The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-19
THE CHART TO Be CHANGED
Savannah HaTDOf to Be Given
Credit For More Depth.

win Be Used on Charts Soon to Be
Published.
The coast and geodetic survey service
has been brought to realize the injustice
done Savannah in the water depth stated
on the coast charts, and the next chart
published, which will be at once, will
give the harbor from the city to the sea
foot and half more depth at mean low
water than it has had heretofore.
The present charts, the last of which
were published June % of this year, give
theSavannah harbor only 10 feet in channel
from the city to the sea. The next chart,
however, which will probably be out
within few days, will give 1415 feet in
channel at mean low water How this
was brought about will be readily ex-
paained by the following correspondence:
CAPT. PURSES LETTER.
Savannah, Ca, July 3. 1s94-The Honor.
able, The Secretary Of the Treasury, Wash
ington, D. c.: Sir-On the coast survey chart
of Savannah harbor, which gives the aids to
navigation corrected to June %, 1891 a state
ment is made that the water is "13 feet deep
In channel to Savannah" when, as a matter
OF fact, the least low water depth in channel
10 Savannah" is and has been, for sometime,
Is feet, and vessels of from Il to % feet
draught go to sea daily from city wharves.
The chart therefore, is not only mislead-
ing but also very injurious to the commerce
OF this port.
Several years ago commission sent out by
the Honorable, the Secretary Of the Navy,
under resolution OF congress to examine
into the character of certain ports as to their
fitness for the location of a naval station on
the South Atlantic or Gulf coast did not have
Savannah on their itinerary, and, when the
senator's from Georgia, at the instance of the
mayor Of Savannah, inquired why Savannah
had not been included in the list of ports to
no W m plH
chart OF this coast In the possession of the
navy department showed barely feet at low
water, when it was really IA feet.
Satisfied upon this point the Secretary Of
the Navy ordered the commission to include
Savannah in their work. and She was accord
ingly visited and examined. This shows YOU
why we are sensitive about this matter and
feel that as in the case Of the navy depart
ment, to call your attention to the matter, is
to secure the immediate correction Of the In
Justice of which complaint Is made.
Nearly twenty years have elapsed since the
coast survey crops made their last thorough
examination Of this harbor, and many i'm
portant changes in depth have taken place in
that time as the result OF the splendid work
done under the direction OF Capt. o. M Car
TEL corpse engineers, q. ). A, In charge Of
harbor Improvements.
am informed that frequent surveys are
made by Capt. Carter, as his work progresses,
that could be made safe basis for correct
chart by the coast survey until the coast sur
vey could make thorough resurvey which
this harbor is entitled to have after lapse of
such injurious mistakes as those to which at
tentlon is herein directed.
Capt Carter informs me that his work will
be so near completion that survey, begun
in October, over his com pleted parts, could
be finished Concurrently with his securing a
s. depth Of twenty six feet at high water from
the city wharyes to the sea, as contemplated
and provided for in the continuing appropri-
alton for the improvement of the harbor OF
Savannah, under which he is operating.
81 The port of savannah does a very large
business, the third largest in exports in the
United States, and 1t is earnestly prayed
that the charts published under dire C.
ton of yoIr department. may not misrepre-
sent the depth of water in this harbor and
thus make 1t difficult to charter deep-draught
vessels
beg that immediate attention may be
# given to the correction of the error com
ia planned of and that at very early date, II
81 may be possible for you to order resurvey
of this harbor by the coast survey corps t
chart the important changes 20 years Of
successful operation by United States e
gineer corps have wrought i'll the harbor q
Savannah.
At Charleston S. c., where harboi
work is being prosecuted under Capt. Abbott
chart No. 43l Charleston hsrbo), dated june
IL, 1894, give no sonndings where the work is
being done. This form Of chart is preferable
to one giving us feet less depth than we are
entitled to now have the honor to be very
respectfully yours. d. G. PURSE,
President Savannah Board of Trade.
P. S. 1 accompany this with chart No. 43l
q Charleston harbor.
TO HAVE NEW CHART.
This letter from Capt. Purse was
written July 3, and reply was received
yesterday. Following is the letter re
ceived by Capt Purse:
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
"a Washington, D. c., July 49, ls94.-Mr. d. G.
81 Purse, President Of the Savannah Board OF
81 Trade, Savannah, Ca Sfr-Yours dated
July 3, received at this Office July T. 1884, has
received very careful attention beg to ex
"a press to you and to the board my thanks for
calling my attention to the matter. Oul
81 chart contained the latest authoritative in
formation in our possession up to the date OF
Its issue, and. at about the same time of YOU
writing we were in receipt of a report from
81 Capt. Garrett upon the matter. The latest
omiclal lhIormatlon mat we no" nave WI
guarantee our giving fourteen and hall
81 14l3) feet depth at mean low water from the
q ocean to the wharves at Savannah, Ga.
have written to Capt. o. M. Carter, corps OF
engineers. o. ). A. asking for the latest re
suits of his surveys for publication for the
beneht of all concerned and as soon as we re,
81 ceive these, the chart will be revised, and
you will he furnished with copy OF the new
print Yours respectfully.
WILLIAM H. PUGH,
Acting Superintendent.
AN IMPORTANT MOVE.
This is one of the most important sue
cesses that has been scored for the port
in long time. There is direct evidence
going to show that charts which do not
give the proper depth but much less have
seriously damaged the commerce of GER
tain ports, and Charleston as well as Sa
yannah has had some trouble on this
score.
The superintendent Of the coast survey
service says it will be noted that that Je-
partment is now in correspondence with
81 Capt. o. M. Carter, and that it will be
pleased to use for making official charts
any Official information which he viii
furnish. Capt. Carter is undoubtedly de
sirous of seeing the harbor given full
credit for all the depth it has
and will gladly respond, givinf
all the information he possesses, When
he does so there is no doubt that he will
give the harbor more even than AZ feel
in the channel from the city to the sea
There is now 16 feet at mean low water
all the way, and in many places the deptf
is even greater In fact, 10 feet is The
least depth, and that is found only in q
few places
1t is understood that parties who have
been to Capt. Carter for information have
been told that they can bring vessels
drawing "A feet into the channel by Sep
TENDER, and that he said he would Dt
willing TO go down the river on a vesse
drawing that depth. There is no doub
that the channel is being dcepened verl