The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-12
WHERE THE CHANNEL LIES.
THE LIGHT HOUSE BOARD INDI-
Gates CHANNEL THAT
DOES NOT EXIST.


Instructions 10 Mariners That Might
Cause Serious Damage 10 Com
merce IL FOIIOwed-The Request Of
the savannah Pilots Seems to Have
Been Given no AttcntiOn-Only a
Rearrangement OF the Range
Lights Nceded-The Old Channel TO
the Sea 90 he CIosed-CHpt. Carter
Points ont where the True Chan
mel H. Situated.
a notice 10 mariners dated March 8
and referring 10 changes m the channel
at the mouth OF the Savannah river
has just been received here. tt describes
a channel 10 the sea which does not ex-
list. and If not corrected serious damage
TO the commerce Of this port may result
The notice states that the training wall
under construction by the United States
engineers. starting from The north side
OF Cockspur Island and running thence
along the south side OF the channel and
the north side Of Tybee Knoll Spit. at the
mouth OF the Savannah river. having pro-
gressed so far 10 the eastward as 10 make
the upper part Of the channel marked
by the lights Of the Venus Point range
dangerous to navigate. the front light Of
this range on the southeast point Of
Jones Island viii be discontinued ON
March Is. 1895.
The notice goes on TO state that yes
sells should now run NV Is on the line
marked by the lights Of the Bloody Point
range 10 the intersection with the line
marked by the Tybee Knoll Cut range,
and run thence W q S on the latter
range. which will carry in the best water
between the training walls to the point
where the Elba Island lights come into
range The notice further states that 10
feet of water can be carried through 10
the roads at that range.
From inquiries made at the Savannah
Pilots' Association It is learned that the
channel which ought to have been marked
was indicated to the lighthouse board i'm
communication dated Sept. % 1884 This
communication was accompanied by a
chart accurately marking the new chan
mel on the ranges needed. It is there
fore rather surprising that a range should
have been laid out which, If followed,
would result in the grounding Of deep
draught vessels and which does not in
dictate the existing channels
What seems to be really needed Is
shifting of the range lights to bring them
in line with the new channel to the sea.
This channel follows the currents in the
river. being so constructed as to be kept
secured out. and il must within a short
time, be in permanent use. Some immedi-
ate action with regard to an arrangement
Of lights for navigation seems to be neces- /
Eary. Range lights for the first turn into
the new channel after leaving the Bloody
Point range could be located, one near the
oyster bed training wall, and the other on !
the lower end OF Jones Island This would
only necessitate the removal Of the two
lights which constitute the Venus Point
range.
For the other range in the new channel
one light, viz: that on the oyster Bed
shoal, is already in place, and only one
new light would have to be purchased for
this purpose. this to be placed somewhat
10 the east of the shoal mentioned Thus
by the purchase of one new light. and the
removal OF two other points, the ranges
for the new channel could be permanently
marked.
Capt. o. NJ. Carter was asked yester- |
day whether this notice to mariners de- |
scribed the new channel across st. Mich |
olas shoal.