a degree cOmmensu-
rate with the trade of this port is a work
of national interest, which would amply
repay the government for the outlay re-
CURED. What IS absolutely necessary
for its accomplishment, however, is that
it shall be entrusted to an officer, who
will make this city his headquarters, and
give the matter his undivided personal
attention.
Our citizens should direct their unceas.
ing attention to the accomplishment of
this object, and our Representatives and
Senators in Congress should be uDremit
ting in their efforts to secure the appro
pr alton of such sums as will guarantee
the Improvements needed. The benefits
which would accrue therefrom to the
general trade of the country and to the
government, through increased customs
duties, are too manifest to need reitera
ton.