The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-17
Savannah Harbor.

Savannah now has a channel to the sea
which accommodates vessels drawing little
more than twenty-one feet. By the time the
| appropriation for her harbor is exhausted it
will be possible for vessels drawing twenty
two feet to reach ner wharves.
She must have deeper water, and she must
have it in the very near future Her COM
merce is growing with wonderful rapidity.
1t is much greater this year than last, and
last year its volume was much larger than
the year before. The indications are that
each succeeding year its increase will be
very much mora than that of the previous
year.
With the prospect of such vast COM
MERGE Savannah should lose no time in
getting ready to handle it successfully aud
to the best advantage. She has everything
she needs except the depth of water In her
! harbor. And although she has the deepest
harbor on the South Atlantic coast she can
not afford to be content with her adyan-
tages as a port or with her commercial
prospects until she can announce to the
world that vessels drawing twenty-six or
twenty-eight feet Of water can reach her
wharvss. When she can make such an an
nouuoemsnt she will be the seaport of a very
large part Of the great west as well as Of the
richest part Of the south.
And why should not congress at its ap-
preaching session make an appropriation
that will permit the work for twenty
eight feet channel to be pushed to compile
ton at onces An appropriation of that
kind was made for Galveston harbor-a
harbor of less Importance than that of Sa-
vannah-and there is no good reason why
such an appropriation should not be made
for Savannah harbor.
1t would be easy to bring more influence
to bear upon congress in behalf Of Savan-
nah than there was brought TO bear in be-
half of Galveston, because of Sayannah's
greater importance Two of the greatest
railroad systems in the country have their
seaboard outlets at Savannah-systems to
which very large portion of the south is
tributary. In one of these systems
men are interested who control vast systems
in the west, and these western systems are
ready to turn a large part of their
traffic toward Savannah. Besides
the influence of the railroads the people of
bu0 luhiuonao AoHlOnS tAlOubalS W bhOSo
roads are willing and ready to help Sa-
vannah get such a harbor as she needs, be-
cause they are interested in having deep
water in her channel. They understand
that if the largest class of vessels can come
to their seaboard shipping point they will
be benefited, because freight rates will be
lower.
1t is for Savannah to utilize all these
great influences which can be combined for
her benefit. They await her action. When
she calls for assistance they will promptly
respond
Savannah has her future in her own
hands. II her people have the courage and
the will to seize upon the opportunities
which present themselves her progress and
prosperity will attrac, the attention of the
whole world.
IN the fall there ought to be a great con-
vention of all who are interested in the i'm
provement Of Savannah harbor. Such a
convention would not be without its influ-
ence upon congress. 1t would draw atten-
ton to Savannah and compel study of her
great commerce AID of her advantages for
meeting the commercial needs of a large
part of the west a q south. Let Savannah's
business men think of this matter and pre-
pare themselves to act as soon as the time
for action comes.