Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-20
Improvement OF Savannah, Harbor

Under this caption the Hscon Iele-
graph Of yesterday contains tie following
article, which is deserving OF the serious
consideration of our authorities:
"On the 10th ult, Senator Brown intro
duced a bill appropriating $500 for the
Improvement Of the hsrbor of Savannah.
We can find but single objection TO this,
and that is in the amount. The Senator
should have made it a million, for while the
government could well afford to give this,
and the South would still be far behind in
her Just quota of the public funds, so d.
rected, there would be a margin for the
pairing down which always takes place in a
committee OF conference over such bills.
Savannah is the second cotton port In
the United States, and is rapidly advancing
in her shipments of naval stores. By rea-
son Of the great system Of railways which
debouch at Savannah, and the fact that the
great staple of the South tends to the At
lantic ports, it Is of the highest importance
that this harbor should be placed in the best
possible condition for the outgoing and in
coming commerce which will seek it. The
river and harbor bill Of the present session
will perhaps embrace within its provisions
not more than ten millions Of dollars, and
there will be hot scramble for every cent
Of this. While ne feel assured that Gov.
DEOWu auu OuI OOukIcSoAOudl QGlCEdbiO
viii do their full duty IN this matter, we beg
leave to suggest to oar Savannah friends
that they can, and it is imperatiyely neces-
sary that they should, receive active and
immediate outside support.
'sThe South is so situated In the House of
Representatives that she could command
her full share Of appropriations IL her
representatives were united In sentiment,
but some are still cliuging to an old and
threadbare political dogma about internal
improvements by the general government,
while others are disposed to handle q fat
treasury with the same economy which
they handle their individual bank accounts.
"The improvement of the harbor of Sa-
vannah is Of prime importance to ever in
terest in the State, and while we would be
pleased to see all the rivers and harbOrs get
something. We are free TO say our great port
should be first and most literally served.
Georgia has not dealt fairly by her great
seaport, for during long term Of years the
results OF her industries we're mainly emptied
into the lap of Charleston. This policy was
wrong and should be abandoned. Every
energy of every Georgian should be stimu-
lated by his State pride sufficiently to make
him labor to make Savannah the port, not
only for a large coasting trade, but for lines
Of steamships to England, the Continent
and South America.
Savannah herself should send at once a
delegation of her best citizens and mer-
chants to Washington. They should go
with pur es prepared for elegant hospitali-
ties and to meet the expenses of a trip of
several weeks. The most important work
in the way Of legislation at the national
capitol is done through the medium of So
cial channels and by energetic and intelli-
gent expositions in committee rooms.
"This delegation, besides being armed
and equipped with facts, figures and statis-
tics, should carry with 1t capacity to seek
and arrest the attention of members of Con-
gress from other sections, and to enlist their
sympathy and cooperation. The delega-
ton should know the way to Welcker's,
Chamberlin's and Wormley's as well as to
the capitol; should have as familiar &C.
quaintaDce with wines and cigars as with
cotton, rice and rosin, and should know as
few of the professional FOUNDERS and Job
bers of Washington as possible"