Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-12
Thar ,D1ard Water Route to Florida.

of Savannah. We undertook 10 SHOW, 1
and we think we succeeded, that the |
Warsaw Island route could never be
made satisfactory inland water route to |
Florida. and that the Understands cut |
route could. 1t may be that our dlsih-
terestedness in opposing route on which
some work has already been done, IN Ia
vor of a route on which nothing has been |
done. has been questioned. In order lhaI
the public may see that our statements
are borne out by the facts, and that our
assertion of disinterestedness is not I'M
suDported. we present this morning d
man showing tue two routes, Win the
disadvantages of one and the advantages |
of the other as an inland water route 10
Florida. We also present a letter irom |
Col. ;. l.. Fremont, who surveyed all the |
routes through ROmney marsh. Ii this |
map and this letter do not convince even |
the most skeptical that the selection Of
the Warsaw Island route for Improvement
was a mistake, and that it would be |
mistake not to abandon it in favor OF |
Understands cut route while there is still |
a chance. we are willing to abandon fur |
Their opposition to the present improve
ment. Col. Fremont says: 1t was not |
believed that any sane man-englneer,
mariner or member of COngress-Would |
ever think of going around by the circuit |
Gus line of Warsaw Island to reach the
Odingseu river" With respect to Hab-
ersham's cut route, which is route No. l,
he says: Il had then (meaning when he
made the survey no doubt that route
No. was the best in every respect. First
cost, shorter line, straight, direct chan
mel. and the cost Of maintenance,
ali combined to make Understands
cut route infinitely preferable
to either of the four lines examined"
What stronger and better testimony could
there be than this? When the govern
ment engineer who surveyed the routes
condemns so unreseryedly the warsaw
Island route and commends so emphati-
callv Understands cut route, is it not
little curious that Congress should have
adopted the Warsaw Island route? But
it is not our purpose to enter upon that
phase of the subject at present. What Sa-
vannah wants Is the safest and most dl-
rect inland water route to Florida posi-
Olts IlEI NUAnuiCANAdA AAtNA SEt-' eASAAAAttANA
this. We have shown that the Warsaw
Island route is not the most direct route
and not the most advantageous route. Is
it the safest? II it has that advantage
to recommend it some of its disadvan-
tages might be overlooked, though it would
be impossible to overlook all Of them. On
this point what do we fluid in Col. FIRE.
mont's letter. Col. Fremont was being
urged by Mr.. Parsons, the owner of War
saw Island, to recommend the Warsaw
Island route, when the late William NJ.
Wadley appeared on the scene. Mr.. Par
sons appealed to him in behalf Of Sayan-
nah interests. He replied: NO, Mr.. Par
sons, never. If you had the route opened
no inland or river steamer would take it.
They could not risk the rough waters of
Ossabaw sound; besides 1t is too long"
Was not Mr. Wadley recognized as a
man of extremely good judgment? Was
he not always ready to advise what
would promote the interests of savannah
After such testimony as this what more
is there to be said?
Ii may be urged that if the work is
stopped on the Warsaw Island route we
shall get no route opened through the
marsh. Who is authorized to say that:
That is only an expression Of an opinion,
and. probably. of an interested party.
Only $4,000 of government money has
been spent on the Warsaw Island route,
and it will cost to complete it so
that vessels can pass each other in it
more than OOpen Understands cut route.
Two things would be gained, therefore, by
abandoning the Warsaw Island route and
improving Habersham's cut route: First,
| several thousands of dollars would be
saved to the government, and, second, an
inland water way to Florida would be OBJ
tanned that would be Of real benefit to Sa-
| vaunah.
The Report Of the Civil Service Com
mission.
The Civil Service Commission have
prepared their report and will give it to
the public in a day or two. They have
! attempted something more than a mere
statement of what they have done since
they were appointed. They realize that
the enemies of civil service reform are
making determined effort to secure the
repeal of the civil service law, and they
| propose to defeat this effort if possible.
1t doesn't make any difference, so far as
civil service reform is concerned, whether
| they are Influenced by Il wish to retain
| these officers, or by a sincere desire to i'm
prove the civil service. The civil service
law is not to be judged by what the COM
missiOners do in its behalf, but by what
it is. and what it accOmplishes, and what
it is capable of accomplishing. 1t was to
be expected that the law would be at
tackled by politicians and office-seekers of
both parties. but these attacks do not
prove the law a failure, or that
it will not accomplish all that was
expected of it. The only way to deter
mine whether the law is practicable and
beneficial or not is to give it fair trial.
1t has not had fair trial. 1t was passed
in obedience to a popular demand. The
evils of the old system of appointment
We're so great that reform of some kind
was regarded as imperative. 1t may be
that the present law has defects. If it
has let Congress find out what they are
and endeavOr to remedy them. Too much
time was spent in getting the law passed
to repeal it after only years trial. The
commission say that the people who are far
removed from the national capital and
the great cities do not understand the
workings of the law, and
that numerous inquiries are re-
ceived respecting its rules, regulations
and operations. In their report the Com
missioners intend to answer all of these
inquiries fully, so as to give the country
all the information desired on the points
inquired about. In this way the commits
sion hope to strengthen popular sentiment
in favor of the law to such an extent that
the politicians will be compelled to stand
by it and give their attention to improving
it rather than TO scheme for securing its
repeal. Ii the law were repealed it is GER
tain that very soon there would be a pop
uIar clamOr for another law of the same
kind. The people would never be satisfied
with the old system Of patronage. Its
abuses are too great. 1t is all folly to
saw that men who are trained to their du-
ties and who are secure in their positions
as long as they are competent and main
tain n good character, are not better pub
lie servants than those whose tenure of
office depends upon the supremacy of
their party or the good will of the politi-
clans who had them appointed. If there
had been an efficient civil service law IN
operation during the last twenty years
rbe South would not have had such good