The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-13
TO COST A HUNDRED MILLION.
SENATOR BACON's GEORGIA CANAL
BILL CREATES AMUSEMENT.


He Wants to See How the Tennessee
and savannah Rivers Could BE
Connected So as TO Get COmmuni-
cation From the Mississippi to the
AtIantic-The Results of n Survey
for IA Canal From the Tennessee to
the OcmuIgee River, Made In 1871
and IS72-The Scheme Not a Marker
for PrOdigiOuSness to the Nicara-
qua Canal.
Senator Bacon's bill for the purpose of
ascertalning the cost of constructing a
canal from point on the Tennessee river
near Chattanooga to the navigable wa
tiers of the Savannah river for the pur-
pose of furnishing adequate water COM
munication by the shortest and most
practicable route between the Mississippi
river and the Atlantic ocean. has caused
much amusement among those who have
some idea of what such a project means
Capt. D. G. Purse says the Nicaragua
canal wouldn't be a circumstance to such
a project as that, as it requires perhaps
the cutting away of some of tile Blue
Ridge mountains. Capt. Purse thinks the
matter entirely impracticable, and is of
the opinion that there are other works
more practicable and of greater necessity
that congress should turn it's attention
to.
Senator Bacon says he will have the
cooperation of the entire Georgia dele
cation and representatives from contig-
uous states. but the general opinion, as
expressed, is that it would be better for
congress to turn it's attention to some of
the improvements that are really needed,
such as the safe anchorage for vessels
at Tybee, and others, rather than chase
the end of a rainbow for the mythical pot
Of gold.
A gentleman who has had some expe-
rience in such matters remarked that
the government might build such a ca
nal whenever it got ready TO spend some
where between $4,000, 900 and $500, OOO,-
900. He is satisfied that it would come
somewhere between those figures, but
just where he could not tell. Senator
Bacon's idea is not an original one by
any means, as will be seen.
March 30, 1872 James C. Long, a civil
engineer, made a report to the war de-
partment with regard to a survey of the
canal from point near Guntersville, Ala,
on the Tennessee river, to point near
Gadsden, Ala, on the Coosa river. The
work was begun Oct. "a, 1871. Two routes
were surveyed, the estimates being based
on a canal Sc feet wide at the bottom,
20 feet wide at the top, feet least depth
of water, tow-paths feet wide on
top and locks l20 feet long between gates
and thirty feet wide. No report was
made as to the commercial advantages
of such a project; but simply as to its
feasibility and probable cost. The Total
cost of this branch of such canal was
Following this beginning in Nav. 1872.
Survey for canal from the
rlveT, It being Hy' proposed to connect this
with the other, and thus secure a canal
to the Atlantic seaboard. Following the
Etowah river for 21;O2 miles, it was
estimated that with the foregoing dimen-
sions that portion OF the canal could be
constructed for $,O51,O0O, exclusive of
the locks only.
which, the engineer states, presented by
far the greatest difficulties of the sur
vey, as 1t would have to go through
the ridge of mountains which divides the
Chattahoochee river from the Btowah The
estimated cost of this portion of the canal
the length being figured at 33.08 miles,
including a granite acqueduct 80 feet
Next comes the Yellow river section
from the end Of the Chattahoochee sec
ton to the mouth of the South river, WHICH
as surveyed was 5S.62 miles long, and the
| estimated cost of which is 81. 9Sl, 900. The
| Ocmulgee section as surveyed extends
| from the mouth of South river to Macon
and lies in the immediate valley of the DC.
mulgee river passing through Butts anc
| Monroe counties and part of Bibb. This
section was surveyed for H.4S miles, anc
| its estimated cost was $2,274,O00 Besides
| this there was an estimated cost for yer
| teal lockage in the Etowah or Little river
| section of 1925 900. in the Yellow river sec
| ton of 81, 1872 800, and in the Ocmulgee sec
| ton of 100000 Besides these amounts
| 81, 900 900 was allowed for additional feed
| ers and reservoirs making a total esti
/ mated cost from the Etowah river to the
| Ocmulgee of SIC, 703, 1884, This added to the
| foregoing estimate of the canal between
! the Tennessee and Coosa rivers, would give
| a total cost of SIG, 221, 599. 81.
A proposed route for the canal above out
! lined with the estimates given was actu
| ally made in 1871 and 1872, and the reports
| made to the war department. A survey fol
| a canal route from the Tennessee river t.
| the Savannah river was also talked of
| and at one time it was believed provision
| would really be made for 1t, but such Z
survey has never been made. Those whC
! know something about canal building say
| it would cost something like $100,O00000 OF
! account of the high water shed that would
/ have to be crossed, and that the objec
! IS one about the impracticability of which
! there can be no question.