The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-25

leave tonight for Savannah. Late to-
morrow afternoon they viii go to Charles
ton.
Mayor Meldrim wired the secretary yes
terday, who was at Atlanta, asking him
to include Savannah among the cities he
Is to visit. No reply was received, how
ever. II was the plan OF the secretary
any way to come here. The Mayor left
last night, but requested Alderman W.
w. Owens to look out for the entertain
ment Of the secretary.
Gen. Alger will probably be driven to
Avondale, where he viii be shown the site
Inspected by the army board a few days
ago, with the possible view Of It's selec-
ton as camping place for several regi-
ments Of troops. IL he is taken over the
rest Of the ground travelled by the board,
he will also visit the water works
The revenue cutter Boutwell, is in port
She may be used by the Secretary to take
trip on the river The importance of
securing a good port from which TO ship
an army is recognized by the secretary
and he will make close investigation of
the shipping facilities afforded by Savan-
nah.
Only two seaboard cities are to be visit
ed by the secretary with a view to in
specung their ports. These are Savan-
nah and Charleston. Col. Hecker has
been in the South for some days to as
certain and make a report upon Port
Tampa, Fernandina, Brunswick, savan-
nah. Port Royal and Charleston. He has
visited all of these places, and win re-
turn to Washington with Gen Alger af-
ter the two have stopped here and at
Charleston.
Although Col Hecker was careful to
as,ffr fnt y.
the case, 1t would appear very much as II
the prize is to fall to either savannah
or Charleston. The fact Of the secretary S
intention being to visit but these two
of the six cities visited by Col Hecker.
would seem 10 indicate that the other
places have been objected to. That this is
true, remains TO be seen.
An army Of occupation is to be shipped
from one of the six ports to Cuba. This
Information was given by Col. Hecker lie
said there is already an army of occu-
patton in Porto Rico, and no more troops
VIII be shipped there from the port that
may be selected, unless merely in the way
OF doing some shifting. Ii is to Cuba
they Will go, but when, or what troops
will go, he did not say. He was asked
II Gen. Lee and his corps were to be
sent, but he smiled. and said that was
out of his province; he could not tell any
thing about It.
Col. Hecker says no local Influences can
possibly be brought to bear to cause him
10 report favorably 10 his chief upon a
port that has not ample evidence to show
that 1t might justly be selected as a
good point from which TO ship. When
asked about some OF The recommended lions
a city should have in order to give il a
chance, he replied that the harbor is tc
be considered together with shipping ia
cihues, suitability Of camp sites, good
water and moderate cost Of handling and
securing goods.
Port Royal was inspected by Col. Hecke1
yesterday. He left Charleston in the
morning, after looking about in that city,
by special train for Port Royal He
was accompanied by General Manager j.
X Kenly Of the Atlantic Coast Line. The
special brought him from Port Royal 10
savannah, and he took the Plant System
afternoon train. travelling in a private
car for Jacksonville. He was reticent
oDoul MS impressions Of Savannah's harbor
ana facilities for handling troops. He said