The morning news., 1889-04-05

Commander Brownsoa said that this is
not his first visit to this city, having visited
Savannah twenty-five years ago, but his
recollection of the place is nos distinct.
"You have a pretty city," he said.
After the return of the commissioners from
the trip on the yacht Angler, a drive was
| taken through the city, aud among other
points of interest visited was the now hotel
/ the DeSoto which impressed the visitors fav-
| orably.
! Abiding to the cruise down the river in
! the afternoon, Commander Brownson said
that it extended to Fort Oglethorpe and via
the st. Augustine creek to Greenwich
Park.
Lieut.. Carter presented 70 the commits
sioners such information along the route,
with reference t. the present depth of
water aud what depth it is expected to
secure and maiDtan by improvements to
the harbor, as the cruise and the questions
of the commissioners called out. The COM
miSsioners noted the general location Of the
lands with reference to the river, viewing
the islands as well as the mainland. The
view Of the Ocean steamship wharves from
the river Commander Brownson couceives,
is all that is necessary now to give IL, as the
character Of the strata through which
piling is driven for foundations must De
learned by soundings, showing the forma-
ton, and from information derived as to
tho stability Of the foundations.
When reference was made to the sound
ings made on Hutchinson's Island, samples
Of which have been turned over TO the COM
missioners, Commodore Brownson said
that they were taken at Il depth Of only
about % feet, whereas for such heavy
foundations as the walls require 1T may
take a depth of GO feet, and he added that
engineering can accomplish almost any
thing.
A
Commander Brownson was asked if there
is but one naval establishment to be
located, and in reDly he said that it is his
impression that there will be two, and he
thinks that the board will recommend one
for the s luth Atlantic coast and one for the
Gulf coast. 1t will rest with congress- how
ever, he remarked, whether it will decide
upon the establishment Of two navy yards
or but one. 1t is his impression that the
act under which the naval board is acting
contemplated more than one site, and he
bases his belief largely upon the impression
that if but one were contemplated, the
South Atlantic coast would not have been
considered, owing to the fact that there Is
navy yard at Norfolk, and the wiser policy
would be not to have the two so close to-
gether, but the more remote location on the
Gulf coast only would have figured in the
act under which the board is now working.
day, Commodore Brownson said that trip
by land will be made to Dep,ford and other
points which the board may deem it desir-
able to consider, but he inLimated broadly
that they wanted TO keep out of the low
lands, with swampy or marshy tendencies,
and the formation Of Hutchinson Island did
not seem to strike him favorably.
He was asked how long the beard will
remain in this city, and he replied that it
expected TO get off tonight, or certainly by
tomorrow morning.
The commissioners will drive TO the Dept
ford plantation at 10 O'clock this morning
and will be accompanied Dy Lieut.. Carter.
1t is the desire of the reception committee
to show some special hospitality to the COM
missioners before they leave the city, but
toe committee has hestated to press the
matter during the working period of their
visit, but the programme last night was to
give a dinner to the board at the Pu-
laski house this evening if the
members will accept it, and the
matter will be dete mined before the visit
to Deptford. The mayor is hopeful that
the hospitalities extended viii not be de-
chned. 1t is courtesy the committee de-
sires to extend to distinguished officers aud
without reference to the object of their
| visit here.