Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-11
WHEN THE WORK WILL STOP.

WHEN THE WORK WILL STOP.
This shows that the only failures of the
river and harbOr bills have occurred in
short sessions and in those years in which
a bill passed during the short session,
il has been in the last weeks. At the
long sessions no bills have failed, but
none has been passed much earlier than
the middle Of June. The next session OF
Congress will be held December, 1888. 1t
will therefore, estimating from former
legislation. be as late as June, 1886, be-
fore any funds will be available for con-
tinuing the work ii bill should be passed.
Bids would then have 10 be obtained and
contracts made, which would require at
least three months time, bringing ii to Sep
TENDER. In case new firms obtained the
contracts. which would not be at all impro-
liable. additional time would be required in
which 10 construct working plants so that
active operations would not probably
begin before January. 1887. The prOba-
bilitv then Is that from October, $50, or
thereabOutE, when the present work Is
discontinued, 10 January, 1887, cOnsidera-
Jlv over a year. No work can be done eX-
cent in urgent cases from the emergency
fund. retained from the general apprc-
p-iatiOn, unless an extra session Of Con-
gress shall do the work which the late
Congress lett undOne.
Lient. Carter, United States Engineer
in charge Of the improvements, returned
from Charleston yesterday, where he has
been for several days experimenting the
repairs upon the government snag boat
TOccOa.
There is no getting around the fact
that the failure 10 pass the bill Is an I'M
fortunate omission. 50 far as the Work
here is concerned. ard is likely to be at
tended with bad results" he said
F0r QEe
The amount now on hand Will be eX-
hausted so far as it is advisable by Oct.
l. and work will then have 10 stop"
CHANGES ~ THE PLANS.
The narrow limit Of the appropriation
row left will necessitate a change IN the
eneineer's plans in order that when the
work is discontinued il may &c left in the
best possible condition for the inter-
ests of commerce. 4 certain amount OF the
appropriation will be lefE uneXpended in
case that. during the interval before an
other appropriation can be made avail
able. any unlocked for work may arise, as
in tue case OF O5stiuctiOns in the channel,
which, il they are allowed to remain.
would prove a serious injury to the port.
The improvements during the past win
ter have progressed as rapidly as the ma
terial for the jattieS could be secured,
Owing TO the cold weather at the North it
has been extremely difficult sOr the con-
tractors to obtain stone. which is brought
IN ballast chiefly from New York, where
it is quarried from the upper part OF
the citv. For some time it was al
most impossible to proceed with the
was, however. secured in small quantities
from DOb0y, where it was DISCHARGED
from ballast. and the work has been kept
up without interruption. From now on
30 difficulty is appTehended IN case YES
sells bringing stone can secure return
cargocs. The work during the winter has
been principally AZ the cross-tldes above
the city, where the mattresses were mar
row and not so much stone was required.
This Improvement is about complete and
the contractors are now at work at the
lower flats, below Venus Point.
WHAT Is BEING DONE.
The iet,ies at this point extend from
opposite banks Of the river to a distance Of
I.OnOand 800 feet leaving narrow chan
mel. The amount expended during the
month Of February for j-tty work was
$4,000. and for dredging $500.
The dredge, which arrived from the
North. for Messrs. Ross & Sanford on Mon
day Will be put at work in ROmney Marsh
about March Il. The new dredge which
has Just been completed at the lower
wharves will supplant one Of the dredges
now in operation 10y Paulsen x Co., and
will be put to work at The spar buoy OPP
posite Fort Pulaski and the red light bea-
con. Dredging at this point is more need
Cd. probably. than anywhere in the river
at present. The work here will occupy at
least three months. and will hardly be
completed before July 1.
The dredging in ROmney Marsh will he
continued until the appropriation of $40,
OlOis exhausted. which will probably be
in about three months, depending alto
.ether upon The progress Of the work. by
dredging a narrow channel the engineer
hopes with the appropriation 10 work
Through the entire length Of the cut.
GOING AHEAD WITH THE WORK.
The snag boat which was brought from
Charleston on Monday will be put at work
in the Altamaha. as the balance OF the
approximation for her use in the upper
savannah has been practically exhausted.
The work on both the jetties and dredg-
ing will be continued in the harbOr as
long as the balance Of the appropriation
will warrant with view to accomplishing
the best possible results and leaving the
chanueI in a condition that will neces-
state as little work as possible during
tie interval until another Appropriation
can be secured and made available. Lieut..
Carter is "A capable and efficient officer,
aud is thoroughly interested in the i'm
proyement of the haTbor and IN carrying
on the work in the most practicable and
permanent manner.
The failure to pass the bill is regarded
10y those who appreciate the necessity for
the work as bad economy for the govern
ment and unfortunate for a legitimate
and very important improvement under
taken in the interest, not only OF SaVan-
nah, but the large territory IN the south
that utilities the facilities of the port.