Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-20
The Savannah RIVer-The ImpOr-
faEca OF ImproHlng lie Channel.


SAVANNAH, GA, January 1S.-Eiito-
NorHiag Ne1,s: I wish % ean the
public attention to the Savannah
river. and how &. has been neglected.
The great number Of ships that come to
and 20 from this port, carrying out 81 times
esch year about seven hundred thousand
bales Of cotton, snd over sixty one million
feet OF lumber, over one hundred snd sixty
thousand barrels OF naval stores, and then
the great trouble they have in getting 10
and down the river on sccouut Of insult
cient depth OF water, causing heavy ex-
penses 10 each ship in the way OF nghterage
and toEsge, are matters which should re-
ceive serious consideration.
Now. with the proper appropriation from
The [ ed States Government, sud skillful
engineering, there IS 70 doub, in ny mi1d
bus that We could bzve water enough IL
Savannah river 20 justly the larEes- class
OF vessels coming here, thus enabling So
yzunah 70 do as lSrEe 5 business Sc some
Of our Northern citiss. which Eei five times
IS much money from TIE government
A. Savannah does. I asseIt hat tire S.
vsruzh river has been neglected II
every respee the besc0us that
marked cur turning Coi1ts n he river were
blown down on the 21ta OF August, snd the
COVER meDt officials In charge Of this dis
trfct were notified Of E snd promised 90 re-
place them AZ once. Eve months Lzve pass
ed srd no seton has vt been taken. Had it
not been for one Of cur steamship captains
running here who volunteered 10 put up
Temporary CLe' We would have been with
Providence, Rhode Island, with its chan
mel from the mouth Of NsTrsgsnsett Bay 70
Providence city, = distance OF twenty ght
miles. has nine light houses with several
stone bsscous, and that city does not re-
eeive ore third Of the tonnage that Ssvsn-
nsh does, and vet they obtain from the
government any assistance they ask 70
keep their channel IN excellent condition.
Many other places I could name thst pro
cure cor siderable more assistance from the
government han Savannah, whose shipping
business IS only shout ore half OF tnis port.
fnd upon careful exsmins tiOn cur river
does rot improve SIS fsr IS the depth o.
water Is concerned, ont, % the contrary, Be
comes worse Nov. think, with S proper
rfpresentstion Of business men from Ssyan-
nsh. and the assistance Of the Cor gressiOnsl
delegation from Georgia, that We would
have 10 6iffCu' y In explaining our wants 20
Congress snd obtsiniuE the Jul smount re-
cuired 70 put our river II condition 70
=
Savannah.
ne smsl appropriations We have been
receiving from the government sre devoted
to improving the river only IN temporary
wsy. I have bsen navigating he SsTs1-
nah river for fi'tesn yesrs, sud, vi suf-
fciens money snd p-Opsr engineering, l
think + i one OF the easiest rivers 70 q see
in perfect condition for general commerce
The main trouble with our southern rivers
Is the bar a. their entrance, which averages
only sixteen fees Of water. ard which, from
time TO time, shift on every essterly gale,
on account Of the guickssnd bottom, tut
Savannah river bar hzs about
twenty-five feet OF wSter, and does
not shift, ard the greater portion
OF the river from TYbee 70 Savannah
has - least tWenty-oae feet Of water 81 high
water, and there are only few pisces IN the
river thss need proper dredginC. Altogether
an convinced there would not be more than
two miles in length sEd about three hun
dred feet in width, thai would require
% be worked. This portion, wei en-
eiueert !, 50 IS 70 have IS straight
= channel as POSSIBLE. would enable the
tide 70 have free { ~ sud ebh. When
this is done We viii have but very
little trouble with the Savannah river for
wears 10 cone. snd vessels drawing twenty
feet q water could then pass essi = out
without srv expense save s small tOEsEe-
take The liberty OF writing this letter as !
feel great interest il the general welfare
OF savannah Trusting our citizens vii
look into this very important MISTER during
the present session OF Congress and Try and
get liberal s preparation, l an, respect
fully yours. 7. 4. HoOPEB,
Captain Steamship Ssrsgoss2-