Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-25

/ Ihe convention anu IL > hOEA.
The aarbor Convention did its work
quickly and satisfactorily. It was a
( business, not a speech-making convention.
1t was apparent before the convention
assembled that there was great unan-
unity Of opinion among the delegates as
10 what the character Of the resolutions
ought 10 be, and when the committee on
resolutions met 1t was found that there
was nothing in the way Of a unanimous
report. The action of the convention
adnp ang-the resolutions was also unani-
nous.
There are two points in the resolutions,
HbotnDf which were suggested TO the con-
ventfon BY the MORNING NEWS yesterday.
The first is that Congress should appro-
pirate the whole amount necessary for
gths completion of any public work, as
estin atedr bs the engineers, and that a
certain amount OF the appropriation
should be expended annually. The sec
ond point is that the appropriations
sballl1 he eopfned TO those rivers and
lhaFbefb the improvement Of which
would facilitate the commerce of the
who's s6s1nttv and promote the general
good.
\ The wisdom OF both points is apparent.
sBE makiSR insufficient appropriations.
and by failing to make appropriations an
nually, Improvements are not only de-
.layed and their cost greatly increased,
but commerce is obstructed and damaged.
Within the last few years the river and
f,sl
Great public works are now at
standstill because the appropria-
tons are exhausted. Before there
are other appropriations they will
be so damaged that 1t will require
many thousands Of dollars to put them in
as good condition as they were when their
progress was interrupted. If the system
making appropriations which the con-
vention recommends is adopted river and
harbor improvements, when once under
taken, VIII be pushed forward continu-
ously and vigorously until completed
OF course, objections will be raised to
this system, and Congressman generally
may not favor it. If the people, however,
indicate so Enthusiastically, that there can
be no doubt about their meaning, that
they want it there will not be much delay
in adopting it.
With regard to the second point in the
resolutions. while the amount of money
that is appropriated TO rivers and harbors
that are Of little importance is small. yet
the appearance Of such rivers and harbors
in the river and harbor bill affords the
If ha ufr
ment against it. 1t is better that even
those minor rivers and harbors, which
have some merit in their claim for i'm.
Drovement, should wait TO be improved
until the growing commerce of the coun-
try demands their Improvement than
that the really important rivers and har-
boris should be neglected, or their i'm
prOvement delayed. The whole country
is interested in the Improvement OF the
important rivers and harbors, while the
minor waterways and harbors have only
a limited and local Importance.
The suggestion that Congress make an
appropriation as soon as it meets for the
public works which have been stopped for
want of money, is a good one. 1t is the
fault Of Congress that great public works
have been interrupted, and it ought to
hasten to repair it's fault.
The influence OF the convention can
hardly fail tn be felt. 1t was composed of
representative men, and they represented
people who are very earnest in their de-
termination to have their harbors made
available for the full demands of their
commerce.