The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-08
SAVANNAH TO THE SEA.
The sPEECHES IN BEHALF OF
DEEPER WATER.

Gen. Alexander Points Out Savan-
nsh's Situation in Relation to the
Rest ofthe Commercial World-Capt.
Carter's Enthusiasm Scores a Fit.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Cen. E. p. AIex-
ander, Capt. o. NJ. Carter and Gen. G. M.
Sorrel walked into the committee room OF
the House committee on rivers and harbors
at 1880 o'clock on Friday morning,
prepared to present the claims of the Savan-
nah deep water project. Under the
schedule adopted by the committee the
representatives of the western waterways
convention held at Evansville. Ind, last
year, were TO be heard first,
and they accordingly started In at once.
1t was nearly 1:SO o'clock before they
got through, and by that time the commit
tee members were tired and hungry, but
their interest, which had been tagging,
revived very apparently when Chairman
Blanchard said that the Savannah project
would be next presented to the committee,
and that Capt. Carter Of the engineers and
Gen. Alexander would speak, Gen. SorreI
having concluded that it would not be
necessary for him to add anything
to what they would say. Ali the
old members Of the committee share the
respect and regard for Capt. Carter which
Chairman Blanchard expressed when he
came over TO the corner where the Savan-
nah delegation was sitting before their tins
had come. and, after greeting him most
cordially. told him not to feel hurried when
he came to speak, because the committee
would be very glad to listen TO him as long
as he desired
GEN. ALEXANDER's SPEECH.
Gen. Alexander, when Chairman Blanch.
ard announced that Savannah wonld be
heard, stepped to the end OF the committee
table, and, after smllingly saying that ora
tory was one of the things which had been
omitted in his education and that he usually
confined himself to presenting the text and
letting his hearers make the application of
1t. proceeded in the twenty min.
utes allotted to him In the dlvis.
ion OF time by the committee,
to make a speech which maintained their
interest as no speech made before had done.
He said there were three things he wanted
especially to impress upon the committee.
The first was that Savannah was the near.
est Atlantic port for threefourths of the
United States He said this might astonish
those who had never thought of 1t, but thai
IL could be very easily demonstrated, and
unfolding the map OF the United States
which he had in his little bundle Of papers.
he demonstrated it TO the satisfaction
OF every member of the committee, point.
ing out in detail. not only the diff.
ferent sections of the vast territory which
naturally found its outlet on the Atlantic
coast at Savannah, but also the resources
which thus best find their way 20 market
He dwelt upon the fact that it would be
more economical and safer for a large part
OF the outgoing commerce of the gull
states to come by way OF Savannah: re-
minding the committee of Geu Gillnores
statements that as a consequence of the
dangers of the Florida reefs there were
700 cases of salvage In a year in the Kew
West court, and that wrecking was a regu-
lar and profitable business. He said the
second point was that Savannah had fresh
water harbor. He felt that he did
rot need to demonstrate to the COMMITTEES
the advantages which this gave, but re,
minded the committee that the effect OF
fresh water on the barnacles made the dock,
ing and scrapinR OF vessels less necessary,
and that the absence of the DESTROYING
teredos saved ships and wharves from the
destruction which was inevitable In salt
water harbors. He said the third point was
the admirable railway connections which
Savannah had with the country west of it.
which, with the Ocean steamship line &c
New York, gave it such fine facilities, ia.
cilities which would be so much increased
by the completion of the deep water project,
sAvANNAH's RAILWAY CONNECTIONS.
Using the map in an ordinary Louisville
and Nashville railway folder, which he
happened to have with him, Gen. Alexan.
der pointed out the railway connections OF
Savannah, showing how il had the south
ern route across the continent, and, par
ticularly. how it tapped the western states.
This greatly interested the western member
or the committed Continuing, Gen. Alexan-
der showed how, by the cheap rates of the
steamship line, which he estimated
at one-third of the railway rates.
New York was practically brought
within $50 miles OF Savannah. and
described how the products of the west and
south were being exchanged by way Of Sa.
vannah with the manufacturers of the east
He reminded the committee that deeper
water meant larger vessels and larger ves-
sells meant lower freights. Copies of thu
pamphlet entitled "a Plea for Sayannrk
Harbor," had been distributed by Capt
Carter, ana Chairman Blanchard, who hac
glanced at it, asked Gen. Alexander. whe
had prepared the statistics at the end Of the
pamphlet describing the growth of Savan-
nah's commercel Gen. Alexander re-
piled that the statistics had been prepared
by the superintendent of the cotton ex.
change, and Capt. Carter rose
to say that the pamphlet had
been revised by himself and thai
he could certify that the statistics were
based on such official documents as invoices
and bills Of lading Chairman Blanchard
said he had asked the question because he
was struck with what seemed TO him very
remarkable increase in the commerce Of
Savannah as set forth In the statistics, and
he was glad TO know that they were en-.
tirely trustworthy. 1t was certainly most
remarkable showing "Yes," said Mr.,
Henderson Of Illinois. chairman OF the com.
mite on rivers and harbors in the last
congress, who, with the other
members OF the committee, had
turned to the statistical statement
in the pamphlet when Chairman Blanchard
called attention to it, Eyes" that is
certainly q remarkable showing and IL
appears to have been a healthy anc steady
growth with 10 feverish fiuotuations.n
GROWTH OF OUR TRADE.
This interruption gave Gen. Alexander
an excellent opportunity, which he promptly
improved, to set forth briefly, but forcbly,
the growth of Savannah's trade He stated
that iG was the great naval stores port of
the world, and, as such, fixed the prices for
naval stores. The naval stores trade
rod raeSad fba ~ cAn goo