The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-08
s sy and lowlands referred to in the

09N>' AibO the savannah river
at the Ocean Steamship wharves
, It extends from the main line of the
central railroad northWard 10 the SaVan-
nan river, aud from within the corporate
/ limits westward for an average width of
mile and a half. 1t is intended as a
sanitary measure. and in addition drains
a large area of understanding lands i'm
| mediately adjacent to the city.
\ In our opinion the canal and tributary
dltches which have been constructed, with
some slight additions, will be amply suffi-
| Gent for these purposes, if they are kept
cleaned OUT and in good condition. With
great regret we have to report that, out
SIDE OF the corporate limits, we did not
ma them in this condition. On the con-
trary we found them INSTRUCTED by mud
bars and dense growth of rank vegeta-
tlon, Which not only render them of little
value as drainage channels, but make
them breeders of disease and danger TO
the surrounding country. We were re
Iiably informed that the canal and bitches
had not been cleaned out or received anv
attention Whatever from the county au-
thorities in the last fifteen or eighteen
months.
We also observed that the Central rail-
ROAD bitches near Bay street extended are
4 IN an unsanitary condition.
| The remainder of the watershed excAnt
ing narrow strip forming the western
4 Slope OF the city, has its drainage outlet
| through Springfield canal, which lies
wholly within the corporate limits 1t dis
| charges into the Savannah river at the
ocean steamship wharves and extends
| southwesterly about two miles to the
| backwater dam across the swamp. near
| Laurel Grove cemetery. In it's length il
passes under the Ogeechee canal at Gays
| lock, some 5000 feet north of the dam.
| IN the old rice planting days the greater
part OF this canal was constructed as an
overflow channel for the reservoir or
'backwater," which covered all the
SWamps Immediately south of the dam and
! which was used to irrigate the Springfield
rice plantation. When the city acquired
| this plantation and diverted it from rice
culture, the canal was used as a drainage
| channel.
In 1871 the drainage commission. finding
1t inadequate, had it deepened, widened.
| ana Its banks raised as was also the hank
of the backwater dam ito hold back the
1 vast amount of water which is constant
| ly liable to collect in the wide extent of
| sWamps to the south and southwest of
| the plantation" (Report of DR.. l. G.
| Ihomas, chairman of drainage commits
sion to mayor and alderman, Oct. IA, 1878 J
| rms was all that could be done by the
| commission at that time although its
members recognized that more should be
done to perfect 1t in the future DR.
| Ihomas, in the report above referred to
| expresses it thus: I'VE wish it. however
| understood, that we do not consider the
springfield canal in a perfect condition.
ana are aware that certain extensive in,
provements are Indispensable before the
| OBJECTS Of this work can be fully secured
| we regret exceedingly that the benefcent
| appropriation made by the state is too
| limited for us to anticipate and undertake
| these improvements. = In concIu-
BODY we beg to report to your honorable
tempted in the improvements made
IN connection with the drainage
OF Springfield plantation more than
the foundation of a system which must
have further developments to secure ire
beneficial results. But we have sufficient
assurance of the utility of these improve
ments, so far as they have been already
extended. and, in returning this valuable
part of the public domain to your hands.
we take the liberty of suggesting that, for
the promotion of the public health as well
as to insure due appreciation of the value
of the Springfield lands, the system of
drainage, the foundation of which is now
laid, should be promptly pressed to its
proper development"
Although this report was made nearly
| twenty years ago. it does not appear that
| anything has been done, except what is
| stated below, towards pressing ito its
proper development" the scheme outlined
| by the drainage commission.
While the banks of the backwater dam
and Springfield canal are maintained at
| sufficient hight TO prevent overflow and
| the canal is kept cleaned, it is inadequate
| in its present dimensions to carry the wa
ter, (which is constantly libable to collect
-, . H.. L.. - ,r~.
and southwest of the plantation, and con-
sequently that section will remain in an
/ unsanitary and uncultivatable condition
/ until the suggested proper developments
| are made.
In 1891 the then board of county com
| missoners, with a view to make these de-
| velopments and to thoroughly drain Mus
/ grove watershed, had careful surveys
| made and adopted plans for carrying it
out. These plans contemplate the enlarge
Tnent of Springfield canal from the
| backwater dam to the Ogeeehee canal and
| there, through trunks of much greater
disharging capacity than those now in use,
to empty the waters into that canal, MAX
ing it the outlet to the river. For rea-
sons that are not necessary to recapitu-
| late here, as they are familiar to most
of the readers of the Morning News.
nothing was definitely accomplished to-
ward carrying out the plans during the
! term OF tlS DOdru tnen III OIlce. "A ma
| iority of the succeeding board favored the
plans. but nothing has been done i'm this
4 direction up to the present time. 1t is
| necessary for us to make this retrospect
i i've summary i'm order that what follows
! may he better understood.
Immediately above the backwater dam
Minis swamp comes into Musgrove, dis
charging its waters through Minis canal
into the head OF Springfield canal. This
swamp begins at Tatemville, something
over a mile and half to the south. IT
is the receptacle of the drainage waters
| of the Immediate southwestern suburbs
! of the city up to and within its limits.
In our opinion the canal needs revising
and enlarging throughout its length to
| meet the requirements made on it, and
a number Of additional bitches should be
dug I'm its watershed on the side toward
| the city TO render that section healthful
and cultvable. We found the existing
canal and bitches unclean and needing
attention. The culvert on the Ogeechee
road, through which the canal passes, is
badly cracked. indicating that its founda-
ton is imperfect.
Lamar swamp connects with Minis
swamp nj Tatemville and extending out on
~ta.- II Tho Savannah Florida and