Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-06
AN EXTRAORDINARY STATE.
NERNEs
A Batch OF News In Reference TO the
Sa sannah River.

The annual report for 1881, OF the Chief
of Engineers of the United States army,
embraces an article on the improvement OF
the Savannah river, which contains some re-
markable statements. One paragraph reads:
"Freshets caused by the melting Of snow in
the mountains and by heavy rainfalls lower
down, are Of frequent occurrence. They
sometimes rise to considerable heights. At
Augusta the water has been known to rise
40 feet above low water mark" Agaia,
''the greatest rise of this river during
freshets at Augusta is understood to be 40
feet above mean low water, when the river
is four feet deep in the streets of Augusta.
The last occurrence Of this was IN 1875"
Judging from these statements Augusta is
little better than a swamp, and is almost
constantly under water. Tle fact Is, there
has been no freshet st Augusta since 1860.
There was none in 1870. Freshets are not
OF frequent occurrence, as we have not had
one for seventeen years The report states
that the low water elevation OF the river at
Augusta is about 13) feet inches above
mean low tide level at Savannah. At
Augusta the water has been known TO rise
40 feet above low water, the last occurrence
of this kind being in 1875, making the
high water above sea level 40 f. The
average elevation OF Augustus hove the same
sea level was found 10 be 154 feet, there
fore, the average depth of water over
Augusta during the freshet of "1S15" was
1914. Ordinary fresbets, hoEever, are only
"a feet above low water, therefore Augus'a
a. such time is not more than 10 feet IN
der water.
The statements IN regard to the low
water elevation and the rise in the river,
from which the above fisures are obtained,
are in large type, and do not mention the
| modifying statement in fine print on page
| 100 that ''the river wss foHr feet deep In
| the streets OF Augusta" IN 1915. These are
very singular statements certsiplY, and
place Augusta IN a wrong light before the
country. The report does not say that Au-
| gusts is at any time 10 or 10 feet under
water, IN so manv words, bat the figures
| given lead to that inevitable conclusion. II
| the low water elevation of the river at Au-
| gusts is about 1870 feet above mean low
| tide level at Savannah, aud the water has
| been known to rise 20 leet above Low water,
| the elevation st such time must he no t
| above mean lOw tide Augusta being al an
| average elevation Of 154 feet above the same
sea level, the depth Of water over Augusta
| at such time must be I6 feet inches A. d
as ord nary freshets are "a feet above low
water mark, and this mark 100 ( above the
sea level, the elevation Of the river at such
times mus b. 164 1. Deduct from this
| 154 feet, the average elevation OF Augusta
above the sea lavel, and it leaves 10 as the
depth of water over Augusta on occasions
of "ordinary freshets" This statement saws
the Chronicle will amuse the Coolest inhab-
iants," none OF whom viii be able to recOl
| lect when AUGUSTA was ever 10 feet under
| water, or anything Ike It.
But the report shows one thing which is
worthy of the most serious consideration
| On the river below Augusta 1t appears that
| a navigable highway OF 24S miles can be
| rendered permanently safe and easy at all
stages Of the water, for steam transportation,
| for sol, $50. This sum would scarcely build
| FIVE miles Of railway, and It would not pay
for the annual maintenance Of way for more
| than SO miles Of railroad. it does seem TO
us that In view Of the great importance OF
| the work and the comparatively very small
cos, Congress should not hesitate in making
the appropriation.