The Washington critic., 1885-11-26
SOUTH ATLANTIC uAnBoRs.
Delegates from Seven States Urge Inn
mediate Action by Congress,

SAVANNAH, Ga, Nov. 2i--Two hundred del.
cgNtcs were present Mt the harbor convention
which met here to-day. Seven states were rep
rcsentcd-Gcorgia. Florida, Alabama, North
Carolina South Carolina, Virginia, ana Penn
sylvania. EX.Gov. Drew, of Florida, was
chosen temporary chairman; NJ J. Hammond,
of Atlanta, congressman from the fourth dis
triCt of Georgia. was elected president and
Mayor Smith, Of Philadelphia, one of the vice
presidents The object of the convention Is to
secure from Congress more consideration for
the south Atlantic harbors. Charles Lawrence,
president of the city council of Philadelphia;
L. w, Dawson, of Charleston, aud others ad.
dressed the convention
The following resolutions were adopted:
"The committee on resolutions respectfully
submit the unanimous report In place of vlri-
Gus resolutions and recommendations referred
TO them by order of the convention.
whereas the Improvement OF harbors Of ma.
tonal importance and the approaches thereto
has been and is impcrativoly demanded by the
great foreign and domestic commerce passing
through them ana judlcious expenditure for
such an object Is wise Investment Of public
"Whercns II has long since become the settled
policy and practice of the general government
looking TO the general welfare, to appropriate
money TO the Improvement of such hdrbors
and approaches thereto;
"Whercns in consequence OF very INADEQUATE
appropriations by Congress In past years the
harhors on our south Atlantic coast, the nat
uGGl gatownys through which the imports aud
exports of large section of our vast country
must necessarily pass, have not been improved
deopcned, and otherwise adapted to that class
of vessels having capacity to carry the large
and increasing commerce Of these ports with
economy, thereby imposing heavy aud en-
tircly unnecessary tax upon both producerand
consumer: Therefore be IL
"Rcsolyed, That the development of these
hnrbors and approaches thereto Is n subject
entitled to the highest consideration of the
Congress of the United States; that II Is the
manifest and imperative duty of the general
government to take immediate stops to secure
the safe md easy navigation of these harbOrs
by vessels of such burden as the large and
growing commerce of the country demands
thus reducing the cost of freight and insurance.
promoting the inland commerce of the nation,
securing new avenues of foreign trade, and
bringing general prosperity aud increased
wealth TO the whole country.
IA "Resolved, That the work of improving the
arbors of sandy coasts Is admittedly one of
the most difficult problems In hydraulic cngi-
neoring; that II is of vital Importance to the
successful and economical prosecution of such
works that there should be no lack of needed
funds. since enforced suspension of opernl IONS
not only returds the work and adds greatly to
its cost, but seriously endangers its safety
Resolved, Tint rs nearly all our Atlantic
harbors and all upon this southern coast are of
the sandy type, we regard the stoppago OF
| these works, or embarrassment of the same
from lack of funds, MS peculiarly doplorable,
| and in contrnvention of every law of economy
and good policy. and with great confidence in
| the skill, integrity and energy of the officers
| TO whom the plans and work of harbor i'm
| prosement is intrusted, we earnestly recon-
| mend and,urge that In future adequate appro
| priatons for these harbors may be made in
| accordance with official estimates of the total
| cost of the Improvement, such appropriations
to be applied in annual fnstallments of such
amounts as the eXigencies of the case may re-
| quire, in order hat these important works may
| be prosecuted vigorously and in the speedlest
| best, and most economical manner.
| Resolved, That while we regard the dgvel.
| opmcnt OF the harbOrs of the south Atlantic
| coast and the approaches thereto MS an object
| OF paramount Importance, we recommend the
| Improvement of such other hnrbors and rivers
as viii facilitate the commerce of the whole
| country and promote the general good.
''Rcsolyed. That in view Of the serious det-
| riment likely to result to various river and
| hGrbor works now in progress from exhaustion
| of avail able appropriations and consequent
enforced suspension of work on these improve
mcnis pending the passage of the regular river
| and harbOr bill, 1t Is the sense of this cOnven
tion that Congress should Immediately aftel
| IeaSscmhllng pass u relief bill providing fol
the prosecution of these works aa aggregate
| sum, to DC made Immediately available in al
| vnnce of the regular appropriation bill
| "Resolvcd, That n special committee of one
| from each state represented in the convention
be appointed by the chairman to prepare and
personally present to the Congress OF the
| United states memorial embodying the view.
set forth in the foregoing resolutions, and tC
urge their early aud favorable considerations
| ''Resolved, That u permanent executive
| committee of one member from each state rep
| resented in this convention be appointed By
| the chair, and when this convention 0djourns
u shall adjourn subject to call of tn; execu
The following committee was appointed tc
prepare the memorial Alabama, S, II. Dent
Florida, Charles H. Jones', GSorIlo, John
| South Carolina, S. Y. Tuppcr; Tennessee, Tom
linson Fort; Virginia, William Lamb.
| The convention adjourned tonight. The
| Ocean Steamship Company Will give the dele
gates an excursion to sea and u banquet to
| morrow morning on the steamship Augusta.