The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-24
THE SURVEY SILL DELAYED.
THE HARBOR CHARTS JUST As
THEY WE'RE % YEARS AGO.

The Survey of the Entrance 10 the
River Provided for by Congress,
But Nothing Done Toward Making
1.-THE Lack Of Correct InfOrma-
ton as TO the Depth of Water Det-
rimentaI to the Port-The Need for
some Move to Secure the Survey ut
Once.
Despite the fact that the sundry civil
bill for the current fiscal year, nearly
seven months of which have already gone,
directs the Secretary OF the Treasury to
cause to be made survey of the entrance
to the Savannah river, in order that the
increased depth secured there during
the past few years may be shown on the
coast survey charts, and that the cotton
exchange and board of trade, have pass
ed resolution calling up the proper Off
cials to act, nothing has, as yet, been
done.
on June 30 1895. Capt. Q. NJ. Carter,
corps of engineers, reported as follows to
the chief of engineers: From the lower
end of Marsh Island down to the entrance
there is nowhere less than 10 feet at mean
low water A new channel has been
excavated over Tybee knoll and seems
to be holding WELL The old channel has
been closed by the advancement OF the
Cockspur Island jetty across and beyond
it,"
Capt. Carter was seen yesterday in re-
gard to this subject, and he stated that
since the publication of his last annual
report, from which the foregoing extract
is taken, there is nowhere in the river
a channel depth of less than twenty-six
feet at mean high water, which depth has
been much widened during the last six
or seven months and greatly increased
in several places"
In spite of the fact that this depth OF
waters exists, 1t is not universally known.
The latest coast survey charts of the Sa-
vannah harbor entrance are made up from
photographic Information obtained near
~ a quarter of a century ago, although
they contain note to the effect that the
operations of the engineer department
have greatly increased the depths tndl-
Gated on the chart. Thls note is not
enough. New charts should be made,
which would show in figures in their prop
er places the exact depth; and the Jetty
extensions and CONCENTRATIONS of channel.
Were this survey, that congress directed
to be made, finished, the data could have
been worked out by this time ana new
charts put in circulation, which would
have had the effect, in one instance alone,
probably, of causing Mr.. Vanderbilts
yacht to come to Savannah, instead OF
going to Port Royal to await the arrival
of her owner. She draws but nineteen
feet of water, and could have come up TO
the city even at low water.
The navy department, under date OF Jan,
49, in a notice to mariners, has taken
notice of the increased depth of water In
the river, as follows; ,,,.
with reference to Notice to Mariners
No. II of 1895 in which II 2-10 feet is given
as the minimum mean low-water channel
depth across Tybee knoll, in the entrance
to Savannah river, attention is called TO
appendix NJ of the annual report or the
chief of engineers, 1895, in Which IL Is
stated that June 30, 1895, from the lower
end of Marsh Island channel down to the
entrance and out to the whisting buoy
there was nowhere less than 10 feet in the
channel at mean low water.
In regard to memorialiZing congress, II
may as we'll be stated that memorials nave
very little weight with senators, represen-
tatiyes and cabinet officers, unless they
are followed up Immediately by personal
appeals or visits of delegations to Wash
ington. 1t is the duty of the city council at
this juncture, said a gentleman interested
in the welfare of Savannah. to appoint
committee to go to Washington to Sc
cure the immediate making of this sur
Vey and incidentally to help along the
Ratification bill the appropriation for the
nrolongation of the oyster Bed training
wall and other public improvements. Sa-
vannah is now more interested in secur-
ing legislation for her benefit than ever
before, and very little active work is be-
ing done to secure those benefits.
1t Is desired that a complete modern sur
vey of the entrance to the harbor should
be made, so that masters of vessels and
all others interested should know from
the charts themselves that there are 26
feet at mean high water in the Savannah
river, from the city to the sea. As the
money for this survey has been appro-
prlated it should at least be easy of pro-
curement