Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-03
IMPROVING THE HARB0R.
CONDITION AND PROGRESS OF
THE GOVERNMENT WORK.

to the Seattle Improvements ia the
Altamaha AMI at BranSwIck and Cum
berland sound The Romney M trsh
Cut.
Lieut.. .. NJ, Carter, government enSi-
neer in charge of the Savannah river and
harbor Improvements, has completed mis-
annual report TO Gen. Gilmore Of the
work done in the Savannah river and
harbor ANA also in the Altamaha river and
at Brunswick and Cumberland sound
The work at this point was suspended
last October for want OF funds, and moth
ing can be done until the $4,000 appro-
priation now before Congress becomes
available. thorough examination OF
the improvements WAS made last month.
AT the close OF operations ia october
the river channel was in An excellent
condition. The work having been at
standstin since then, some snoaling has
taken place, which, nGd there been luads
to 90 ahead with, could nave been con-
trolled for a much smaller sum than Will
now be required for lis removal.
THE CHANNEL IMPROVED.
The channel is still, however, IN good
condition. Daring the year several ve--
sells OF over - feet draft passed IA AMI
out again on single tide. one vessel "t
- feet incues draU was brought up
10 the CITY. This is ! foot inches more
draft tnau the river has ever permitted.
The work Of building wing uans was
continued. under the contract in force at
tine beginningot the year, until september.
The dredging which was temporarily sus-
pended prior to tue close Of last year was
resumed in August and continued until
October. when the appropriation was eX-
hausted,
TIE WING DAMS.
Attic cross-tides dam above the city the
WORK is generally in good condition. Sew
cral breaks in the dam, caused by fisher
men throwing of the stone IN order to Sc
cure a short quito Back river, occurred dur
Ing the year. At the Upper rice mill no
work was done. and two small shoals
have formed at the foot OF West Broad
street. fhe least mean high water here
is 20L feet. There is still IA
practicable channel, however, OF q feet,
some slight sh0aling having taken place
during the year
AT the Garden Bank sboal, opposite the
Gas works. considerable dredging was
done. The channel mas narrowed some
what The shualIng continues at this
point and dred sing Will soon be impera-
Lively necessary.
SAND FROM THE STREETS.
The shoaling is caused chiefly by the
sand washing from the streets into the
river. II this IS allowed To continue 1t
will be a difficult matter TO keep the
channel open.
The Wrecks channel is in good condi-
ton. The least mean high water there is
81 feet and a fraction, this deptn being
greater than at the close Of last wear.
The dams at the distractions and Upper
Flats are in good condition. AT the OBJ
structions there is foot more water than
sHsal los I IN ft.rl Lot
the width Of the channel has been main
tanned and very little shoaling has taken
place.
DOWN THE RIVER.
Two of the dams at the Lower Flats
were slightly injured by the August
cyclone. The others are in good condi-
ti0n. one is still unfinished. Some dredg-
ing was done To connect the deep-water
pools above and below the shoal. The
channel in the upper portion Of the cut
mas deepened from l 10 8 feet, while in the
lower portion it has shO8led about 8
inches. TIE least mean high water is - y
feet showing deepening OF l foot during
the year.
AtLJnL Island crossing two OF the dams
were somewhat injured by the August
storm. The channel is somewhat more
lrregu ar than ii was last year and is
slightly narrower. Some shOaling has
taken place below the dams, and the add
tOnai contracting works originally de-
signed for the Improvement of this cross
ing will probably be Duilt when operations
are resumed.
AT TIE OYSTER BEDS.
A. the OYSTER Bed shOnl the dam is in
good condition. TDe width OF the chan
mel has bcel maintained and it is
somewhat deepen d. lne shoal at
this point can now be considered pcrma-
nentiy removed. The channel at rybee
Knoll is i'll about the same condition that
il was last year, no sensible shOaliDg
having taken place.
The works Tor tie protection OF Tybee
Island are il good condition and are ac-
complaining the purpose for which they
were built. one Of the Jetties was eX-
tended 800 feet during the year.
The amount of work done in the harbOr
last year Is, of course, much less than
was done the year before, owing to the
fact that operations were continued only
until October.
TIE MATERIAL USED.
The total amount in square yards of
mattresses laid during the year was a
little over 1900. Something over 1000
cubic yards OF fascines We're put down
Rad about 1900 cubic yards OF stone.
Under the contract total OF III, lbs Yards
of mattresses and 9.61S Yards q; tascines
aud ., 199 cubic yards Of stone nave been
used. In the dredging at the Garden
Bank shoals, Lower Flats and Upper
Flats, aud al tae DISTINCTIONS and
Wrecks nearly 10000 cubic yards OF mate
rial we're removed. The total amount re-
moved under the appropriation Is 1885,
6SS yards.
THE ROMNEY MARSH CUT.
In RomDey Marsh the dredging was
continued under the contract until Sept.
l VI q y