Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-21


Senator Brown, delivered in the United
States Senate on the 18th inst, in sdyo-
cacy of an appropriation this year OF
$3.50, 900 for the improvement OF our
river and harpor. It is short, but to the
point, and shows, in a concise manner,
the commercial importance OF this city
and the great advantage to the CONNER
cial world which will result from the
granting the appropriation asked for.
We have frequently attempted to I'M
press on Congress the necessity for such
an appropriation for the improvement
of our river and harbOr, as the well
known circumstances of the case amply
iustifv. Savannah is not only the second
cotton port in the Union, and the first OF
the South. Atlantic, but she is also the
second rice aud naval store port, and the
centre of one of the most important rail-
way systems in the country. BY means
of the Georgia Central Railroad ana us
connections. and the State Raiload and the
Louisville and Nashville Railway and its
connections. she is made the entrepot for
the products of the greater portion OF
Georgia, Alabama and the great West,
while by means of the Savannah,
Florida and Western Railway South
western Georgia and large section OF
the best part of Florida is made tribu-
tary to her. These facts alone, if she
had nothing else to present, would
Justify her claim for a channel and har'
Dor available at all times for the vessels
Of the world.
There is, however, another claim to
be put forward by our port, and one TO
which Governor Brown specially alludes.
1t is that by means Of the splendid
steamers of the Ocean Steamship Com
pany of Savannah we have a line be-
tween this city and New York-which
line will soon be daily one-which, TO-
gether with the railways above mention
ed, forms medium of transportation
between the East and West really nearer
than is offered by the lines over which
Western productions are usually shipped
to New York. And when it is remem-
bered that, as the Senator says, during
several months ofwinter, when the canals
are frozen over, the Western States are
dependent upon the great trunk lines OF
railways for communication between
those two sections, it is apparent at a
glance what great value our river and
harbor, when deep enough to readily float
az all times ships Of the largest size,
would be to the vast region known as
the great West, as well as to the South.
General Gilmore, in his recent report,
which we have already published, shows
clearly the importance which he attaches
to the improvement of our river and
harbor, and recommends that the sum OF
$4,000 be appropriated to place 1t II
such a condition that it will meet al
which will be demanded of it by
the growing commerce of the coun
try. Senator Brown fully concur:
with him in his recommendation, and
therefore offers his bill to sp
propriate $S5O,OOO this year fol
that purpose. 1t is to be hoped
that, both for the general good Of
the country, as well as of this city, the
suggestions of both these gentlemen
one among the foremost engineers Of the
United States, and the other in addition
! to being Senator from Georgia, one Of
the leading railway men in the South
: will be needed by Congress. To obtain
J satisfactory results we will need
satisfactory appropriation, and what il
, mainly wanted is that there be now voted
s an amount sufficient to carry on thi
great work to a substantial and satisfac
tory conclusion, instead of having doleC
}. out for 1t every year comparatively
i speaking small sums, as has been tn
:. custom OF Congress heretofo-~ -,
n point adlisSe sh.. # the city woulu ~
* to Washington to second ti.I 10 49, :
e Senator Brown (who, during the sickn~
- of Colonel Black, is now special
= championing our cause), it would be 6
tended with good results. The enti
= State-as is shown by the action of Il
Il people of Atlanta, Albany and Athen
: and by the hearty Endorsement of Sen
- tor Browns remarks by our Albany an
Macon contemporaries-are fully alive {
the benefits which would accrue frol
the proposed Improvements, and the cit
n zens of our own city, which will derive Ii
chief advantage therefrom, should ne
,, be behindhand in manifestin
!, their zeal. The public minC
J. too, is evidently favorably incline
). towards the matter, and, if properly an
theoretically pushed, we shall in a
probability speedily receive an apprc
priation, which will secure us a we
o lighted, safe and commodious channC
:. from Tybee to the city, the value O
: which to the country, the State and GU
o port cannot be too highly estimated