Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-07

nef anu courses bar. Opposite their heads
these dams reduce the width of the river,
originally about $50 feet, to $50 feet at low
water. Their shore ends rest on the South
Carolina side of the river. OPP
dams the bluffy and cavi1r hanks Sg
on the Georgia side were strengthened at eight
different places by suitable bank projections.
Courses bar is intended to be improved bv
four wing dams. OF these one dam had been
completed, and two others commenced, when
the available funds were so far reduced that
II was deemed advisable to suspend work
surveys made before beginning and after
suspending operations show gratifying re-
suits. Four feet at low water can now be
earned over the two bars and up to the city,
Where previously only from 2. to 3
feet OF water existed. 1t is reported that the
process of deepening still proceeds,
NO operations are contemplated for the pres
ent fiscal year. no funds having been provided
Dy congress at its last session. 1t is proposed to
Apply the small balance on hand-$l, III 15-to
Ihe removal OF some of the most serious of the
EXISTING distractions with the United States
snagbOat ToccOa. 1t is recommended that an
early and liberal appropriation be made bv
Congress for this work
IN IMPROVING THE SAVANNAH RIVER ABOVE
AUGUSTA
the work; which began April 18th and was
completed July 'th last, has consisted in deep
enlng and widening old channels bv the re-
moyal Of bOulders and portions of lodges. and
IN the construction of number of short dams
IN THE Reach" ten miles above AuOusta
TO clear the channel of sand The
object has been to secure n channel
~ feet wide and 30 inches deep at summer
low S'S water from the canal locks, miles above
Augusta, to Barksdae Ferry, 30 miles abnve
that city. The sand has been cleared from
the channel at 1.-The Reach" except for dis
tance of about 400 feet; it is gradually disap-
peafIng from the latter stretch. The old chan
mel through "Rapid Cap being badly OBJ
structed by sand. cut was made through the
ledge above the falls Boats now use this
route, and thus avoid s'Rapid Gap" and
stevens Greek Falls" There is now avail
able for this work 81 395 59 and it is estimated
that $4,000 Is required for the completion of
the existing project.
BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA.
The jetty has been extended 2.4O5 feet by
sinking layer of double raft mattresses
loaded with stone. The mats are 30 feet wide.
with the exception of the two last ones which |
are each 40 feet in width and 30 feet long The !
extension has been constructed in about feet
at mean low water until 400 feet of the outer |
end which reaches the Is foot curve The
crest OF the extension Is about one foot above
mean low water. The aggregate length of the
jetty Is now 4.l99 feet, exclusive of the return
face. Two cuts were dredged at Is feet mean
low water, and of an average width of "A feet
as follows: Cut III. was continued 3,l25 feet
from the point reached in March, 1882, to the
lower lS-fOOt curve. This cut was also deep
ened from u feet for 400 feet in
ward for IA feet from the point
reached in April, 1882. The deepest parts of
the old cuts have shoaled about 2.3 feet; the
oIIcttlAiS VI lltb ItCtnl cut averages 10 1btls
There is now through the shOal a 19-fOOt
channel at mean low water 100 feet wide with
the exception of about 1000 feet, which will
carry Is feet. For 500 feet the channel
Is over Is feet deep at mean low
water. During the year the l2-foOt chan
mel curve near the angle of the
letty has advanced down stream about $50
feet-fOr 400 feet further along the jetty deep
enlng has taken place-cOntinuing along the
jetty to point opposite Brandy Point. shOal-
ing Is noticed outward from the latter point
No change is observed nor is any evident on
the Brunswick side of the channel. At the
lower end of the channel the outer curves
have advanced l25 to $50 feet. The
lore IoregolnS tsssoi.1 seems seems to indicate an
A recent survey of the shoal at the mouth of
Academy creek and of the head of East river
shows no marked changes from previous
maps. Ihe original estimate of work below
the. city will need TO be increased, in cOnse-
quence of the largely increased cost of dredg- |
ing and other causes. The work above the !
city, at the upper end of BuZzard Island. for |
which no estimate has heretofore been sub
mitted, will probably cost not far from SS5 600.
ST. AUGUSTINE CREEK.
OF the su of $1,000 appropriated by act of
Congress, 1879, l,5S2 "a were expended during
the fiscal year ended June 30th 1881 in the
partial removal of the wreck of large dry
dock which was sunk in the stream during the
late civil war. There appears to be no ne
cesslty for any further improvement of the
river at this point, and no appropriation is
asked.
ST. JOHNS RIVER, FLORIDA.
During the past year a small channel has
cut through the westward of the iettv so that
the west end is about 20 feet from low water
line, and lies in water about feet deep at
mean low water. Many changes have been
noticed in the work here. Pelican
Bank has almost entirely disappeared.
Wards Bank has been divided and a nov
channel passes to the sea north OF the south
Jetty. The low water line has receded near
me north Jetty, but near the south jetty is not
lar from where 1t was last year. 1t has been
built out IN the last two months On the
present sailing line there are about two feet
less water than there were over the bar last
year. In December, 1882, the channel over
the bar began shoaling, and apparently new
channel was about to cut between the ietties
1t was hoped to hasten the formation of this
new channel, but no tug could be found will
ing to take the risk of stirring up the sand ON
the ebb tide. The sailing channel has heen
deepened somewhat, allowing vessels to 90 |
out that had been detained for more than q
days previously An attempt was made to
deepen the new channel by dragging chains
through the ehb with the steam launch
Ariel by the "Ariel' and Burden the
Cnlted states dredge steamers, channel was
formed with feet of water, at mean low wa
ter and width of about 200 feet. No increase
beyond this could be obtained Since then
tins channel has shoaled until there is only 2.5
ieet OF water at mean low water, This has
been due to easterlY winds, and also to an
other break in Wards Bank, still further to
the north. All the work during the wear was
done on the south Jetty. At several places 1t
was raised by putting ON additional courses
Of mattresses and rip-ran stone
With the balance of $74,40l 81 on hand it
Is proposed to continue tho work of
raising the south Jetty and 10 take further
measures for protecting II from the under
mining which has been going on during the
past fiscal year In view of The emergency of
the case II IS earnestly recommended that the
sum OF $4,000 be appropriated for this work
by special act, said sum to be made avail
able at an early date, so that Operations can
be resumed some time during the coming
winter. There appears to be no donbt thai
the work will be left in a preearjOus condition
When the balance of last appropriation is ex-
pended under the existing contract.
INSIDE PASsAeR BETWEEN FERNANDINA AID
ST. JOHNS, FLORIDA
The Importance of improving this ,,sssana
IN case OF a war with a maritime power is
great. The work which was suspended in
lSSO-'ol should be renewed, and when under
taken should be on liberal scale. The total
expenditures here since 1874, including The
cost oil survey, have been $l9,565 So.
ENTRANCE TO CUMBERLAND SOUND.
Work here was continued In accordance
with the adopted plan. New letties have
been been built and the old ones strengthened and
lengthened. \ survey of the harbor was made
In April last. It shows the work to be in good
condition, Along the sides and near
To eaeh letty the water has deepened slightly.
anu some settlement has taken place. The
north Jetty being in many places above mean
low water. The northeast storms have
washed off considerable of the stone, especial
y where mattresses lap one another On the
south jetty considerable settlement is shown
at the shoals, but in the deeper water at the
sea END OF the jetty there is an apparent sand
ing up that Is surprising. The estimated cost
of the work is S2,07l,023. But $l,2S5 IS. il now
available.
ALTAMAHA RIVER, GEORGIA,
During the past iscal year operations were
confined to making an examination of The
river with view of selecting those points
that should he improved by means of the an
preparation made August ?, 1882 and in max
ing contract for removing rocks at Tsrion
Bun ana Tor building wing dams and bank
projections at Boards hlufF aud Marrow Bone
par, ana perhaps at one or two other Dlaces-
Al the points named are located within the
upper % miles reach of the river. Owing to
was unfavorable work u~aS not
commenced until the latter part of Lass .Iune.
IN Inc amount available for this work is $I4,-
S6S u. 1t Is estimated thai $500. 200 are neces-
sary to complete il,
FO4tsIA BAR, FLORIDA.