The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-13
SAVANNAH'S CHANNEL.
a BETTER CHANCE FOR A2e THAN
FOR A 28-FOOT SCHEME.

The Former Depth Could be Obtained
for a little Over 100000, as
Against $e,6oo,ooO for the Latter
Congress More Apt to Consider the
New Plan Favorably Than the Old
One.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-The chief of
engineers and the members of the House
committee on rivers and harbors agree in
saving that there is no prospect of Savan-
nah's getting the money for the 2S-foot har-
Dor project as far as their prophetic vision
extends. They think that Savannah would
stand better chance of getting her desires
if she would modify them SO as to content
her elf with 26-foot channel in the harb Dor.
costing only a little over 81, 600, 00O instead
of S6,6OO,0O0.
REPLY TO MAYOR LESTER.
This is the sustaIce of letter which
Congressman Norwood wrote tonight to
Mayor Lester in response to ono from
Mayor Lester urging an effort to get an ap-
preparation for the % foot project. Mr..
Norwood called to-day on the chief of en-
gineers and the Secretary of War. The
latter, Of course, knew nothing about it..
but the former talked intelligentlv. He
said it was neither his duty, nor could it be
his privilege to send an estimate for
the 2S-foot channel to congress
this session since congress had deliberately
refused to recognize it last sessio !. He re-
cited the history of the attempt made last
session to get recognition by getting an
initial appropriation for the new project.
and said that it was evident that this CON
gress did not propose to begin that work.
CONSIDERED TOO COSTLY.
He said that he thought the committee
on rivers and harbors thought that project
entirely too costly for Savannah and that
congress seemed to agree with them.
ask only 26 feet of water in her
harbor to correspond with the IS feet on her
bar that she would stand better chance of
getting it. The two feet additional depth
on the bar necessary TO make the 2S-foot
channel would be too costly. He said those
two feet would cost perhaps a million
apiece. Now for 26-foot channel no adj
ditional dredging would be necessary on
the BAR and he estimated that all the chan
mel work would only cost a little over
100000.
MIGHT BE OBTAINED.
"Now that" he said, you might get in
time, and you might get your initial appro-
priation in this years bill in either the
House or the Senate" So Mr. Norwood
desires to submit the matter to Savannah.
He will stand out for the 28-foot project if
desired, although he does not think the
House will sanction it, and is not sure of
the Senate; or he will ask for an initial APP
preparation on the 26-foot project, which
he has some hope of getting. Senator Col
quit told Mr.. Norwood to-day that he was
waiting to take the matter up in the Senate
and push it through.
A BAD OUTLOOK FOR THE BILL
In reporting the river and harbor bill
last year the Senate commerce com ittee
said: "The bill as submitted to the Senate
appropriates $21, 562, 7S3 n, exceeding by
ST. 823, 90S n the largest appropriation ever
made in a river and harbor bill, but when
it is considered that no appropriation for
rivers and harbors was made la It year,
that in the short session following a presi-
Dental election il is hardly probable that
any appropriation will be made for the sue
ceeding fiscal year, the bill practically
represents period of three years, on
basis of 100000 a year, considerably
less than the average expenditure of
recent years for river and harbor improve
ments.n This is now quoted to support the
prediction that the Senate will bury the
House bill this year if the House republi-
cans let it get to them. Chairman Frye of
the Senate commerce committee is quoted
as eSyeciallv ODDCsed to IT,