The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-11
THE HARB0R LINE CHANGED.
THE RIVER ALONG THE CITY WILL
NOT BE WIDENED.

The HutchinsOn's Island shore Line
Is the New HarbOr Line-The Board
Also Made Reports on the Claims
for Damages Arising on Account
of the Former HarbOr Line-One
Attorney Says the Amount Claim
ed by His Client Will Remain the
Same.
1t has finally been decided that the har-
Dor lines opposite the city along Hutchin-
sons Island shall be changed so as to con-
form to the present shore line. What
effect this will have upon the damage suits
now pending against the government on
account of the establishment of the former
harbor line remains to be seen.
The Morning News gave an account of
the objects in view in this connection at
the time of the appointment of the board
for the purpose of looking into the matter
and making a report to the war depart
ment. The board consisted of Col. W. H.
H. Benyard, Maj. E. H. Ruffner and Capt.
c. E. Gillette. A meeting was held here
and the matter was gone into fully, repre-
sentatives of the estate of Robert p. Par
rott and of Mr.. H. F. Wiilink and other
property owners on the island appearing
before it.
The former harbor line was anywhere
from 25 to 100 feet inland on Hutchinson's
Island, and it was contemplated that that
much of the island projecting into the
river should be cut off in order to make
the river a uniform width of 600 feet along
the wharf front. That harbor line was es-
tablished several years ago under Capt.
o. NJ. Carter and for many reasons was
considered desirable. The result of it was
that no improvements could be made or
structures of any kind be put up beyond
that line. and it is said, considerable of
the property had to be abandoned on ac-
count of it. This led to suits against the
government in the court of claims 1t is
said the narrow channel, however, will
have tendency to keep the river deeper
along the city wharves.
The board appointed to investigate the
matter after a full consideration decided
that the harbor line could be changed so
as to conform to the present shore line of
the river on the Hutchinson's Island side.
and so reported. That report has been
adopted, and structures may now be built
on the island up to the waters edge.
One of the reasons for this change is
said to have been the desire on the part of
the government to migrate the claims for
damages, as far as possible on account of
the establishment of the former harbor
line. Part of the claims was based on the
fact that the contemplated cutting away
of that portion of the island meant the
loss of so much property. 1t was probably
considered therefore, that this change
would remove that ground for damages.
An attorney for one of the claimants
said, however, that this action on the part
OF the government would have no effect
upon the suit he had brought in the court
of claims. The damage has already been
done, he said, and it is irreparable except
through the payment of the amount of
damages sustained. No change in the har-
Dor lines will restore the business once To-
Gated there, which had to be abandoned on
account of the former harbor line. and
therefore the amount asked for in dam
ages will be no less. This statement refers
to the Parrot estate upon which there
was a sawmill, which it is claimed had to
be abandoned on account of the former
harbor line. So far as is known, Mr. Will
link makes similar claim, alleging that
damages have already accrued to his prop
erty on account of the former harbor line
and that he has lost money on account
of it.
The former harbor line extended for
distance of about $500 feet along the is
Iand, on the opposite side of the city. the
present width of the river being from 450
TO about $50 feet along that portion.
The board appointed to report on this
matter, also made report on the claims
winch have been made for damages. on
account of the former harbor line which
contemplated slicing off wharf lots from
No. to No. 10. These reports are for the
information of the department in defend
ing the suit for damages in the court of
claims
The boards report upon the harbor line
at the quarantine station has not vet
been acted on. Tt would appear however
from correspondence between Capt. Gil
lette and Acting Mayor Hamilton that the
board reported in favor of changing the
harbor line there, SO as not to cut off any
of the citys property. 1t seems to be the
desire of the department not to interfere
with any of the city property. 1t is ex-
pected that this report will be heard from
in a few days.
Since the change in the harbor line has
been made, the little store house belonging
to the revenue steamer Tybee will in no
wise be interfered with. BY permission of
the secretary of War, Lieut. George b.
Maher, built the store house on some piles
out beyond the shore line, which, of course
was considerable distance from the former
harbor line When the matter of chang
ing the harbor lines was taken under CON
sideration, Lieut. Maher was naturally
somewhat anxious, as he has a convenient
and necessary little structure there for the
use of the steamer, and did not want IT
interfered with If it could be Helped. Cant
Gillette assured him that it would be TAX
en- care of. Since the harbor line has been
changed, however, there would under no
circumstances be any necessity of inter-
fering with the store house, and it will re-
main where it is.
BAPTIST YOUNC, pIcOprr Ar ,,o,