The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-08
DEEP WATERS MEANING.
SAVANNAH THE GREATEST PORT
OF THE SOUTH

Direct Trade aud a New Era of Pros
perity the Attendants of Deep
Water.
One Of the most pleasing pieces of news
| TO SavannAh's commercial community and
the city generally that has ever been re-
ceiVed was the announcement 10 yes
| terdaY's MORNING NEWS of the passage OF
the harbor bill which commits the govern
ment TO the 26-foot project for Savannah
To say that Savannahians are jubilant is
putting 1t mildly. The prospect 1t holds
out for the city's future as the greatest port
on the South Atlantic was discussed wher-
ever both business and professional men
gathered. The opinion Is unanimous that
the deepening Of the harbor will be great
step toward bringing about direct trade
and making Savannah the port OF entry for
the great west, which is nearer Savannah
by many miles than New York.
WHAT IT MEANS.
Ships almost innumerabls crowding at
the wharves, bringing in the wealth of the
world and carrying away the products Of
the south, the southwest and west and
city steadily growing in commercial i'm
portance and population until 10 becomes
the New York of the south, are some of
the things which the passage of the herbor
bill brings before Savannshians. Aud these
are things which will result from
sufficiently to float the largest
ships With this done there will be moth
ing to bar the progress of Savannah. 1t
will take giant strides In the commercial
world, which can't help but prove advau-
tsgeous. New industries will spring up on
ali sides, railroads will be attracted here,
northern capitalists will invest their surplus
and Savannah will experience an era of
prosperity never before known IN Its his
tory.
CAN TAKE Up THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
One of the advantages Of the river and
harbor bill, and very important one, is
that while only 1918. $50 is appropriated for
the first years expenditures, the Secretary
of War can go ahead and contract for the
whole amount of over g., O00, 900, II he secs
fit to do so. After the first year the esti-
mated amouns of expenditures will
GO in on the sundry civil
bill OF the war department. and the
Secretary of War may fix the amount at
any sum be deems proper within the limit
named. He can even secure the increase Of
the first years appropriation by putting the
increase in the sundry civil bill to be pre-
ssnted at the December session of the pres
ent congress.
1t is believed that with the appropriation
at the disposal OF the department
the work OF deepening the channel
can be completed in three, or perhaps,
four years With channel TO the sea with
minimum depth of 26 feet, Savannah
should have population OF over 100, 900 by
the time OF the next census.
CAPT. PURSE HAPPY.
Capt. Purse, presidents OF the board of
trade, Is one of the happiest men in the city.
He worked xealously and tirelessly for deep
water, and he naturally feels degree OF
satisfaction at the result. Everywhere he
went yesterday he was congratulated.
"It is a godssnd to Savannah just at this
time. " said Capt. Purse. "when she is In
muddlsd condition in railroad affairs
Nothing can stop Savannah now. Her
future Ia assured beyond a doubt. have
no doubS about President Harrison Sign ing
the bill, because almost every congressman
has an interest in it, and he would offend
too many OF his own party by vetoing it.
You eau imagine what favorita measure
1t was when the silver hill was set aside for
Its consideration"
Mayor McDonough didn't know where to
begin to cite the advantages which will
accrue 70 Savannah from deep water. It
means everything that goes 10 make up q
powerful and prosperous commercial city,
which will vie with the ports of the north
for the handling of the products of the
south, west and southwest direct to the old
world, and the increase OF coastwise trade
beyond calculation.
President Conner Of the Central railroad
said be has been so busy with the affairs OF
the Central that he has not had time to con-
slider anything else.
THE passage of the river and harhor
bill will be big thing for the railroads, "
haa ofd ls~fsr s.-L-A
Of coal, iron and grain, which they have
not heretofore received"
GREAT THINGS FOR SAVANNAH.
Alderman Herman Myers Of the Savan-
nah Grocery Company said he was never
better pleased at anything. THE passage
Of the harbor bill, F." he said, "foretells great
things for Savannah in the future. She will
increase rapidly In commercial Importance
the value of real estate will go up, and her
population will be added to until she be-
comes one of the greatest cities of the
south. | believe the deepening OF
the harbor will bring about direct trade
and when the Nicaragua canal Ia completed
the great wealth of South America will
be opened to US Savannah will be the
nearest port, and she will, no doubt, be-
come port of entry. The advantages to
Savannah by deep water are almost in
csloulable. Presidents Harrison, l feel sure,
Will sign che Dill, because II he felt any Op-
position to it he would have asked congress
to cut down the appropriations.
Capt. John Flannery said it is almost
superhuous to talk about the advantages
which Savannah will derive from the deep
ening of the harbor. That it is a great
thing for commerce no one can deny. As
to direct trade, Savannah could accomplish
nothing in that respect by herself. But at
the same time deep water will make the
scheme much more feasible.
A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
Col. Mercer sees great things In store for
Savannah through the commitment of the
government to the 26-foot project The
whole trouble in the past in the way q
river improvements, he said, was Il &c
getting Of the money to carry on the wo' fk
in dribbles. When one appropriation ga.
exhausted it took so long to get ano chez
that the mud would settle baok al
the bottom Of the iettiss apt
make double work all the time tsithout
much chance Of improvement. The ground
ing of steamers in Savannah haJ .bor Col
Mercer said, has worked disadvaJ .taCeousIy
to the commerce OF Savannah but witt
twenty-six feet OF water In the ,arbor Their,
will be nothing to retard the rowth OF tn,
city In every respect. Col. y lercer has no
the slightest doubt about resident Har.
rison signing the bill. becsuS he has not th,
power to veto one clause lthout condemn