The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-16
Deaner Water.

ment to complete the improvement withou
any of those long and annoying Interrupt
tions which are feature OF the system o.
making appropriations for public improve
ments every two years in the regular rivei
and harbor bill. Capt. Carter knows nov
just what he can depend upon, and he will
enter upon his work with new energy anc
with the determination to complete bis plar
for giving Savannah twenty-six feet Of
water from her wharves to the sea within
the shortest possible time.
The Importance Of this contract system
for the Improvement Of the Savannah
barbor cannot be overestimated. Before
the effort to get congress committed to this
system was undertaken there was very
little hope that the improvement giving
Savannah 26-foot channel In her harbor
would be completed inside Of twenty years.
Now it can be confidently stated
that the improvement will be fin
ished within five or six years, and
! perhaps in much less than that time There
will be no more anxiety about appropria-
tions. Capt Carter will have all the money
he can judiciously spend, and it is certain
that he will push the work on the improve
msnt vigorously. He is profoundly inter
ested In it and he is giving his best years
to IL.
The certainty of the early completion Of
this great improvement will have its IN
fuence upon Savannah at once, and the
benefits that will accrue TO her will become
more marked as her harbor is deepened
inch by inch and foot by foot Every year
deeper draught vessels will reach her
wharves aud less and less will her COM
merce be dependent upon the tides.
Already her harbor accommodates vessels
drawing more than twenty-one feet and
when it Accommodates those drawing
twenty-six feet she will be on an equality
with the most favored seaports. From now
on her fame as a great commercial city will
grow, and with her growing fame will come
prosperity even greater than that pre-
dicted for her by the most enthusiastic Of
her oitizens
A great work was done when congress
was induced to place Savannah's harbor on
contract basis, and there are many who
had hand In that work and are entitled to
credit for it, The MORNING NEWS does
What It has done is known to all, and, there
is every reason to believe. is fully appre-
ciated. Day after day for weeks and
months 1t kept the question OF the
harbor improvement before the public.
In Its local and editorial
columns 1t pointed out how helpful deeper
water would be to Savannah and the vast
section of country tributary TO her. 1t
aroused the people ito new efforts and In
spired them with new confidence when there
were signs OF WEAKNESS or growing doubt.
Indeed, from first to last 1t has carried the
burden of the fight for deeper water.
But while the MORNING NEWS claims
nothing for itself except the approval of
those who are interested in Savannah, it
desires to see full recognition Of the services
of those who have been largely instrumental
in securing the adoption Of the contract sys-
tenn by congress.
Too much cannot be said in praise of Col.
Lester. While he has not neglected the
other interests of his district he has devoted
much of his time to Savannah harbor. he
has worked for it with devotion that has
endeared him to his constituents, and with
an energy so unhagging and an intelligence
so keen and comprehensive that his name
will ever be associated with the greater
Savannah that viii follow the deeper water
Improvement. If his constituents are wise
they will keep him in congress as long as he
wants to stay there.
1t is doubtful il any other man could have
done so well the work that was done by
Capt. Purse. Always profoundly interested
in whatever tends to help Savannah, and
always lending a helping hand to any I'M
dertaking for her benefit, he entered
upon the task Of creating sentiment
in favor Of the harbor improvement
that would make itself felt in congress with
his whole heart. He organized the bureau
of information and sent out an immense
amount OF harbor literature. He travelled
through the south and west and got the
trade bodies and authorities of different
cities TO use their influence for Savannah's
scheme. What he did was productive of a
vast amount of good. When congress met
there was scarcely one of its members who
was not familiar with the Savannah harbor
improvement and who did not regard 1t
with favor. Capt. Purse has reason to feel
proud of his part in the work.
And Capt Carter was not idle while the
fight was going on. No other man felt
deeper interest in II. He collated the facts
upon which the strongest arguments in be-
half OF the improvement were made, and by
bis clear and intelligent statements before
the river and harbor committee that COM
mittee was convinced Of the practicabillty
OF the Improvement aud led to take
broader view of the Importance of it.
A number of other citizens and the mayor
and the clerk OF council rendered services
that were extremely valuable. Indeed, the
whole town would have taken an active part
in the work if there had been call for their
services. The work is done and well done.
1t cost little in money and the benefits that
will flow from it will be great. What is
wanted now is that the improvement shall
be carried to completion at the earliest pos
sible day.
Congressman Watson, of Georgia, took
sides with Congressman Diugley. of Maine
in objecting to the printing of 10, 900 copies
of the force bill. Mr.. Dingley is an ardent
republican and would like to cloud the issue
Mr.. Watson, it appears, would like to assist