The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-21
The Right Policy.

the Presidents speech at Galveston in
which he spoke Of appropriations for rivers
and harbors. The policy he announced
relative TO such appropriations is that
which the MORNING NEWS has been urging
for years. He said: 81 have always be-
lieved that it was one Of the undisputed
functions of the general government to
make these great waterways which pene-
trate our country and these harbOrs into
which our shipping must come TO
recsive the tribute Of rail and river
safe and easy Of access. This ministering
care should extend to our whole country,
end l am glad of the adoption Of the policy
with reference to the harbor work here at
Least, which | insisted upon in my public
message. The appropriation has been made
adequate to diligent and prompt completion
of the work. In the past the government
has undertaken too much, and its annual
appropriations have been so inadequate
that the work of the engineers was much
retarded, and often seriously damaged in the
interval of waiting for fresh appropriation
| 1t is a better policy when a work has once
been determined to be of national signif-
icance that the appropriations should be
sufficient to bring it speedily and without a
loss to a conclusion"
Congress could not inaugurate a greater
reform, and one that would result IN a
greater saving to the government, than to
pursue course with respect to all the great
harbors of the country in the matter Of ap-
preparations like that which was pursued
in making an appropriation for the harbor
at Galveston. The engineer in charge of
that work said that the bar which pre-
vented large vessels from entering that
harbor could be removed for $4,000, 900,
provided the whole amount was made
available at once, so that there would be no
delay in the work, but that it might cost
twice that amount to remove it if the
money were so appropriated that the work
would extend through many years and have
to be temporarily abandoned from time to
time
The most important harbor on the South
Atlantic coast is that of this port. The gov
eminent has agreed to so improve it that
it will accommodate vessels drawing twenty
six feet Of water. 1t is important that the
contemplated work should be done as quick
ly as possible, because Savannal's COM
merce is increasing wonderfully. 1t has
doubled, almost. within a comparatively
few years, and the prospect is that within
the next ten years it will be more than
double what it is now. Savannah's railroads
have been extended until a territory equal
to an empire in extent is tributary to them,
and she will have a number of other rail-
roads in the very near future. Her COM
merce is attracting the attention of the
whole world.
How important it is, then, that her har-
Dor should be so improved, as soon as posi-
BILE. that it will accommodate the largest class
of ships The MORNING NEWS has pointed
out time and time again that deeper water
in Savannah harbor means cheaper freight
rates for great region of country, which
not only furnishes an immense amount and
great variety of products to domestic aud
foreign markets, but also receives supplies
from those markets.
But ii the policy of making appropra-
tons for Savannah haber which has been
pursued up to the present is continued it will
be many years before Savannah has such a
habor as will afford her commerce all the
advantages to which it is entitled. True,
she has very fine habor now-much better
than any other South Atlantic port-but it
is very far from what it ought to be- The
twenty-six feet channel to the sea, which the
government has agreed to give her, ought
to be completed within two or three years.
And 1t will be if tie whole amount needed
for the work is appropriated in a lump. so
that the work can be continued right along
without any break. But there is no telling
when it will be completed if the money
needed for it is appropriated in a fragment
airy way, causing the work to be stopped for
many months at a time Every time that
work is stopped the improvement is dam
aged to greater or less extent.
The people of the whole section of coun-
try-and it is an immense section-which
finds its seaboard outlet at this point should
work together for an appropriation
by this congress sufficient to COM
plete the Improvement of the har-
Dor of Savannah. 1t would pay them
handsomely if they should be successful
And there is no good reason why they should
not be successful. They have precedent
n the Galveston case Galvestons com-
MERGE is much less than Savannahs, and is
likely to remain so for long time. Indeed,
there is every probability that the volume
of Savannsh's commerce will grow faster
than that Of Galveston.
All that is necessary for Savannah to get
what she needs for her harbor is earn
est and persistent work on the part of
her citizens and the citizens of that section
of the country tributary to her. If they will
work as earnestly and intelhgently as the
Galveston people did, they win have as
much cause to rejoice as those of Galveston
have.
London's most engrossing topic dis.
cussed in society at present is the
exhibition of the Rational Dress Society.
Lady Sandhurst. Lady Harberton. Mrs. Os-
car Wilde, and other ladies are undertaking