Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-10
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 1885,


Inc TnFDOI GOnFNhAtOhs
The determination to hold a harbor
convention in this city, in the interest Of
the harbors on the South Atlantic coast,
grew out Of the conviction that If some
thing were not done to secure united and
harmonious action among those Interested
in these harbors they would be neglected
by Congress, and a great deal OF the
money that ought to be devoted to their
improvement would be applied to the I'M
proyement OF Western rivers.
There is no necessity for calling atten-
ton TO the fact that for a number Of years
the appropriations tor the Atlantic har-
bors have been insufficient. The work Of
improving them has been retarded for
the want Of money. In our own bar-
Dor work has been suspended, because
the appropriation is about exhausted.
Before another appropriation can
be obtained, and work resumed, the i'm
provements, which are in very advanced
state, will suffer great damage. There is,
doubtless, the same condition Of affairs
ia other harbors along the coast.
The reason why the South Atlantic har-
bors get such small appropriation is, that
the demands in behalf Of the public i'm
provements of the West and Southwest
are 80 great, and the influences in support
Of these demands are so powerful, that to
satisfy them without exceeding an amount
for pubec Improvements that Congress is
willing to appropriate, the South Atlantic
interests are stinted.
The only way for the South ATLANTIC
States to get what they are entitled to for
their harbors is for them to act unitedly,
as the West and Southwest do, and resist
every attempt to ignore them,
Within the last month or two three
great conventions have been held in the
West in the interest of public improve.
ments in that section. One was at
St. Paul, and had for its object
the securing OF large appropriation for
the improvement OF the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers. Another was held at
Pittsburg, and if passed a resolution re-
questing an appropriation Of s., 900, 600 a
year, for twelve years, for the improve
ment Of the Ohio river, and the third was
at Chicago in the interested the Henuepin
canal scheme.
In Congress all these interests, doubt
less, will work together, and will try to
divide among themselves about all the
money that it will be deemed wise to ap-
propriate for public improvements. Small
amounts may be given to the harbOrs
along the South Atlantic coast, but no.
where near enough will be appropriated
to permit the work in any one Of them TO
be pushed forward rapidly.
This sort Of treatment Will not be agree
able to those interested in the South At
lantic harbors, but they will have to
submit to it if they do not stand together
and insist upon having what belongs to
them.
The South Atlantic harbors are sus-
ceptIble OF very great improvement. On
them to very great extent depend the
growth and prosperity of the South At
lantic ports. The ports will become i'm
pOrtant in proportion as the harbors are
deepened until they will accommodate the
largest vessels. Deep water means big
vessels; big vessels mean cheaper freights,
| and cheaper freights mean more bust
ness.
AuO PVP'SOu SOhNCuClOh VIII O6
notification to Congress that the people of
the South Atlantic section of the country
are alive to their interests, and that in
the matter of appropriations for public
improvements they VIII not submit to
anything but fair treatment. 1t will
awaken the people of the South Atlantic
States to the necessity Of looking out for
the interests of their harbors, and it VIII
influence the Congressman from these
States TO act together when these inter-
ests are to be served in Congress. The
convention Is Just what is needed at this
time, and the movement in its behalf
ought to have every encouragement.