Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-14
WORK In THE HARB0R.
DANGERS TO NAVIGATION RE
SULTING FROM DELAY,

W O1tA 1A' LII AAAsD OAes
DANGERS TO NAVIGATION RE
SULTING FROM DELAY
The Dredging to Have Commenced in
December not Likely to Begin Before
February What Gen. Gilmore says
About the Work ana Where it Will be
Done The Channel to be Dredged
Where IL VIII be Maintained by the
Jetties-No Provision Made for the
Channel Along the City Front.
Some time ago the attention OF the Board
Of Aldermen was called to the rapid
sboaling of the river along the city front,
and the dangers which were threatening
navigation. An investigation was or
dered, and the channel was found
to be rapidly filling up at certain
points with sand and refuse matter.
Shoals and bars had already formed and
vessels were continually going aground.
The condition Of the channel was found
10 be such that something must be done
TO protect its obstruction or serious re-
suits would follow. The same condition
Of things was found TO exist below the
city. On the upper flats shoal had
been forming Tor some time and has now be-
come d serious obstacle. Inc steamship
Lancaster. laden with cotton for Liverpool,
and drawing Is feet of water, went
aground there "A week agO to-day. Several
attempts have been made 10 haul her out
If the shOal by tugs, but she was still "
ing there yesterday morning. Her coal
was lightered. ana with this done she was
got over and went down to Venus
Point last night. The schooner Jordan,
drawing l. feet of water, is also
living in the blight, unable to get out.
These are only two Of the frequent cases
that are reported.
WHAT GEN. GILMORE SAYS.
After the result of the investigation by
the city authorities had been reported to
the Mayor the condition of things was
made known to the Dep 4rtment of Engi-
neers at Washington, and the necessity for
commencing at once the work or dredg-
ing was urged. Mayor Lester is now in
receipt Of letter from Gen. John 5. New
ton. Chief of Engineers, in reply to the
one addressed to him, in which he says
that the work viii begin as soon as a
dredge, which the contractors, Messrs.
Ross & Sanford, have ordered from
Washington reaches here. lie lnclOses
a letter from Gen. Gilmore in regard
10 the delay in commencing the
work, which by the terms Of the contract
should have been begun on Dec. II. Gen.
Gilmore in this letter says: NV hen the
contract for dredging was awarded to
Mr.. Ross he promised to commence work
in about six weeks, or about Jan. l,
which would be two weeks later than the
date mentioned in the contract. As be
contemplated building a new dredge and
scOws for the work this concession in
time was granted him. AS he has since
ascertained that his new float could not
be completed in time, he has ordered |
powerful dredge to be taken from Wash
ingtOn. and the work will be commenced |
promptly on her arrival az savannah"
WHEN THE WORK WILL BE DONE.
In regard to the grounding Of the Ma
cOOchee and City of Macon, reported III
the NEWS at the time, and officially re- |
ported TO the department, he says; at is !
not probable that the grounding OF either |
Of these vessels could have been avoided, |
even if dredging had been commenced on |
or before the date specified in the contract |
This occurred opposite the city, where 10 |
dredging is contemplated" He then goes |
on to state that the NacOOchee, he is IT. |
formed, went aground when heavily !
loaded and attempting to pass out at half |
grounded between 700 and 800 feet
out of the channel, and that others |
that went aground did so probably under |
similar circumstances. In concluding he |
adds that a large proportion OF the appTO- |
pristiOns for the improvement OF the river
has been expended from year TO year in
dredging the second and third time in the !
same locality, giving only temporary re- |
lief and delaying the progress Of the work. |
1t has been thought desirable, he says, to |
avoid this during the present working |
season by restricting the dredging TO |
these localities where the increased depth |
secured by dredging would be main |
tanned by the works. This seems |
to indicate that no dredging is |
f.,f -, of 10 off " vxha %
most needed, but that it will be confined |
to that part Of the river where the chan |
mel will be maintained by the government |
works. The delay in commencing the |
work, which it was expected would be be- !
gun by Nov. Il, and anyway not later |
than Dec. Il, has excited considerable |
inquiry in Savannah The cOntrac- |
tors, Messrs. Ross Sanford, are |
Il Jersey City firm. Mr.. Sanford |
has been expected in Savannah for some |
time to superintend the preparations for |
the work, but has not yet arrived.
WAITING FOR THE WORK TO BEGIN.
There is a good deal of anxiety |
in shipping circles as to the like |
lihOOd of any work being done |
during the winter, The channel |
is rapidly shOaling and navigation is con- |
tinually impeded, and river men say |
that unless something is done very soon |
the harbor will he closed TO ordinary |
draught vessels. The d!edge which Gen. |
NewtOu's letter says is now on the way |
here was reported about three weeks ago |
put in somewhere this side of Cape Hat |
teras, and has not been heard Of since. |
The new dredge spoken Of is being built |
at the lower wharVes. A NEWS reporter |
was told yesterday by the foreman
in charge OF the work that
if no Unforeseen delay occurred
the dredge would be finished and ready
for work by the first week in February.
About 81 hands are now employed in its
construction. When completed it will be
one of the largest and most powerful any
where along the coast, Its dimensions
being S4x34 feet over all. None of the
machinery has yet arrived, but it is said
to be of the latest and most improved
patent, giving the dredge the facility
for very rapid work. Its completion is
not generally looked for by those who
have watched its progress for some time
yet. In fact, it was not begun until Dec.
H.. the day on which the contract required
the dredging to begin. After the dredge IS
completed several mud scOws remain to
be built. These, the foreman says, will
be begun as soon as the dredge is
launched, which he hopes to accomplish
by the latter part of this week or the first
OF next.
WHAT THE ENGINEERS SAY.
So far as can be learned there is no prob
ability of the work being begun in the
river anyway before next month, and
probably not then, The engineer in
charge Of the harbOr improvements was
asked as to the cause of the delay, but
could give no reason for it, except that it
was for the lack of facility. The work, he
says, will begin as early as /,
is possible to get the dredges in opera
ton.
There is a disposition to criticise the
government in permitting the delay,
when the river demands immediate at
tention to prevent the dangers which
threaten the interests of the port.
WORK OF THE COURTS.
Brief Sessions of the City and Superior
Cnnrfa KaaferdaY.