The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-22
deep WATER TO THE SEA
The River and Harbor Confer
'ence Plans.
THREE MILLIONS NEEDED.
A United Effort to be Made to
Secure 1t.
TEE ENTIRE STATE At WORK.
An Executive Committee to be |
Appointed.
TEE ENTIRE STATE At WORK.
PLAN OF The CAMPAIGN.

The conference at the city exchange
Yesterday for the purpose OF discussing
plans for and devising ways and means
looking to the securing at the coming ses-
sion OF congress Of an appropriation sufi-
cient to complete the work provided for il
in the existing project Of improvement for
the Savannah river and harbor, from the
city water works to the sea, was success
full one in every respect.
1t was a success in the number Of repre-
sentative men present, In the amount OF
enthusiasm and the beginning made and the
amount of work accomplished. The business
of the meeting was dispatched with har-
mony, and at adjournment, after discussion
of three hours, the mayor was vested with
authority to appoint an executive commit
tee Of which he is to be chairman, to
have full authority TO take such action
as may be desirable TO carry out the
purposes and objects Of the meeting. To
this committee the people must look for
further action, and upon it. in q great meas
ure, depends the whole success Of the move
ment
II enthusiasm and a knowledge OF what
is wanted and desired are indications OF
future development, there is a great chance
of securing at the first session of next con-
gress an appropriation large enough to
TO give to Savannah twenty-six feet OF
water from the city to the sea, inside of
three years.
THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZES.
The meeting organized with Mayor No
Donough as chairman, Clerk of Council
Frank E. Rebarer as secretary, and Frank
Weldon aud NJ. A. Connolly as assistant
secretaries.
Among those present were Pat Calhoun,
Esq, vice president OF the Richmond and
Danville; Capt Evan P. Howell of the At
lanta Constitution and member of the
CeDtral's directory Hugh Inman Of At
lanta; Col. c. H. Phinizy of Augusta,
president Of the Georgia railroad:
Col. s. H. Hawkins of Americus,
president of the Savannah, Americus and
Montgomery road; Col. Uriah B. Harold
of Americas, a member of the Central's
directory; Geu. E. P. Alexander, president
If the Central Railroad Bank; Col William
Garrard, II. NJ. Conner, A. Vetsburg, Con-
gresham Rufus e. Lester, Capt. D. &. Purse,
president of the board of trade; Col. j. II.
Esdll, Capt r. G. Fleming. general super
lntendent of the Savannah, Florida aud
Western railway; G. D. Owens, traffic
manager of the Savannah, Florida and
Western; Capt. V. E. McBee, general
superintendent Of the Central railroad
Capt. o. NJ. Carter, corps of engineers in
charge Of the river improvements: J. P.
Williams, president of the Seaboard Com
pauy; Col. ]. L. Warren. president Of tina
cotton exchange; Capt John +. Wheaton.
Aldermen Cam, O'Brien, Mcclure, Bailey,
Haines, Messrs. Joseph Hull, r. NJ. Demere,
Robert Erwin and Frank Weldon.
MAYOR MDoNoUGH's EXPLANATION.
Mayor McDonough upon taking the chair
said.
/ deem it useless to state this subject to this
meeting. You all know our reason for coming
together this morning is for the purpose of de-
vising some plan which viii result in securing
an Appropriation sufficient to deepen our river
10 twenty-six feet, and pr badly more We ali
know OF tine great need of deepening the river
ana all Of you take more or less in
teTesS in the subject. We want to agree
upon some plan Of action that will call forth
from congress sum necessary and proper 10
do this work. Heretofore we have been DEPEND.
ent upon small appropriations but they have
been well spent. They have been so small that
the work could not he done inexpensively. The
appropriations made for this port are not large
enough-not adequate for work of this mag
nitude. 10
On account of the smallness of the ammonia.
tons the work il not and cannot beSompletely
done. Before it is completed il is psrtiv de-
stroyed and great deal Of it must be done
over again. And, as | am informed by Cant
y. M. Carter, Of the corps of engineers that The
Ilan for deepening the river TO twenty-six feet
is feasible and has been adopted by the govern
nlent' ana the work now being done ia carried
on unuer mat plan, We are here TO discuss the
ways and means of inducing congress to an.
proprlate sum adequate to complete the work
OF improving this river and harbor within a few
years.
We have this advantage over a great rrapv
southern ports: We have no bar dredging Il
do. We have all the water now neces sary over
the bar Dredging viii necessarily b. in tbs
channel understand the plan Is TO deeDer
the river so as to secure twenty six feet Of waite
from the city water works 70 the SEA We al
know what that will be 70 Savannah and n
other southern cities that want an outlet to tn
Atlantic ocean. l will. therefore, say again
we are here for the purpose OF devising SOM
plan or means TO get an appropriation for dc
ing this work
CAPT. CARRIERS STATEMENT.
After the mayors Introductory remarks
Capt. o. NJ. Carter, corps of engineers, tn
engineer in charge Of the Savannah rive
and harbor improvement, was called upoi
for any information that he might be abb
to give, engineering or commercial. II
proceeded as follows:
] have to state that the plan which has bee
adopted by the Secretary Of War was referre
TO the board of engineers, and after that ar
proved by the chief of engineers, United State
army, is the one under which the presen
work is being carried on. There are n
engineering difficulties to be surmounted
The only question that confronts you is. t
secure money enough 20 carry the approve
project into immediate execution. II the al
preparations are to be made I'm the future a
they have been in the past, il will take invent
or twenty-five years to secure this depth O
twentysix feet; whereas, with the Who'll
amount necessary, available at once, it woul
require but few years
Capt Carter gave the following figures
showing the value of the commerce whic
has been imported to and exported fror
savannah in late years:
5tt. ..........ts......-.s.S 0S,OUO,OO
$500 ........... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. lO2UOO,Ou
1885 1U1 ,OVO,OO
1sS9...... .......... .--............. llo,OO1OO
lo9O. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 153,O00,O
fhe figures for this year have not beer
brought up to date.
Mr.. CoMER's SUGGESTION.
Mr.. Conner, who was president O
the convention held here for
somewhat similar purpose a fev
years ago, followed Capt. Carter
and was Of the opinion that that conventiol
did not accomplish a great deal. He is full,
interested in the object and purpose 0
yesterdays meeting. He further said
1.-THE county hack of rs is no less irlterastaf