The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-26
EOR A SAFE ANCHORAGE.
THE PLAN TO PROTECT TYBEE
ROADS NOW BEFORE CONGRESS.

Capt. Carter Recommends the Con-
structiOn of a Detached Wall to
shelter the Notwithstanding La
mont Has Submitted the Reports
on the Project 20 Congress and as
Approved by Chief of Engineers
T. l.. Casey-They Are Now Fully
Before the River and Hnr Dor Com
mfttee-COI. Lester VIII Work for
the Much Needed Improvement.
The work done so far with view to
securing a safe anchorage for vessels
! lying in Tybee roads. and the recon-
uaandations and resolutions with regard
to the additional improvements oal the
Savannah harbor for this purpose has just
been placed before the Fifty-third con-
gress. It has been referred to the COM
mittee on rivers and harbors, and seF-
eral Of The printed copies have just been
received in Savannah.
TIE reports of Capt. o. n. Carter. cor ps
Of engineers. and the letter Of Gen. Tho m
as L. Casey. chief Of engineers, on The
subject approving the project are p re-
faced by Iette from Secretary Lamt mt
of the war der artment. Secretary / "a
mont simply writ es submitting the let ter
and reports in co appliance with the act
OF Aug. II. 1894, di veeting him 70 report
whether the present works projected on
the Savannah harbor will afford sa, te
anchorage for vessels lying in Type e
roads, and if not. whether there is ne .
oessity for constructing n en-. From the
reports it seems that there is.
The information on this subject was
called for by congress, and could only
be furnished. Gen. Casey states, in his
letter. after a survey Of the locality
which has been made under the direc-
ton Of Capt. o. NJ. Carter.
Capt. Carter, he says. submits estimates
amounting to $780,. 80 for extension of the
oyster bed training wall and eonstruc-
ton OF a detached part parallel 10 the
currents along the axis Of the sh'oal be-
tween Tybee roads and Catalogue sound,
as shown by accompanying map, these
estimates being based upon the suppo-
sition that the entire amount will be
made available at once.
Capt Carter reports. Gen. Casey says,
United States in Savannah harbor the
navigable depth is constantly increasing,
a coaing station has been established in
the city, and more shipping is each year
seeking anchorage at Tybee roads. AIDE
quata protection for all such
vessels can be Afforded for
about 3 per cent of the value of the ship
ping annually exposed to destruction at
that point. The works are also necessary
for the development and maintenance
of the navigable channels and the an
chorage.
Gen. Casey indorses the plan as sub
mitted by Capt. Carter, and under his
letter is also the Endorsement OF Col
William p. Craighill, who is the SUPER
vising engineer of river and harbor
for this division.
In his report which follows, among
other things, Capt. Carter says;
1.-THE original project of Improvement
of Savannah harbor, submitted by me
| on Aug. 25. 1887, contemplated the con-
struction Of works for the sheltering of
| the anchorage at Tybee roads ana FOR
| the Improvement of the channel across
| the outer bar That project was so mod
/ fled in 1890 as to provide for improve
ment as far seaward as Tybee ROADS only,
/ hence no works for the sheltering OF that
| anchorage are contemplated in the exist
ing project. ,.
"A comparison of the wind records
II
available shows that 3S1A per cent. or the
| winds observed during a period OF SIX
| teen years were from the northeast ana
! east. while all of the severe storms during
! that period were from the same direction
! The ANCHORAGE in Tybee roads is there
| fore fully exposed TO the action of all
| destructive storms. The annual value OF
| shining anchoring in Tybee roads and
| now exposed to destruction is S5zOVO,UN.
| The necessity for sheltered anchorage
at that point is further pointed out IN
| communications from the Savannah
Board of Trade and Cotton exchange
which are appended hereto.
| 1.-THE permanency of the channel OF the
estuary across the outer part of Tyhee
! Knoll and of the anchorage IN Iypee
roads is, moreover, largely dependent
| on their protection against destructive
wave action caused by heavy northeast
winds. During q northeasterly storm the
| waves stir up and set in motion great
| quantities of material which the ebp now
weakened during the continuance OF the
pale would not be able to prevent set
| Ting in deep places. 1t appears, there
fore. that additional works would nave
The effect not only of affording neees-
80, co ~ anchorage for vessels in Tybee
! roads hut would be of great value IN
develoning and maintaining the channels
across the knoll and the ocean bar
cant carter advises against an extern
| sion of the oyster bed training W al - II
would cut off communication with Cali
bogue sound and interfere with existing
tidal conditions. The information neoes-
sarv to reach a decision in regard to the
| hest location for such work as Is con-
templated were determined by detailed
SURVEY made in October and Move mber,
1901 ON the basis of the inform alton
| reached with regard to depths in this
locality. the direction and condition the
currents it is proposed to extend the pres
emit oyster bed training wall and con-
struet a. detached part parallel to the eur
rents along the axis of the shoal between
| Tvbee roads and Catalogue sound.
'sF'or the present a length of 5000 fe ct
onlv &c recommended for the detached poA"-
from of the training wall. This should b<'
brought up to mean high water and would
afford a safe anchorage 3 IL fathoms deep
AZ mean low water for 200 vessels. each
am feet in length. Should 1t be desired to
increase the sheltered area or protect the
| Mouth channel to the sea, this can be done
~, extending the work on the lines indi-
| Gated.
II is proposed to extend the inner part
I wall distance NJ 500