The morning news., 1889-04-05
GETTING AT THE FACTS.
TIE NAVAL COMMISSION DOES A
BIG DAYS WORK.

The commissioners 70 over tn9
Statistics Of the Port and Examine
the Committees Maps and Charts
A Trip Down tho River to Fort Ogle-
thorpe and a Visit to Greenwich
Park-A Walk Along the Wharves-
The missions Impressions-Tw
sites Likely to be Selected in the
South.
The naval commissioners lost little time
yesterday in getting to work. At 1870
o'clo 3, they we're called upon at the Pu-
lask, use by Mayor Schwarz andAlderman
Cam, chairman of the special committee Of
the city council, who escorted the commis-
sioners 10 the city exchange.
At the mayors Office they were intro
duced to the subcommittee, which consisted,
with the mayor and Alderman
Cam, Of Alderman David Wells, Gen.
E. P. Alexander, president Of the
Central Railroad aud Banking Company;
Maj N. S. Belknap, general manager of
the Central railroad; Capt. w. W. Gordon;
Lieut. o. NJ Carter, of the United States
engineering corps; Hon. w. S. Chisholm,
vice president OF the Plant system; Mr.. +.
D. Bloodworth, president Of the cotton ex-
change; Mr. J. r. Young, president Of the
board of trade: William b. ". Howe, chief
engineer of the Savannah, Florida and
Western railway; Capt. j. D. Johnston aud
Capt. John Flannery
The commissioners and the conference
committee then entered the long room, where
Mayor Schwarz was asked by Commodore,
McCann for such data as the city desired
to lay before the board for examination.
The following data was offered
THE COMMISSION AT WORK.
/. A chart of the Savannah river, showing
the depth OF water all the way from
point opposite the ity exchange to the bar
at Tybee to the open sea. This was exam
ined critically, each member of the COM
mission receiving a copy.
Q A pamphlet embodyIng statistics Of the
port This pamphlet, 70 which additions
have been made sin the recent reyiSw Oft
by the MORNING News, contains report Of
the health officer showing Dr. Cnandlers
analysis of the arteslan water; compare
tive morbuary records of Savannah, New
Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola, Charleston and
Wilmington, showing that the annual ratio
of deaths to the 900 is lower here than in
any Of the cities mentioned; reports Of
Lieut. Carter, and mileage table attached,
showing the distances from Savannah TO
the trade centers of the northwest, and the
proximity Of this city to the mineral sections
of Birmingham and Decatur, Ala. detailed
statements of cotton movements at this
port for the past three years; tabular
statements Of the coastwise and foreign ex-
ports from Savannah, aud a tabular S ate
ment showing the value in dollars OF the
exports and imports, domestic and foreign,
from this port from 1872 TO the fiscal year
ending Aug. 81, 1887
3. A chart and reports by w. r. Curtis
Of boriugs on Hutchlns0n's Island, with
samples Of the strata.
l. Coast survey from Hunting Island to
Ossabaw Island, including Savannah and
Port Royal.
s. a map of the through lines Of railroad
TO Savannah upon which are shown the
Savannah, Florida and Western, the
Charleston aud Savannah, the Central, a d
the Brunswick and Western, with their
various and important connections with tue
east, north and northwest. On this map
is outlined the mi eral belt of Birming-
ham, Decatur and Chattanooga, and what
is known as the Warrior and Cahara coal
fields in that section are prominently located
on the map with the railroad
connections leading to it from Savannah.
Capt. Boyd and Commander BrownS0n noted
TINS feature Of the map, and one of the COM
missioners remarked approvngly to a mem
her Of the l9cal committee, You have good
connections
THE CONFERENCE AT THE EXCHANGE.
This covered all the documentary informa-
tion that Mayor Schwarz bad to present to
the board, but n preventing it for their con-
sIderation the mayor added that the mem
bers OF the conference committee were pre-
pared at such time as suited the convenience
Of the board, TO give the fullest information
bearing upOn the matter.
Without any flourish, tho commissioners
began to 90 over the charts, and from time
70 time discuss the various matters with
members Of the local committee, propound-
ing such questions as the examination sug-
gested.
Commodore McCann and Commander
Browns0n we're long engaged with Lieut..
Carter and Judge Chisholm in examining
the chart of the Savannah river soundings
and the coast survey chart.
Lieut.. Kennedy was engaged for some
time in conference with Gen. Alexander,
Capt. Gordon, Maj. Belknap and Alderman
Wells.
Capt. Boyd conferred at length with Mr..
BlOOdworth and Capt. Flannery. Later on
Capt Johnston took Capt. Flannery's place
in the confere .ce with Capt. Boyd Capt
Flaunery being summoned from the room
by a messenger.
Commodore McCann conferred at length
with Gen. Alexander and Capt. Johnston
Commander BrOwnson questioned the
engineer CRITICAL Y about the borings to show
the favorable nature of the soil for fOunda-
tions, and other gentlemen gave full infor-
nation on that subject, the samples being
examined under q glass.
Lieut. Kennedy CO ferred with Capt.
Gordon, Engineer Howe and others, and
at one time retired from the room for a
copy Of the pamphlet submitted to the
committee at New Orleans, showing that
cltys claims as a suitable site for the naval
establishment. Lieut.. Kennedy also talked
very enta talningiy 10 "A group Of the mem
bers OF the committee Of the station under
going construction At San Francisco on the
Pacific coast, and asked pertinent questions
about this port.
A TRIP TO FORT OGLETHORPE.
1t being the desire Of the commission 70
take trip down the river, Lieut.. Carter
rendered his yacht Angler for their accom-
mo iatlon which was accepted.
just before the conference broke up, Gen.
Alexander, on behalf Of the committee.
stated that as the commissioners desired 10
90 down the river unattended by auY mem
Der Of the committee, they would keep out
Of the way until they were called upon foI
further Information. He desired, however
70 say that he was prepared TO furnish them
steamer for trip down the river
at any time they are prepared &c
accept the courtesy. He would also
ike 70 show them the foundations
OF the Ocean steamship waarves, and give
them full Information as 90 the strata under
living the foundations The commits