The morning news., 1892-02-06
A GRATIFYING OUTLOOK.
PERMANENT DEEP WATER CON-
TRACTS POSSIBLE.

rba River and Harbor Committee
Favorably Impressed by Our Re-
rresentatives-Half Million Likely
IN Be Appropriated in the Pending
Bul-The Men Who Did the Talking.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-Capt. Carter,
Gan Alexander and Gen. Sorrel presented
the Savannah deep water project SO effect
ivsIv 70 the river aud harbor committee to-
dav that the committee will probably
autboriEe in the river and harbor bill the
making OF permanent contracts by the Secs
ratary of War for the completion of the
rroiect, and will probably appropriate
100000 on the bill, which is the amount
Can't Carter told the committee to-day was
absolutely essential to an efficient and
economical prosecution Of the work during
the coming fiscal year.
The bill will not be reported before the
end OF the month. None Of the items are
vet finally determined on, but it is probable
the aggregate will be between $50, 900, 600
and s25, ,OOO, 900. and that Georgia and the
rest Of the southeast will be we'll cared for.
THEY TALKED EFFECTIVELY.
Capt. Carter and Gen. Alexander did the
talking to-day, and did it very effectively.
Gen. Sorrel did not think it necessary to
add anything to what they said.
Mr.. Lester aided them by asking ques.
tious which drew out strengthening facts
or arguments.
Chairman Blanchard was especially
friendly in his questions and suggestions; /;
of -
we're very kind, and there was an evident
disposition to do the best poNible for Sa-
yannah.
WORD FOR FERNANDINA.
After Capt. Carter had talked about Sa-
vannah Chairman Blanchard had him re-
port on all the works in his care, especially
Cumberland Sound. Senator Pasco, who
was present for the purpose. drew out by
questions facts favorable to Fernandina.
He announced that Fernandiua delegation
would be here Monday to appear before the
committee, and that he would then present
the Fernandina case more fully.
A GOOD STORY CONTINUED.
BIZ the associated treSs
WASHINGTON, Feb 5.-Several gentle-
men appeared before the House committee
on rivers and harbors to-day to urge liberal
appropriations for the improvement Of
SaAannah river and herbor. Col. Andrews
spoke Of the vast incr re4se In Savannah's ex-
port trade in late years and how essen-
tal it was for the benefit Of commerce to
increase the depth Of its harbor. In late
years, said the colonel, trade had nearly
doubled. The greatest depth of water was
nearly twenty-five feet. and he asked that
it be increased to twenty six feet. Savan-
nah now had the
LARGEST SHIP FLYING TIE AMERICAN FLAG
sailing out Of her port, and the number of
large ships sailing out Of her harbor was
constantly increasing. Next to New Orleans,
Savannah was the largest cotton shipping
port in the United States.
Col Andrews thought great damage was
annually done to ships by scraping their
bottoms in going out of the harbor.
EXPERT TESTIMONY.
Capt. Carter, corps of engineers, in
charge Of the Improvement Of the Savannah
harbor, explained to the committee the
work compreheuded in deepening the
waters, ana Whau Wes needed to give the
city good navigable channel to the sea.
Capt. Carter said it would cost 50. $780, 600 to
4 give Savannah 26-foot channel, or an in
crease of nearly four feet over the present
3 depth, and the work could be accomplished
mabout three years. The commerce of
Savannah had
INCREASED ENORMOUSLY
u recent years, which had resulted in
AebuilGing of several railroads to distant
points, The harbor facilities, however, had
not been commensurate with its Importance
as railroad center. and in several in
stances shipments of cereals from far west
ern points had to be declined because of
lack OF enough water to float large grain
ships.