The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-29
FRESH WATERS ADVANTAGES.
Savannah Better of Than Any South
Atlantic Seaport.

Savannah Better Off Than Any South
Atlantic Seaport.
In view of the preliminary efforts that
are now being made to devise ways and
means TO secure from congress sum OF
money sufficient to complete. within
reasonable time, the works of Improvement
now being carried by the United States In
the Savannah hRrbor, the following from
the current number Of the Marine journal
will undoubtedly prove Of interest, as 1t
calls attention to one Of the points OF ad-
vantage that this haroor possesses over
that OF any other city in this section;
An eastern capitalist, in making tour of the
southern states, with view to Investment, writes
| from Savannah as follows: while ct savan-
| nan | acce ted an invitation from the mayor to
accompany tue aldermen and Capt. Carter,
/ United States engineer, down the Savannah
| river TO observe the improvements made by the
! government in the channel. was surprised TO
| see how rapidly they we're obtaining deep
! navigable depth OF water. IL the government
! does not fail in continued appropriation at
| this point, am assured by capt. Garter that
| there will be no difficulty In securing nnd re
tanning depth OF twenty six feet of water
from the city TO the ocean. III this is accom-
plished the result will be to attract large heet
Of deep draught vessels. cheaper freignts and
thereby rebound to tue benefit of the producer
This is a fresh water port and you know the ad-
vantages in that to iron vessels"
The last sentence in the foregoing quota
ton contains a statement that is peculiarly
applicable of Savannah, and, of the ports Oh
the South Atlantic coast. to that one alone.
There is a great advantage in this matter
of fresh water for port, and there is prob
ably no one point which presents itself
more strongly and forcibly TO ship owners
than the fact that vessels, while loading in
harbor, can lie in fresh water. Notwith-
standing the use of germicide paints. non
that are guaranteed TO keep the hull of
vessel clean and free fro II barnacles and
other salt water growths, vessels Of iron
and steel, when in salt water, soon become
foul and are required to ne docked two or
three times during year. A vessel run
ming to Savannah Is locked for repairs
only.
Moreover, in a port like this wooden
docks and other structures Of like material
below low water mark are imperishable.
Above that poin5 such repairs as may be
needed can be easily and cheaply made. In
salt water, in this latitude, the activity of
the teredo, or ship worm, renders the use Of
stone or other expensive material for docks
and wharVes imperative. These worms =,
when young, attach themselves to wood,
and soon perforate into it, the openings
being naturally small and the holes in
creasing with the size of the animals. The
wood is bored in different directions, but the
several individuals skllfully avoid intrusion
into the burrows OF their
neighbors, although frequently leaving
very narrow partitions. Thus, the
wood is often honeycombed and, yielding to
very slight force, is readily demolished. The
sslter the sea is within certain limits, the
better flourish the teredo.
A perfect and interesting specimen Of the
elaborate and destructive work of this
worm is in the United States engineers
office in this city. 1t was cut from one of
the piles forming part Of the landing place
at Fort Pulaski, where the water is a.ty.