The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-13
NEEDS OF THE HARB0R.
CONGRESS URGED 10 RECOGNIZE
THE 28-FOOT PROJECT.


States Asked in the Movement to
Secure an Adequate Appropriation
| for the Enlarged mDrovement-The
| Action of the Citizens Meeting
Other Cities Requested to Take
Action.
A citizens meeting was held at thu city
| exchange at noon yesterday, to take such
action as might be deemed advisable to
secure an adequate appropriation by con-
gress for the improvement of the
Savannah harbor. The meeting was
made up of representatives of the
commercial organizations, the cotton ex-
change and board of trade. and prominent
| business men.
Upon motion of Col J. H. Estill. Mayor
Lester was made chairman of the meeting,
and Frank E. Rebarer was elected secre-
tary.
The mayor read the call for the meeting,
and explained its objects. Mr.. F. D.
| Bloodworth, president of the cotton
exchange, offered the folnwinE resolutions,
and they were unanimously adopted:
| WHEREAS, The anuo4 ncement Of the river and
| haroor committee that il viii not even consider
| the advisablity of making an Appropriation for
| beginning work on the 2Sfoot Improvement in
| savannah harbor has greatly alarmed the peo-
| PIE OF Savannah, and
| WHEREAS, The survey and estimates for this
| Improvement We're authorized by congress
| nearly two years ago, and the chief engineer In
| ms report TO congress a year ago stated that
| TINS Improvement was demanded by the large
| and growing commerce Of Savannah. The river
| and harbor committee, however. at the last
1 an appropriation for it, not because
| the Importance of the improvement was not
| recognized, but because, as the committee
alleged, it was desired to keep the amount of
| the river and harbor bill within certain limits
| and also because the s2fOot improvement had
not been completed; and
| WHEREAS, The engineer in charge of Sayan-
| nah haroor is now ready to begin work on the
| 2s-foot improvement, and that improvement can
| be carried on economically in connection with
| the final work on the 22-foot improvement and
money can be saved to the government by doing
| so; and
NOT NEW PROJECT.
| WHEREAS, The 23-foot Improvement is not
new project-t is only an extension of the 22foot
| Improvement, Congress has recognized for sixty
| years the necessity for improving the Savannah
river, and has been making appropriations for
| it; and
| WHEREAS, Any delay of the 2s-foot improve
ment is direct blow at the commerce of Savau-
| nah, because If the commerce which her rail
| roads bring to her cannot be handled in her
| harbor on account of the want of the necessary
depth of water to admit the largest class of yes
|
| commerce once lost Is recovered with great
| difficulty, if recovered at ALL and
| WHEREAS, Next to New Orleans Savannah is
| the largest commercial port in the south, and
| her commerce is growing with marvellous ra-
pidity, already being more than 100000 900 an
| nually, and
| WHEREAS, Other southern ports of less i'm
| portance receive large annual appropriations
| for their harbOrs thus making discrimination
| against Savannah although Savannah's com
| Inerce is suffering for want of deeper water to
| the sea, therefore, be it
| THE RESOLUTIONS.
| l. RESOLVED, That our immediate representa-
| tive in congress Hon Thomas NJ Norwood the
senators from this state, and the representatives
| ia congress from the other districts of Georgia.
are earnestly urged to spare no effort to induce
| the committee to include in the appropriation
| bill to be reported to congress a recognition of
| the 25-foot project, and the appropriation of
| such an amount as in the opinion of the chief
| of engineers, can be advantageouSly expended;
| and should the effort before the committee be
| unsuccessful, that they enieavor to amend the
| bill when reported to congress, so to include
| an adequate appropriation for this river aud
| harbor
| ?. That we invoke the cooperation of the
| citizens of all the territory which has a common
| interest with US in the cheaper freights result
| ing from larger vessels, which deeper water
| will bring to our port, and to this end we
| the mayors of towns and cities interested to
| call meetings of their citizens to consider this
| matter and to urge on their congressman the
necessity of heartily supporting the appropria
| ton which may be asked for.
| g. That we beSpeak the powerful aid and in
| fuence of the press Of this and neighboring
| states in impresSing the people, and through
| them their representatives in congress, with the
| importance of this work, and the necessity of
| an immediate appropriation by congress, that
| such depth Of water may be obtained that the
| facilities of the port may keep pace with its
| growing commerce.
d. That all commercial bodies in cities and
| towns having business with this port he an
| hay her pbv n
| with view to giving this matter the weight of
| their influence and support.
sAvANNAH's COMMERCE.
In speaking upon the resolutions, Mr..
| Bloodworth said that to prove the i'm
portance of the 28-foot improvement it IS
only necessary to point to the CONNIE ce Of
| Savannah, which is equal to that of all the
| ports on the A lantic coast south of Hamp-
ton Roads The 2S-foot project, he eX
planned, is not new Improvement, as tn
river and harbor committee seem
to regard it. 1t is simply an
enlargement of the present project, and
granting that it is now project altogether,
the committee, he said, has already include
several items for new work in the present
river and harbor bill, so that the argumenl
| that it uses against an appropriation 70
the proposed improvement here doe
not apply. Mr.. Bloodworth was
| impressed with the importance
| of securing the cooperation of
the people in the territory tributary to
Savannah in urging upon congress the
necessity OF the improvement and the Vita
| Importance Of an adequate appropriation
to carry on the work.
REPRESENTATIVE NoRwoOD'S TELEGRAM
Mayor Lester read the following telegram
from Representative Norwood:
| WASHINGTON, Dec. IL, 1858.
| To r. E. Lester Manor:
| The committee unanimously resolved not to
| appropriate for any new work The whole
| amount for old work being appropriated last
| session, there is no ground LETT TO work on, and
as there is no estimate, the committee refuses to
hear any one on any new project. asked for a
| hearing by delegation, but was refused. The
| only plan is 10 get the new work recognized by
| the Senate committee. Il. NJ NORWOOD
DIR. l.. A. Faligant urged the importanc
| of pressing the matter upon congress. The
| SOUTH he said, has been too mo lest, and has
| not got VIII II 1t deserves because 1T has not
been urgent enough in its demands
The manner Of communicating the actio
of the meeting to the senators and repre-
sen atves Of adj ming states and to the au-
thorties Of cities which are expected to Co
operate with Savannah, was discussed
and upon motion of Col. Estil the
chairman was instructed TO have
published and forwarded copies Of the reso
Iutions 20 the members of congress and
leading commercial bodies and municipal
authorities of the principal cities in Geor-
gia Florida, South Carolina and Alabama,
| and upon the sugOestiOu of Cant. w. w