Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-03
COL. GILLMORE'S REPORT,
THE WORK IN THE RIVERS AND
HARBORS TOLD IN FULL.

AnE nOhA IN THE XIV ERS AMI
HARBORS TOLD IN FULL.
Satisfactory Progress Made and Makins
Everywhere in Georgia, Florida ant
South CarOlina-The Past ApprOpria
tiOns, Expenditures and Balances
Recommendations for the Future.
WASHINGTON, August 2.2The repor
of Colonel Gilmore, the engineer in charge
OF the river and harbor improvements il
South Carolina, Georgia and FlOri
da. has been received at the Wal
Department. In regard to the improve
ment of Charleston harbor the report saws
that the operations for improving the en-
trance to this harbor were carried
out during the past year in con
formity to the plans submitted in 1875
to establish and maintain low water
channel of not less than 21 feet deptt
across the bar by means of two low ietties
The work done consisted principally in
further extending the bottom course OF
the south jetty, in sinking the second
course of mattresses upon a foundation
course OF the jetty across the deepest por.
tion of the present ship channel, and
across the deep pocket east of that chan.
mel, and In enlarging the foundation
course of the work where it crosses the
main ship channel by placing an addi.
tlOnal apron OF mattresses to the south OF
and adjoining it. general survey
of the outer haTbor, including the
bar and its exterior slope, was com.
menced. The foundation across the south
jetty was extended 1861 feet, or about
lilo miles from the shore of Morris
Island measured along the axes of the
jetty, and about l mile within the outer
Is foot curve of the bar The mattresses
OF the second course received about 1G
inches thickness of stone, and those
of the additional apron across
the main ship channel about IS
inches. A contract is about being made
for putting 250 cubic yards, more or less,
OF riprap stone upon the base places of
the second spur jetty, located about 3, 100
feet east Of Fort MOultrie, and an eXten-
slVe survey OF the outer harbOr and bar is
IN progress, the results of which are eX-
pected to show their present condition and
the changes caused by the works of the
Improvement.
Examinations of the jetties and the sea
bottom in their vicinity by divers had not
been brought to their close when the re-
port was written. 1t is proposed during
the present year to direct the operations
chiefly to raising the south jetty to a
greater height, at some low places, and
to extending its foundation course fur
ther seaward.
n small portion of the available funds
may, perhaps, be used in constructing
some protective works on the seaward
shore OF Morris Island. A general sur
vey of the outer harbor and bar
will be completed. The engineer
urges the necessity of liberal ap-
prOpriations tor carry on this work, as
IL has now arrived at what
he considers critical stage. He thinks
the real danger to the shipping interests
of Charleston is liable to result from a
suspension Of the operations. He re-
cOmmends special appropriation of $780,
600 to be made available duringnext win
ter. The amount appropriated for improve
ment to date: 81 1,045 900, expended $945,-
532; available July l, 1888, 500, ,46S. the es-
timated requirement for the completion
OF the work $755, 900, and the amount that
can be.proftably expended next year $780,
600.
In the improvement of the harbor at Sa-
vannah, Ga, during the past year. the
operations consisted in constructing
drains for contracting the waterway be-
tween the city and the central part of
Elba island, in closing the lateral chan
nels on either side of BarnweIl Island and
III dredging at various places in front of
and below the city. A considerable
amount of surveying was exc
cuted for the purpose of locating
new works and for ascertaining the recent
changes of the river bed. The engineer
reports the work as progressing satisfac-
torily. He proposes during the present
year TO eXpend the balance of the appro-
prlatlCns from last year in building addI-
fI0nAI vino dams fhn a
Elba Island, in removing material
by dredging where it may prom
lse the best results, in raising the
dam at the cross tides to a higher
level and in necessary SURVEYS
and examinations. The act of 1882 appro-
Driated $2OO,OO0 for this work, of. which
SOL, ,Ol6 remained uneXpended July 1, 1888.
1t is estimated that $500, 900 will be needed
to complete the work, and the engineer
thinks that the sum can be prOfitabIy eX-
pended during the next year.
The improvement of the Savan-
nah river between the cities of Augusta
and Savannah, the object of which is to
secure low river navigable depth of five
feet, is estimated to cost Sg1. 900.
No operations are contemplated during
the present fiscal year, Congress having
failed to provide funds for continuing the
work. 1t is proposed to apply the small
balance OF last years appropriations to
the removal of some of the most serious of
the existing obstructiOns with the United
States snag-boat. The act of 1882 apprO-
priated $4,000 for this work, of which
1,112 remained uneXpended July l, 1888.
1t is estimated that $51. 900 can be profit
ably expended next year, and that sum
will complete the work.
The improvement of the Savannah river
above the city of Augusta during the
past year, the operations were directed to
deepening and widening the old channel
by removing bOulders and portions of
rock ledges, to removing sand and
building wing dams at reach ten
miles above Augusta, and to cutting
a new channel through the ledge
above Stevens Creek Falls. The work
done has resulted in obtaining an upper
channel of 20 feet width and % feet
depth at summer low water from Augusta
channel lock to Barksdale Ferry. The
act of 1882 appropriated $4,000 for this
work, of which s., 1876 remained available
July l, 1888. 1t is estimated that $4,000
will be required to complete the work,
and that that sum can be prOfitablv eX-
pended during next year.
For the improvement of Wappoo Cut, S.
c., the act of 1882 appropriated $40. 600.
of which So, 295 remain unexpended, july
l, 1888. Dredging operations We're car
ried on during the year under the con
tract and will be continued until the funds
in hand are exhausted
For the improvement of the EdistO
river. South Carolina, $25, 900 is asked
for the coming year.
In the improvement OF the st. Johns
river, Florida, the plan of improvement
consists in the constructing of two low
jetties. The estimated cost was S13S, 400.
and it is thought that $93I, 400 wII1 be
sufficient to complete the work. The act
OF 1882 appropriated $l50,000, of which
sum $34, ,402 remained over July /, 1888.
The Engineer recommends a special ap-
preparation of $35, coo, to be made avail
able during the coming winter. He
thinks $50O,OOO can be proftably expended
on the work during the next year. The
improvement of the entrance to Cumber-
land Sound, Georgia and Florida. was
suspended until an appropriation is made.
1t is estimated that 1881 ,O23 will COM
plete the work, and that 100000 can be
protitably expended during the next year.
In the improvement of the Altamaha
river, Georgia, it is proposed to secure
channel of eighty feet width
and three feet depth at the
low river stage at an estimated
cost OF $500, 900. During the past year an
examination Of the river was made with
view to locating the points that should
be improved. OF the $4,000 appropriated
by the act of 1882, $14, S6S remained uneX-
pended July /, 1888, and this sum will be
used to carry on the work during the
present year. An appropriation OF 5000