The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-21
WILL ARRIVE THIS MORNING.
HARBOR INVESTIGATING BOARD TO
BEGIN WORK AT ONCE.


The Members of the Board, Their
Present Duties and Services-COI.
Gillespie a Veteran of the War.
Their Instructions VIII No Doubt
Give Them "a Wide ScOpe-May De-
Counsel VIII lie AIIOved-Much
Interest in the Proceedings.
The members of the investigating board,
which will look into the work that has
been done upon the Savannah harbor, will
arrive in the city this morning via the
Plant system. a telegram received in the
city yesterday announced that they would
not arrive here to-day. Although they
will arrive about half an hour before the
hour for their meeting it is said they will
be ready to go to work promptly at 10
o'clock as directed.
Col. George L. Gillespie being The rank
ing officer on the board. will act as its
chairman. Col. Gillespie is the division
engineer in charge of the northeastern d.
vision of the Atlantic coast harbor i'm
provements. He is a member of and pres
ident of the Mississippi river commission,
appointed under an act of congress of
June %, 1879. He also has duties of SUI
pervising or inspecting nature in conncc-
ton with harbors in various parts of the
country.
Col Gillespie was appointed to the West
Point Military Academy from Tennessee
in 1858, and graduated in 1862. Taking part
in the war he rose rapidly being brevetted
a major in August 1864, 'for gallant and
meritorlous services during the campaign
before Richmond, Va" For similar SER
vices from Winchester to Appomattox
Court House, he was raised to the rank of
lieutenant colonel in April, 1865 He was
made a full colonel Oct. 2, 1895.
Maj. Chas. w. Raymond and Maj. Henry
NJ Adams are the other two members.
Maj. Raymond is in charge of the defen-
sive works in the Delaware river the work
around Philadelphia and the New Jersey
coast, the Delaware breakwater, and con-
siderable river work in that section. He is
a member of several engineering commits
sions. Maj. Raymond was appointed 70
West Point from Connecticut in 1861, and
graduated in 1865. He became a captain
in 1867. and was promoted to the rank of
major in 1888.
Maj. Adams is in charge of the defensive
works at the eastern en-
trance to New York harbor
the sea walls on Staten, Governors
and Daniels Islands, as well as other
works in that locality He graduated from
West Point in 1866, became a captain of
engineers in 1877, and was promoted to the
rank of major in 1883
1t is said the members of the board are
among the best known officers in the serv-
ice. 1t is not known yet just what their
i'm str h,tt ic ot
the scope given them is wide one, that
they will be empowered to summon such
parties as they desire to hear from as
witnesses, and, in fact to conduct the
investigation pretty much as they see fit
for the good of the service They may
also be called on to decide whether there
shall be counsel present to represent Capt.
o. M. Carter. ii has been stated that, as
this is only an investigation or an inquiry
and no direct accuse tons have been
made certain information only having
been filed with the department, there may
be no need for counsel. This point, how
ever. will no doubt be left with the board
TO determine.
The investigation continues to be a
topic of absorbing interest, and there is
a general desire to know what it is going
TO develop, if anything. Some of those
most interested in the matter assert conf
IDENTITY that the difference in specific grav-
ity between the rock used in building the
jettes, and that called for in the speci-
fications can be satisfactorily explained
They say it can be shown that the rock
used has proven advantageous to the gov
eminent in constructing the works. The
investigation must develop, however
whatever is to be shown in this connec-
ton.
1t is not known yet what information
VIII be given out as to the progress of the
boards investigation, as it may simply
take the data gathered and submit it to
the department with a report before any
thing is made public. There will be "a
general desire, however, to know what
is brought out, and in so far as it can
be done, the proceeding will be watched,
no doubt, with more than eager inter
est.