Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-04
AChnnce fnr a Llttle Energy.

AChance for Little Energy.
The River and Harbor Committee seems
to be taxing long time to consider the
resolution referred 10 it some days ago,
providing for a survey of the river be-
tween this city and the sea, with the view
OF getting deeper water than is contem-
plated by the present improvements. The
introduction OF the resolution was delay
ed altogether too long, and now the River
and Harbor Committee appears determIn-
ed TO hold on to 1t until 1t will be too late
to do us any good this year.
There can be no reasonable objection to
the resolution. 1t only requests the Sec
rotary of War to submit plans and esti-
mates for giving a channel, from Savan-
nah to the sea. Manageable at mean high
water for vessels of Is feet draft or
course the plans and estimates must be
based upon detailed survey. No money
is called for, and, therefore, there ought
not to be any hesitation about acting on
the resolution at once.
OF course our representative is expected
to push this resolution along as rapidly
as possible. The impression here is that
possible moment after the meeting Of Con-
gress, and carefully looked after and earn
estly pressed, it would have been either
passed or defeated before this time-most
probably passed, as there IS no reason to
expect opposition to it.
The improvements for securing water
for vessels of twenty-eight feet draft
ought to be begun this year, and Will be,
doubtless, il the plans and estimates for
them can be got before the River and
Harbor Committee before it completes its
bill. 1t will be seen, therefore, how i'm
portant it is that the resolution author
izing the survey shall be acted on without
delay. 1t will require considerable time
to make the survey, but II the resolution
should be passed within the next week
or two it is probable it would be COM
pleted in time to furnish the River and
Harbor Committee with the estimates on
which to base an appropriation.
An excellent reason why the survey
should be made now is that the engineer
in charge of the works here can give his
whole attention to it-there being no
work done on the river, because the
appropriation is exhausted. If the sur
vey is not ordered until after work on the
river is resumed, extra expense for
the survey must be incurred, as addi-
tional engineers will be required.
1t would be in the line of economy also
to begin work for the deeper channel be-
fore anything more is done in behalf of
the twenty-two-foOt channel which the
these works would be modified in some
respects to aid in securing the deeper
channel.
There can be no doubt that 1t is the pur-
pose OF Congress to make this harbor
available for the largest class OF vessels.
Charleston, with twO-thirds of Savannah's
commerce, gets One-third greater apprO-
prlations, and her improvements are in
tended to secure 80 feet of water. Even
Wilmington, with one-third of Savannah's
commerce, gets as great an appropriation
as Savannah does.
The greatest seaport of the Empire
State of the South ought to receive better
acknowledgements consideration. The
people of Savannah look with confidence
to their representative to see that the in
terests of their port are not overlooked
and practically ignored. They will not
complain unless they have reason, butt ii
they find thew have reason they will take
care that their complaints are heard.
The River and Harbor Committee ought
to be required to report back the resolu-
ton authorizing a survey at the earliest
possible moment. Delay may prove fatal
to our hopes for an appropriation for the
deeper channel this year.