The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-02
THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.
Lands Benefited by BuckhaIter ca
nal-Necd For work Near the City.


Hardy, should receive the careful atten-
ton Of every one interested in the santa
ton Of the city:
Savannah, Ca July 30, 1S2.-Dr.JC. Le-
Hardy, Savannah.-Dear Sir: In reply to
yours Of yesterday requesting "a state
menk giving the geography and ownership
Of the property, in acres, to be benefited
by the drainage of Buckhalter swamp
what effect 1t will have and how near it
viii affect the Savannah basin;" also ask
ing, what number Of hands would be re-
quired, if constantly employed, TO keep the
drains around Savannah (say a circle of
two miles radius in a serviceable condi-
ton, and how many to keep the roads
from washing away, as they are now do
ing, l viii endeavor to be as brief as
possible, consistent with clearness, in my
answers, although much might be said at
this time on each of your questions to
great advantage of the public good.
Buckhalter watershed lies southwest
from Savannah, beyond the watershed of
Musgrove creek. joining, on the east, the
watershed of Harmon canal and some
smaller watersheds further south, near
the Little Ogeechee river. On the west the
watershed of the Marshall or Taliaferro
swamp Ga tributary of Shaw or Bourquin
swamp. On the south for a short distance
narrow strip of territory which drains
into salt creek, and the Little Ogeechee
river into which it discharges through
small creek running down through the
plantations called "Cherburg'' and Rock
ingham." Its area is about eight square
miles or say 5000 acres. The point where
Buckhalter swamp discharges into the Lit
tie Ogeechee is about eight and a half
miles in direct line from the city ex-
change or say six and half from the cor
porate limits
The heads of its tributaries which APP
proach nearest Savannah are % a wet
fiat lying west of the Middle ground road,
something over five and a half miles out
(2) light swamp which passes under the
S. F & w. railway, at the smile post;
49, another light swamp which heads be-
tween the latter and the Ogeechee road
about four and a quarter miles out; a.,
light swamp heading at the Ogeechee road
near the 5-mile stone and o. another
light swamp heading at the same road
nearer the smile stone. Its other tribu-
carries are all more remote
| am but partially acquainted with the
ownership of the lands lying in the water
shed, and in order that may be better
understood in what follows, beg you refer
to Platen's map of the county and the
names of the plantations laid down there
on At the Quiet Mr. Dale owns Rocking
ham and CherbuTg, containing about 1850
acres, probably / 100 of which lie within
the watershed that will be drained by the
lower part of the main canal and several
of its tributaries. Above this, the main
canal will ascend through the Old planta-
tons Cars Regain, St. AIMS and Moreand
(the land of which belong to various per-
sons), to the Savannah, Florida and West
ern railway, at the siX-mile post. In
this distance two or three small trbuta-
rafo -rrrf11 ion Nwa h. l. Of
the railroad the main canal, bending
around to the westward, will ascend for
about seven-eights of a mile through a
body of land belonging, l believed, to Col.
Garrard, and which, l think, Stains be-
tween LOO and 1900 acres. ThiSand lies
nearest Savannah of any of the watershed
part of IL, in fact, being within the drain
age territory of Musgrove creek. Prob
ably as much as 1000 acres or more will
drain through Buckhalter canal, and the
several tributaries from the east and the
west, which will come into it in this dis
lance. The main canal, bending to the
west, will then ascend through Butler (the
land of Smart & williams, and passing
into Maryland (the Marshall estate), will
head there, In the last mile of it's upper
length, numerous tributaries, like the ribs
of a fan, will come into it, several of
which will drain the Buckhalter road in
Parkers and Oakland, near the north
boundary of Cherhurg and Rockingham
The lands of Smart & Williams and the
Marshall estate, which viii be benefited
by these drainage, viii probably cover as
much as 500 acres. l do not know the
acreage and owners of the other several
properties in the watershed
The drainage of Buckhalter will have no
effect on the sanitation of the slope of
the Savannah basin. From the summit
divide between Musgrove and Buckhalter
averaging about four and a half miles
ouO the descent of the terrain toward the
Little Ogeechee or Savannah rivers, re-
speetvely, while slight, is sufficiently
pronounced to prevent the effective drain
age Of any part of the one into the other.
Not only would the bitches dug for this
purpose be so fat in their grade that the
velocity of flow and consequent quantity
of discharge would, comparatively, be
insignificant and unsatisfactory, but the
cost of construction, owing to the neces-
sarily greater depth of excavation, would
be from five to ten times as much as
bitches of the same width of base follow
ing the slope which nature has provided
Again, such deep bitches with slight
grades would have a constant tendency TO
choke, fill up and become overgrown, ow-
ing to the sluggish flow of the water
through them, and consequently would
affect good sanitation, besides requiring
much more time and greater expense to
keep in passable condition. But this ques-
ton is not a new one with reference to
these water sheds. Twenty years ago that
distinguished engineer, Gen. J. F. Gimer,
as chairman of the engineering commit
tee Of the drainage commission. had sur
veys made 20 examine into the practical
bility OF IT, and found that "these surveys
demonstrated the fact that no outlet could
be found 0or any part Of Musgrove creek
water she'd In the directions examined
except at a heavy cost-far greater than
would be required 10 enlarge and strength
en- the channels already established by the
city OF savannah" (See his report, dated
Feb. r. 1875 to the drainage commission.
which you will find In the Office OF the
clerk of council) My own surveys made
In 1891 verify the examinations OF Gen
Gilmer (See my Reports on the Pro.
posed Drainage OF the Watershed OF Mus