Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-23
RIVERS AND HARBoRs
Savannah and Brunswick Harbors-
Savannah, Altamaha, Ocmulgee.
OcOnee and Flint Rivers-ROmnev
Marsh.

Savannah, Altamaha, OcmuIeea
OcOnee and Flint Rivers-Romney
Marsh.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2I.-T'he Secretary OF
War has just replied to the resolution of Sena-
tor Brown about Georgia rivers and harbors,
which was adOpted'by the Senate a couple of
weeks or so ago. The resolution asked sew
eral questions, one of which was if the sus-
pension of any of the several works would be
detrimental to the public interest. | sum-
Marie the reply of Mr.. Lincoln:
SAVANNAH HARBOR.
The work of improvement here is carried
on under plan for permanent improvement
to increase the depth of water in the harbOr
from the bar up to the city % feet, and to
widen the channel of the river opposite the
city to 90 feet, and make il of uniform depth
with the balance of the channel. The details
OF work ON the Improvement given in the an
heretofore printed in the NEwS-are
mentioned. At the close of the last fiscal wear
$466,94S had been expended on this work At
that date there was a balance of $l5,O5l 90,
which was exhausted in the early part of the
present fiscal year. An appropriation of $780,
600 was made by the act OF August 2. 1882
This money is to be expended under a contract
with Mr.: Eli T. Bangs, of Fayette-
dams and training walls in the
Savannah river. He is to complete at least
$4,000 worth of work q month. A contract
for dredging about 100000 cubic wards of ma
terial has been made with Messrs. DickersOn
" Paulsen, OF Savannah. Both contracts are
now under way, and it is expected that only
small amount OF the appropriation will re-
main uneXpended at the CLOSE of the present
fiscal year, According to the enlarged pro-
ject of January 10th, 1882, further
appropriations to the amount of $780,
600 are required to finish the work.
The work cannot be made perma-
npnt III in the Gy9fam aHOnfad ic off
uncovered. "Should suspension of opera
tiOns be required from a want of funds, there
would undoubtedly be deterioration in those
places partially improved, and the CONNER
cial advantages of the harbOr seriously
affected thereby, as well as the ultimate cost
of the work increased. 1t is therefore
desirable and of great Importance to have
liberal appropriations for continuing the
work. Without an additional appropriation
all work will be suspended soon after July /,
1888. Five hundred and thirty thousand dol
lars can be prohtably expended during the fls-
cal year ending June 30, 1884, and at least
$500, 900 is necessary to conduct the work as it
should be during that period"
BRUNSWICK.
The entire appropriation for the present
fiscal year will be exhausted on or before June
80, 1888. All that Is required during the next
fiscal year Is $4,000, were 1t not for the fact
that the original estimate included no project
for works at the upper end of BuZZard
Island at the juncture of East or Brunswick
plant is also made by the citizens of Bruins
wick about bar near the mouth of Academy
creek, at the upper part of the city, which is
deepening. For these additional works
it is suggested that the sum of $66,300 will
probably be required in excess of the
original estimates. ''The growing Importance
of the harbor of Brunswick rs a commercial
port seems to call for an early completion of
the work, if not for a further enlargement of
the plan of operations; $79, 900, the entire est-
mate, can be pPotitahlY expended upon this
work during the fiscal year ending June 30,
1884. Forty thousand dollars is necessary to
conduct the work properly during this pc
rlod,n
SAVANNAH RIVER BETWEEN SAVANNAH AND
AUGUSTA.
The cost of improving, SO as to establish a
permanent low water channel not less than
five feet deep between Savannah and Augusta
but $4,000 had been appropriated, and there
fore but comparatively little had been done.
Another appropriation OF $4,000 was made on
that day, and measures have bee n taken TO re-
sume the work of Improvement. The sum of
$4,000 is required for the completion of this
work. 1t would be an advantage if that
whole amount were appropriated at the pres
ent session. IL would be detrimental to the
public interests and to commerce if the work
were suspended in an qncompleted state.
SAVANNAH RIVER ABOVE AUGUSTA.
1t is questionable whether 1t Is eXpedient to
incur further expenditures for this work. The
growing competition of railroads running
more or less parallel to and in the vicinity of
this part of the river is detrimental to the de-
velOpment of transportation by pole boats. 1t
Is not considered expedient to ask for any fur
ther additional appropriations for this work
at the present time,
ALTAMAHA RIVER.
When the work of improving the Altamaha
river shall have been fairly begun there can
be no doubt that it should he continued with
out interruption until iinished, Otherwise
unimproved will continue Ia be an
obstruction to low river navigation, and but
comparatively little benefit will be derived
from the money expended in improving the
channel at other points of the river. 1t is an
important and valuable water route. It's i'm
provement will give greatly increased facili-
ties for the transportation of timber, naval
stores and rice. The sum of $4,000 should be
appropriated this session.
RoMNEY MARSH.
Improvement has not vet been commenced.
The sum appropriated-$l0, ,0O0-was cOnsid-
cred too small to open a cut through the
marsh wide eaOugh for the passage of steam
boats. In case the additional $4,000 offered
land Steamboat Company, Which Which" offer ae
was favorably received by The War Depart
ment, is made good, bids will be invited to
have that amount together with the appropri-
alton expended in dredging; and it is posi-
bic that the aggregate um-$20, ,000-Will be
exhausted during the present year. AS there is
doubt existing as to whether the
offer OF 200 will be advanced, it is regarded
best in considering the amount required for
the work during the next fiscal year. to ignore
the offer. The appropriation of $2S,720 is re-
1t can be prOfitably expended
during the fiscal year ending June 3Oth 1854
and is necessary to conduct the work properly
oosTENAULA AND COosAwATTEE RIVERS.
All the work necessary to supply
the wants Of commerce has been done.
The expenditures have amounted to
81, ,S5S IA; Nothing Is necessary TO be appro-
priated at this sessinA,
GeMULGEE RIVER.
The suspension of the work would not nrove
very detrimental to the public interest but
some loss would result from the INSTRUMENTATION
and AM cost of watching the boats ans; appliances.
III Inc amount necessary to he appropriated at
this session OF Congress, to conduct the work
as it should he, Is $4,000.
ocONEE RIVER,
The suspension of work would cause some
loss, but would not be detrimental to the nub-
lie interest. Ten thousand dollars to conduct
the work should bye the appropriation this
session.
eHATTAH00CHER RIVER.
Suspension of work would prove very detri
mental, as snags and land slides obstruet the
channel after each freshet, and MANY of the
works already constructed need repairs each
season to preserve the Improvement already
secured. The minimum amount necessary to
be appropriated at this session of Congress
merely to keep the works as they are-is
$4,000. The amount necessary 10 be appro-
priated to preserve the present improvement
and make satisfactory progress, with what re-
mains to be done, is 100000.
FLINT RIVER.
The improvements already made would not
be much Injured by suspension of work. but
commerce VIII derive no great benefit from
the large amount of work already done nail
the portion OF the river between Naples
chute ana Albany Is improved and the re-
moval of snags and eyerhanging trees is com
pleted up to Montezuma. The minimum
amount necessary to be appropriated az this
'esslon-merely to keep the works as they are
lis $1,000. The amount necessary to be an
to preserve the present improve
ment and make satisfactory progress. with
what remains to be done, is $4,000.
EoFoHAC.
HAMPTON, FLORIDA.