The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-28
INSIDE ROUTE TO BEAUFORT.
Plans Changed by Capt. Gillette Ap =
proved by the War Department..

Plans Changed by Capt. Gillette APP
proved by the War Department..
The war department has approved Capt.
c. E. Gnlette's recommended change in
the plans for the inside channel to Beau
fort, and notice of that approval was re-
ceived at the United States engineers Of
flee here yesterday.
Under the changed plans work will prob
ably begin at once and it is expected
that the entire seven-foot channel
from Savannah to Beaufort will be COM
pIeted within a month, or about that time
AS has been stated, the new channel will
by practically the old channel. In other
words, under the new plans, the route
proposed in Capt. Carriers report upon
the subject, which was some two or three
miles longer than the old route, mas peen
abandoned, and work on it has been stop
ped for some time, pending decision In
the matter by the war department.
The route proposed by Capt. Carter held
the river down TO the eastern end of the
north Lond Island training wall, where 1t
turned in and ran along dam NO. 81,
which dam has been extended from the
oyster Bed shoal over TO Turtle Island,
leaving practically no outlet to the river
OCA42AeANNeNI
dredging had been done on this route un-
der the present contract, but the work,
as stated, was stopped recently. The
main objection to this route, Capt. Gill
lette states. is on account of the tidal
currents, which, flowing directly across
the channel. have a tendency to fill it UP
all the time, and make it shoal 1t was
for this reason that the change was made.
The old route, or that which has been
used since the construction of the North
Long Island training wall, follows the
river only to the western end of that
training WALL or the end nearest the city.
At that point there is a break in the
training WALL where the boats enter, and
follow the the channel between the wall
and Jones' Island. running nearer to the
island. There is a break between dam
No. So and Jones' Island, between which
the boats pass, and the channel then con-
tinues east toward dam No. So, but it will
not go as near, however, as formerly.
From that point the channel turns direct
ly into Wrights river, and follows the
course that has always been used.
Under this new plan the tidal and other
currents Will sweep up and down the
length of the channel instead of across it,
and will, it is said, tend to keep it secured
out. This channel is considerably shorter
than that first contemplated as has been
stated, but it Is somewhat longer than 1t
might have been had the first dredging
| been done nearer to the point of Jones'
| Island. On account of the fact that con-
siderable dredging was done further to the
east, it was considered best not to change
| that portion OK the channel since it will
answer every purpose. and is in a position
to keep open through the action of the
| currents.
To complete this route as proposed I'M
der the new plans will require the remov-
al of about 1900 cubic feet of material.
This can be done in about a months time.
it is said, and when it is finished the new
inside seven-foot channel at mean low
water, between Savannah and Beaufort
will have been completed. This work is
| being done under the contract awarded
! to Messrs. Rlttenhoase. Moore & Co.