The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-19
River and Harbor Appropriations.

In an article in the May number of the
Forum Senator Frye, Of Maine, presents
some very sound views relative to river and
harbor appropriations. he is chairman OF
the committee on commerce, which has
charge of the river and barbor bill in the
Senate, and, having had a great deal Of ex-
perience with river and harbor appropria-
tions, his views with regard to them are en-
titled to very careful consideration He
does not believe that any considerable part
Of the money spent upon rivers and harbors
is wasted, nor does ne think that the amount
Of the appropriations carried by river and
harbor bills Is an indication of public ex-
travagance. In this respect he differs
widely with ex-President Cleveland, who,
in a speech at Buffalo recently. mentioned
the last river and harbor bill, which carried
over SIS, 0OO, 900, as an evidence of public
extravagance. And some Of the newspapers
which are hostile to him, and which seldom
have a word to say in his praise, commended
in very fiattering manner that portion Of
his speech.
The truth is, those who condemn the
large appropriations for rivers and harbors
do not take into account the necessities of
the vastly increased and increasing volume
of commerce Of the country. And this in
cressing commerce, because Of the tre-
mendous competition in transportation
rates, requires ships that have a much
| greater draugbt thsn those of a quarter of
a century ago Then vessels drawing
| from II to Is feet were quite satisfactory,
| 50 far as domestic commerce was concerned,
and those doing most of the carrying trade
/ to foreign markets did not have a mucn
| greater draught. Now, our coasting steam
ers have draught from 16 to 30 feet, and
foreign steamers a number of feet more. 1t
| has become necessary, therefore, to greatly
deepen our principal herbors.
But the amount annually spent on our
rivers and harbors, taking into account the
extent of our coast lire and the number aud
length of our rivers, is small in comparison
| with that which is spent by England. Ac-
cording to Senator Fryes figures our sea-
coast is more than $4,000 miles; and we have
many thousands of miles of internal water
| courses the improvement of which would
| greatly benefit our internal commerce. And
Jet the last congress appropriated only $685.
| 1856 295 for 435 river and harbor improve
ments, and this amount was for two years.
England has only about 1900 miles of sea-
coast, and she spends annually on her rivers
aud harbors more than 500, 900, QUO. 1t is
apparent therefore. that if this country is
extravaganza in spending money upon rivers
and harbors England is many times more
| extravagant
But Englands experience satisfied her
that money spent in improving her rivers
and hsrbors is not wasted. 1t is wisely
spent. Her commerce has reached immense
proportions and is steadily increasing, and
she does not hesitate to provide literally
! and promptly for all of its demands.
There is extravaganza in the manner in
which money for rivers and harbors is ap-
propriated, but not in the amount of it. On
this point Senator Frye says: There has,
it is true, been extravaganza in the ex-
penditure of money on rivers and harbors,
but this is incident to our manner of ap-
preparation. In Europe, when it is deter
mined to improve river or a harbor, or to
construct canal, a plan is agreed on, an
estimate is made, and all the money neces-
sary is appropriated at once, to be expended
as the necessities of the work require.
Here, after the plans have been determined
upon and complete estimates have
been made, the appropriations are spasrno-
die and uncertain. Contracts can be en-
| tered into only to the extent of the amount
actually appropriated. Not infrequently,
as at Galveston. the expenditures of one
year have been scattered by the winds, the
waves and the drifting sands before the
next appropriation has been made / am
satisfied that the cost of our improvements,
for these reasons, has been from 25 to so per
cent greater than if we had adopted the
custom prevailing in other maritime coun-
tries"
1t is a matter for congratulation that
some of the ablest men in public life have
at last seen the folly of the present system of
making river and harbor appropriations
The last congress made beginning toward
adopting a new system, and selected four
important public works for continuous i'm
provement, the Secretary Of War being
authorized TO make contracts for their COM
pletion. One Of them is Galveston harbor,
for the deepening of which more than
$4,000, 900 is to be spent.
1t is sincerely to be hoped that the method
will be adopted as to all of the important
harbors, giving preference to the most i'm
portant. Savannah harbor has more i'm
portance than that of Galveston from a
commercial standpoint, and ought to be
one of the first deepened to twenty-six feet.
1t is not improbable that it would have been
put in the list by the last congress had il
not been that it already accommodates vessel 8
drawing over twenty-one feet. But the
necessity for twenty-six feet channel to
the sea is very great. and is steadily be-
coming greater. Aud the improvement
would cost several millions of dollars less il
work upon 1t were carried on continuously
until completed than it would if the pres
emit unsatisfactory system of appropriating
money for should be adhered to.
Again the telegraph tells us of few
more razor sociables among Italian miners
= in the various ore districts of the country.
Undoubtedly there are a great many
orderly and law-abiding Italians scattered
: through this country, and they should Sc,