Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-10
CLEARING OUT THE CHANNELS.

Years Work ON the saltI<ehatchie
and Edisto Rivers-Wonderful In
crease in the Lumber Business.
Capt. Thomas n. Bailey, in notes Of his
report concerning the government opera
tions on the Saltkehatchie and Edisto
rivers in South Carolina for the year end
ing June 80, says:
During a part of July last year the
United States snag boat "Toccoa" re-
moved go snags from the channel OF the
Saltkehatchie river in the three miles oil
the stream lying below the Charleston
and Savannah Railroad bridge. This COM
pleted the clearing Of the channel from the
mouth of the river up to the railroad
bridge. This reach is now practleaDle
for RATS, schOOners and light draft steam
boats. In April, Nay and June, 1884,
force of hands was employed in clearing
snags. trees and other distractions from
the channel. between the railroad bridge
and point 80 miles above, during which
period 1850 such distractions were re-
moved. This work has been done in the
interest of raft navigation and was per-
formed by men acquainted with the river,
accustomed to running RATS over 1t and
personally interested in the improvement.
This method of doing the work has
proved very satisfactory both as to ef1-
cheney and economy, From the Bridge to
the Forks, a distance of twenty-fOur
miles, nearly all the troublesome over
hanging trees have been removed, and all
but a few of the ''underhangs" and ''side-
hangs" From the Forks to the Roots,
eight miles, all the overhanging trees have
been cut away, and all of tue undertakings
except three or four. There are still some
stumps in this reach. In the twenty
miles above the Roots the overhanging
trees have been removed; some under
hangs and stumps remain. Before this
work was done one day was required TO
make the run from the Forks to the Bridge;
it can now be made in four hours. From
the Roots to the Forks bull of five sticks
was formerly used, now fifteen sticks can
be foated. From Niles Bridge to the
Roots the former bull was of four or five
sticks, now a bull of eight sticks can be
RATED in half the time. In the season of
1894 about $500, 900 feet b. NJ. was floated,
valued at $4,000.
Capt. Bailey says: l estimate that up
as far as Brukston Bridge there are l.
656, O00, 600 feet B. NJ. Of standing timber
tributary to the river, and valued at ST.
800, 600; 100000 bush pine were shipped
from Public Landing last season, and
about $4,000 worth of naval stores. l
have assurances that the improvement of
the river will inaugurate the single and
railroad tie business. Mr.. w. ID. Miles,
of Islandton, S. c., had local charge of
the work, and to him most of the credit
is due.
Concerning the improvements in the
Edisto river Capt. Bailey reports that for
short time in August, 1888, and during
May and June, 1884, the United States
snag boat Toccoa was at work at various
points on the river from its mouth to Saw
Mill Landing, IS miles above Jackson
bOIo. Forty piles, 81 snags, and lO1 over
hanging trees were removed. The snag
boat can do no more work ON the river
at present economically. Operations will
soon be resumed ON the Edisto, after the
manner which has proved so successful
on the Saltkehatchie.