The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-21
AFTER THE NAVY YARD.
THE CITY TO SEND A COMMITTEE
TO WASHINGTON.

The Navy Department to Be Asked
TO Include Savannah in the List OF
Sites to Be Inspected By the Naval
Commission - Lieut.. Carter Points
Out Some Of Savannah's Advantages
as a Site for the New Station-Ihe
Cooperation OF the Georgia Senators
to Be Asked.
The city council last night authorized the
appointment of a special committee OF
aldermen and citizeus to go to Washington
at as early a date as possible, and urge
Savannah's advantages as a site for the
new navy yard before the navy department.
The council discussed the matter in eau
Gus, and at the regular session Alderman
Cam Offered the following resolution,
which was adopted:
WHEREAS The commissioners appointed TO
examine the facilities of the southern ports,
with a view to locating a navy yard, under
their present orders cannot include Savannah
in their inspection; and
WHEREAS, We consider that our port has ad-
vantages superior to any other southern pert;
therefore be it
RESOLVED. That his honor the mayor he re-
ouested to communicate at once with our sena-
tors at Washington, Hon. Joseph K. Brown and
Hon A. H. Colquitt, urging them to use their
best endeavors to have the Secretary OF the
Navy so modify the orders of the inspecting
party that they may be able to stop at Savannah
before returning to Washington and carefully
examine our inducements for the location OF
the said navy yard.
Resolved, further, That his honor the mayor
be requested to appoint special committee Of
five, consisting OF two members or the CITY
council ami three citizens, to proceed to WASH
ington at as early date as possible and urge
the advantages of Savannah before the navy
department.
The mayor will announce the committee
to-day. In connection with the resolutions,
the mayor stated that the city clerk, under
his instructions, had obtained from Lieut..
Carter in charge of the river and harbor
improvements, a statement of the chief adj
vantages which Savannah possesses as a site
for the proposed station. After referring to
his various reports upon the harbor, Lieut.,
Carter enumerated, among other advan-
tages which the port affords, the follow
ing:
l. The site is at a city of commercial import
ance, possessing excellent communications
with the interior. from which coal, iron, lum-
Der, food products, etc, can be cheaply and
quickly brought.
2. Suitable labor can be better secured and
controlled than at a smaller place.
8, The site is one of the most easily defended
in the United States
a. II is healthy.
5. The existing machine shops, ship railways,
etc, can be made use of in an emergency.
6. The site is on fresh water, where wooden
docks and other structures are imperishabe
below low water; above that plane repairs can
he easily and cneapy made. In salt water in
these ATTITUDES the activity of the snip worm
would render the of stone or other ex-
pensive material imperative.
7. The depth Of water on the outer bar is &c
feet at mean high water In the rybee Roads it
is ample. In the river proper it is at present
only p feet, but engineering operations will
soon give a depth equal to that on the bar,
should funds for the prosecution OF work be
available. While the depth at other port
of the South Atlantic coasts at present slightly
greater then At Savannah. II Is not PROBABLE
that the bar channel at that entrance win ever
be improved. AT Savannah the commercial
Interests are so great that it is very probable
that within few years improvements will be
made which will give a much greater depth of
water on the outer bar than exists at the port
which is now its superior, so far mere depth
of water is concerned.
8. The cost of maintenance of a dry dock at
Savannah could be paid Of so desired) by allow
ing merchant vessels to make use of it. At no
other suitable port is there commerce enough
to allow of THO being done.
g. A desirable site for a station exists at
Hutchinson S Island, while the barracks could
be located in the city Of Savannah, if SO
desired.
The mayor will communicate with the
Georgia senators at once and will urge
upon them 10 secure visit from the naval
commissioners before their return from
their trip through the south.