The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-20
MAKING BIG IMPROVEMENTS.
IMPORTANT WORK AT THE PLANT
SYSTEM wHARVEs.

Large Area Is being Raised to the
Level of the Wharves Between
100000 and 100000 Cubic Yards OF
Dirt VIII he Used - 1t Is Being
Taken From BrewtOn Hin - Big
Cotton Sheds Going Up-ImprOve-
ment of the Entire Property Com
tempInted.
Extensive improvements are under way
at the Savannah. Florida and Western
wharves. A large area is being filed in,
and considerable building Is in progress.
When all that is mapped out has been
completed, the Plant System Will enjoy
greatly increased facilities for the hand
ling of cotton, lumber and naval stores
Storage room win be greatly enlarged, and
more yard space will be had.
Mr.. T. S. Tutwiler, chief engineer of the
Plant System, has the work under direc-
ton, and is giving 1t close attention. He
expects that more than a year viii be re-
ouired for the completion of the work
The dirt that is being used for filling in
the wharf property is taken from Brew
ton hin, which is about a mile distant. A
spur track runs to the hill, the edge Of
which is being cut away by a steam
shovel. 1t is thought enough of the soil
can be taken from the part of the hill
owned by the system to complete the
work of filing in.
From Bilbo canal eastward for about a
mile, the filling will be made 1t is the
plan to raise the entire wharf property 10
the level of the wharves themselves To
n he
from one to four feet. Between 20O, 900 and
100000 cubic yards of dirt will be re-
quired. There Is a great deal of other
work incident to the filing Draining has
TO be effected, and this is being arranged
for by sub-system of terracotta pipe.
This will keep the rosin yards perfectly
dry.
The wharf property of the Plant system
was originally rice fields, and it has been
| necessary to build the land up from time
10 time. The work now under way is a
continuation of the filing as il has al
ways stopped in the past before the level
desired was reached. A branch that ran
from Jonee canal to the river has been
filled and turned, and an expensive drain
now conducts the flow of water under the
large spirits shed.
Two large cotton sheds are being erect
ed at the northwest corner of the wharf
property. A third shed may be built, and
the dimensions of each will be 100 by 400
ieet. Where these sheds are going up there
mas been only platforms, no shelter having
peen mad for the cotton. The ground upon
| whlch they are being built has already
| been hlled in to the general level the plat
| forms having been removed for this pur-
pose. A building leased from the system
| by the Savannah Guano Company occu-
pied part of the site of the sheds, but
the guano company has moved to another
| site TO the southwark.
There are about 175 men engaged in the
| work of improving the property OF this
| number 100 are at work on the sheds for
| the cotton. After all the improvements
now under way are completed, it is likely
| the system will continue it's work and i'm
| prove the rest of it's property of which
| there is more than two miles on the river
| front.
In addition to the raising of the level
| of the property, the water at the wharyes
has been deepened along the entire length.
| TWenty-one feet at low water can now be
| found at any point along the wharves.
| Although it has not been definitely decided
| upon, the system is considering bringing
| monster dredge it owns up from Port
| Tampa to do further work about the
| wharves. Similar work to that in progress
| here is being done at Brunswick, however.
and 1t is the present plan to have the
dredge stop there. If 1t is brought on to
| Savannah it will be used for the construc-
ton of two large canals, 1t is said, at the
eastern end of the property.
The building up Of the eastern bank of
| Bilbo canal, which is that bordering the
| systems property, Is a part of the work
now in progress. In many places this bank
! has given way, and bulkhead will be run
| along the east side for as great distance
as the canal forms the line of the prop
erty.
A great deal Of work is being done at
| various points on the Plant system The
| engineering department is kept busy with
| the direction of the Improvement and Mr.
| Tutwiler is on the road good deal in or
| der to give the work his personal atten-
ton.