The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-15
WANT TO SEE IT w1DENED.
Many Who Think the River should
BE Broader Mt the city.

Many Who Think the River should
BE Broader mt the city.
There are some Savannah business men
who are not altogether pleased with the
action of the war department in changing
the harbor lines opposite the city in such
manner as to leave the width of the
river along the wharves as it is at present.
The change in the harbor line is of itself
of little moment, but for the fact that it
was at one time contemplated to cut off a
portion of Hutchinson's Island for a dis
lance of more than half a mile so as to
give the river along the city uniform
width of GOO feet. The fact that the har-
Dor line has been changed. however, shows
that that project has for the present been
abandoned.
There was an appropriation made at one
time for cutting off that portion of the
island with a view to widening the river,
but the money was spent for other pur-
poses, though in the Improvement of the
harbor. 1t was intended, however. that
the project should be carried out, until the
board recently appointed to investigate the
matter made a report against it, which re-
port was adopted by the department, and
the harbor line extended out to the shore
line.
work as contemplated should have been
done OF all places it is desirable that
the river along the city wharVes should
have not only a uniform, but a greater
width Besides being of advantage in
furnishing more room for the maneuver
ing of vessels. it would be of benefit from
a business standpoint, in that it would
increase the facilities for commerce. and
be an advertisement for the port That
the project was an important one for Sa-
vannah, there is no reason to doubt.
Capt. c. E. Gillette, who was member
OF the board that made the report, in
speaking of the matter, said there was
no question that the project would have
been of great benefit to the port. The
IDEA, he stated, was a good one but the
board thought there were other things to
be considered 1t was thought that the
advantage to be derived would not Justify
the expense of carrying out the project,
In the expense incident to such a pro-
Ject there would be two main features;
first, the cost of the property to be taken
ana the payment Of damages to property
owners, and second the expense of doing
the work itself, which would be great, not
alone on account of the large amount Of
material TO be removed, but also because
1t contains stumps and piles, which would
made it more difficult of removal These
considerations, it appears, outweighed in
the minds of the board the advantages to
be derived by the city from the proposed
change, hence the abandonment of the
project.
SaVannahians, who spoke about the mat
ter did not regard the feature of expense
Granting that there are many reasons why
the change would be of great advantage
to the port, they consider that the general
government should be willing TO spend
the money even If it be a little more than
it was first thought the work would cost
hoy too H..
money here as another advantage, though
a secondary one.
1t may be that an effort will be made
through some of the citys enterprising
business men to see if this work cannot
be brought about at some future date
The subject has been discussed no little
since it has heretofore been looked on as
practically certain that the river at the
city would be widened when the deep wa
ter project was completed.