The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-01
NOT DOWN IN The ESTIMATES.
THE HARBOR LIABLE To SUFFER
UNLESS SOMETHING Il DONE.

An APpropriatioa for Maintenance
Absolutely Necessary. Hut the See
rotary OF War seems "a Have over
looked the Fact-The Present AP-
preparation VIII Be Entirely En-
peuded by July 1.-The Cost of
Maintenance Might BE Reduced
One-HaIf by the Proposed ENten-
sion of the Oyster Bed Training
WaII-What l. Needed 40 He Done.
The ANNOUNCEMENT that the committee
on rivers and harbOrs of the lower house
OF congress has been directed TO cut its
bin down 20 the lowest figure. and the
suggestion that the bill itself might fall
through at this session. is Of the gravest
importance 10 Savannah and the COM
merce of this port.
It is ENCOURAGE however. to note the
report that the members Of congress who
are interested in this bin are organizing
for a vigorous fight for its passage, ana
viii oppose to the end the dictatorial
methods OF Speaker Reed, who gave the
committee these directions.
To show OF what importance this bill
is to Savannah and its commerce. espe-
cially that portion of it which must relate
to the work here, il is only necessary TO
repeat what Capt. o. NJ. Carter. United
States corps engineers, has said with re-
gard TO the work. When seen yesterday
Capt Carter said:
by July 1 all the money appropriated
for the twenty-six foot project in the
Savannah river will have been expen-
ded, and the depth aimed at viii be OBJ
tanned But river ike the Savannah fills
in in places with sediment, especially as
its banks are easily corrOded.
1t has always been contemplated that
q small sum would be required yearly for
maintenance, and that sum will be greater
or smaller, depending on the condition OF
the Tybee roads is very great There has
been a scheme proposed for protecting
the anchorage in the roads, which have
investigated and upon which l have made
"A report 1t was also found that
this plan would hold open the roads and
keep them practically free from sand, be-
sides afording a safe anchorage for
dredges which would be used then from
time TO time 20 keep the channel clear.
Il recommend that the present project
be enlarged by the extension Of the Oys-
ter Bed training wall, leaving a gap, of
course. for Caltbouge sound This IL was
estimated, would cost about $4,000 This
project was approved by Gen. Craiehin
now the chief Of engineers, but then chief
OF division / stated that II this
We're done the cost of maintenance OF the
Savannah river channel would be some
thing like $4,000 or 100000 a year, whereas
II II is not done the cost Of maintenance
Will be double that, and even then u might
not be maintained as IL should. Thus 1t
would be economy TO build this work now
as in eight or ten years its cost might
be saved, in what Is saved on the main
fenance Of the harhor."
II Is understood that in the book OF esti-
mates on river and harbOr work furnished
5he present congress by the Secretary of
War, nothing whatever has been asked for
the Savannah harbOr, neither for the an
chorage at Tybee Roads, nor for the
VrSu inf Of Tle huf "a
provision for the maintenance of the har-
Dor, IL can readily be seen how the COM
merce OF the port would suffer- yet IL ap-
pears that the Secretary of War has over
looked the matter entirely, and as the
present fund will be entirely expended by
July I. IL would be necessary to walt for
another congress before any arrangement
for maintenance could be made. It is ap-
parent therefore, that Savannahians must
get to work on the matter, If they do
not want their interests TO suffer.
When asked about the maintenance of
the harbor work, Capt. Carter said: ITS
absolutely necessary that we should have
a sum for maintenance. Like any other
property the harbor, of course, would
suffer unless looked after and kept up.
The work would not only deteriorate, but
there would be an interference with all
commerce The new commerce secured by
the increased depth cannot get along with
the old depth of water. shoaling of
three or four feet in the channel would
keep out some of the larger vessels that
the increased depth has enabled TO come
one or two small places, which could be
kept clear at a small cost. yet one small
LUMP IN the SnahheI Woulu Dlock ~ az
effectually as If the shoalng extended all
the way to the sea. A dredge is needed
at certain intervals at those points where
the sand lodges, to keep the channel
clear
This appears to be state of affairs
which Savannahians should look into. Con-
gresham Lester is, of course, doing what
he can in the matter. but he will undoubt-
edly need strong backing under the pres
ent condition of affairs, with the desire to
cut down expenses at every point, because
II is presidential year.
What is needed, ii is understood, is au-
thority from congress to go ahead with
that a five-year contract for the mainte-
nance of the harbor. the total cost of
which, II Is estimated, would be some
thing like 81. 500 600. on S3000 a year, af-
ter which the cost Of maintenance would
not go over 100000 a year. This, it is
said, could be done by congress authoriz-
ing a continuous contract for the work,
and without the necessity of appropriat-
ing more than small portion of the
amount required at the present time.
Ports all around the country are getting
in their work before the committee, and
If anything is to be accomplished for Sa-
vannah 1t may be necessary to work
on this line dispatch to the Morning
News yesterday stated that Mr. w. r.
Rogers of Macon had been before the
committee to. urge an appropriation of
$4,000 for continuation of the improve
ments on the Ocmulgee river, and opening
up the channel between Macon and Haw-
kinsville. 1t is desired 10 get a perma-
nent depth of at least three feet and il
IS estimated about 100000 can be judic-
iously expended in the next fiscal year
River boats of small draft ply between
Macon, Hawkinsville, Lumber City, Able
vile and other small points. and it is
said they are handling a great deal of
traffic. 1t looks on ali sides as if there
We're going to be a determined fight to
get the river and harbOr bill through with
all Of its essential features.
TEN ROTNnS Am nRAxU