Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-24

/
from the commerce Of the South by the
cheapening Of ocean transportation is
question Intimately connected with its
/ growth and commercial prosperity. 1t IS
/ one. moreover, in which those Central and
/ lWestern States whose commerce natur-
! ally, seeks outlets through the South At
lantic ports are equally interested. IL
vas for the purpose Of recit-
ing the burdens 50 unnecessarily
borne by the Southern ports, and OF tor
mulating the public sentiment into
expressions that will suitably pre-
sent to the country and to Congress their
needs, with a view to securing in the
future a just recognition Of their rights,
that this convention was called. The man
ner in which the call has been responded
to shows that the people are alive to the
disadvantages under which they have
been laboring, and are in earnest in their
endeayors to have the distractions to
their commerce removed. The delegates
to the convention are representatives OF
the vast commercial interests of ten i'm
portant States. They are men Of ac-
knowledged ability, eminent in business
life and in public affairs, who were Sc
lected on account of their especial fitness
for the work which they are expected to
DO. 1t is one Of the most important rep
resentative assemblies ever convened in
the south.
Now that the convention is ready to or
ganize, it becomes necessary to consider
what policy it may pursue, what memo
rial it may adopt as an expression Of the
needs and wishes of the important sec
ton Of the country which it represents.
1t should not forget that unless properly
directed its very strength may be an ele-
ment of weakness. In a body OF men Of
high intelligence and ability there may
be too many leaders, and an attempt to
secure supremacy may cause dissensions
resulting in destroying the objects OF the
meeting. There should be no clashing of
private interests. The improvement OF
The South Atlantic harbors is a question
OF national Importance, and the aim of the
convention should be to seek the general
good, and any attempt to subordinate this
to the wants of any particular locality
should be strenuously resisted.
Although harmony is desirable and nee
essary, 1t does not follow that it should be
purchased at the cost of indorsing the i'm
provelnent of every ditch in the land. The
curse OF our river and harbOr bills has
been appropriations of money for projects
which can be of no public benefit; appro-
priatiOns made despite the recommends
tions of the engineers, simply to humor
localities and to secure votes. A set of
resolutions looking to the execution of
works of national Importance, and strong
ly condemning the wasteful and foolish
expenditure of public money for the bene-
fit of private interests would command
respect, and could excite no intelligent
hostility.
1t can not be denied that great good
may result from the Improvement OF
many ofour important rivers, and no oppo-
sition should, of course. be made to an
expenditure of public money for meritOrl-
Gus projects of this character. Yet the
fact should not be lost sight of that this
is a harbor improvement convention. 1t
was called for the purpose of directing at
tention TO the harb0rs of the South At
lantic coast; of showing the great bene-
fits to commerce that would result from
the further improvement OF these harbors,
and of urging upon Congress the need of
immediate and intelligent action in re-
gard to this matter.
1t is not to be expected in fact it is be-
yond the power OF a convention of this
character to designate the kind of work
needed at any locality, or 90 determine
the amount of money which should be ex-
pended in the accomplishment Of any de-
sired object. There are skillful and ex-
perienced engineers who are educated by
the government for this purpose, and who
not only prepare the proper plans for any
desired work Of Improvement, but carry
into execution these plans. They alone
are competent to say how much money
will be needed TO successfully
carry out the improvement OF these
harbors, and it is the province of the con-
ventIOn to urge and demand that Congress
shall appropriate the amounts declared
| necessary by the engineers. The system
OF insufficient and irregular appropria-
| tons which has prevailed In the past seri.
ously embarrasses the engineers, inter-
| feres with their plans, and renders next
to impossible that judiciOus and econom-
ical expenditure Of the public funds which
/ is desirable.
1t is well known that on ocean bars,
/ especially of the sandy character prevail
ing upon this coast, a suspension OF ope-
rations, leaving the unfinished work at
the mercy OF the elements, is liable to re-
suit in complete loss of the work done,
and is certain to largely augment its cost.
1t is, of course, greatly to the credit OF
the engineers that they have succeeded
so well in spite OF the worst system OF
appropriations that human ingenuity has
been able TO devise. But it is too great
a tax To be imposed upon their skill and
upon the nations purse. A radical
change Is demanded. Congress should be
asked TO appropriate dt once the total
amount declared necessary for the exc
cution OF any work OF improve
ment, the yearly expenditure
being limited TO the amount
declaged necessary by the engineers. In
this way, and in this way only, can there
be- fio.uncertainty regarding the success
hll aud economical prosecution Of harbor
works. The convention should insist
that the agitation Of this question shall