Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-10
Suggestions Respecting River and
Harbor Legislation.

Suggestions Respecting River and
Harbor Legislation.
1t goes almost without saying that any
system of appropriating money for public
works OF Improvement which recognizes
the possibility OF an enforced suspension
/ of those works for one or more seasons
| from lack OF needed funds, is pernici0us
one. Especially is this true with regard
/ to works of harbor improvements. In
many cases, as In estuaries and on ocean
bars, a very large and expensive plant is
necessary for a vigorous and satisfactory
prosecution OF the work. And great
deal Of this plant has to be constructed
with especial reference to the work in
question. II the government does the
work, the first appropriation-as appro-
priations are now made--Is necessarily
largely, or entirely, expended in securing
the proper outfit preparatory to the pros
ecution Of the work with the next years
appropriation. Should that appro
priation fail, the plant is left
on hand to deteriorate, and
when another appropriation is secured a
pair the damage caused by the delay. IT,,
however, the work is done by contract,
the plant Of the contractors must lie idle,
and deteriorate in the same manner, and
the government will then pay for the de-
probation in the increased price Of work.
But this is only one Of many disadvant-
ages Of the present method fappropriating
In sod cit
uations. harbor works are very costly at
best, and where a suspension of opera
tions is liable to occur at any time, an
eXtrayagant system of construction must
often be used, or the safety OF the whole
structure put in jeopardy. Then, too, the
engineers are often forced to change their
plans to conform to insufficient
appropriations, and disappointment
and failure might naturally be expected.
Noon can hope for the best success when
labonng under such great Disadvantages.
The system of scaling down the estl-
mates OF the engineers and appropr ating
from one-tourth TO one-half of the sum de-
clared necessary, is only a slightly lesser
evil. The estimates of the cost of works
are carefully made and the amounts asked
for by the engineers are those which can
most advantageously and economically be
expended in the prosecution Of their plans
Of improvement.
In many cases the cost OF the plant
needed to do a small amount OF work is
just as great as that required to do a much
larger amount, and to take ten years to do
work that should be done in one would be
an extravaganza that would be fatal to
any one engaged in private business.
On few rivers, where costly locks and
dams are being constructed for slack
water navigation, or where a large and
expensive plant is needed for the con-
structiOn of works of contraction and
bank revetment, a somewhat similar me-
cessity for continuous appropriations ex-
lists, as in the prosecution of works of
harbor improvement. Before work is
done at any locality, plans Of improve
ment, with estimates Of cost, are always
submitted by the engineers. and it is thus
well known what sum of money will be
required for the completion of the pro-
posed Improvement. If Is decided that
so great a sum Of money cannot be al
lOtted to the work, then no specific apprO-
priatiOn should be made. But il Congress
sanctions the proposed improvement, and,
by making an appropriation for beginning
it, declares it of national Importance,
then every rule of business economy
and of common sense demands that the
funds necessary to the vigorous
prosecution of the work should be
forthcoming. However necessary this
may be, there can be no well founded
hope of its accomplishment so long as
appropriations are made ON the present
system.
1t would seem, therefore, as if radical
change in the method OF making appro-
priations for public improvements would
be advisable. An improvement having
been decided to be a public necessity,
and the plans and estimates of the engi-
neers having been submitted, it would be
a much wiser plan to appropriate the
total amount necessary to complete the
improvement at once, the yearly expen-
ditures being limited by law to those de-
clared necessary by the engineers in their
estimates. This method would guarantee
an economical and vigorous prosecution
Of the work, would leave the engi-
neers untrammeled in the selection of the
best and cheapest methods of construc-
tion, and would open up the improve
ments TO the public at the earliest posi-
bic date. On some rivers and in some
harbors continuous work is not needed,
and continuous appropriations for them
are, therefore, only a waste OF money
Yet there are some places where a Judi
ci0us expenditure of money now and then
would result in great public good For
the Improvement Of rivers and haIbors Of
this class, it would be well 10 have an an
nual appropriation of a lump sum Of such
amount as may be deemed proper, to be
expended under the direction of the gov
ernment engineers in such amounts and
at such places as would secure the great
est benefits to commerce. such a system
OF appropriations would lift the river and
harbor bill out Of the category OF clog
rolling" schemes, and would give to the
country a valuable return for the money
invested.
MIR. Clews Tries to- Register.
MIR. Henry Clews, the Wall street
banker, who lately was so prominent in
trying IN got tho A ttornnv (ganaral NJ Novy