The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-18
WANT MORE SENT FROM HERE.
BOARD OF TRADE TO KEEP sAvAN-
NAH TO THE FRONT.

of War-snvannah's Location and
other Advantages Entitle IL to Sc
lection when the Time Comes for
Moving Gen. Lees Corps From
Jacksonville TO Cuba-savannah's
Facilities Demonstrated to the
satisfaction of All.
Within the next eight or ten weeks, per-
haps even sooner, the government is ex-
pected 10 move about 1900 troops from
Jacksonville TO Havana. Gen. Lee, who
is regarded as slated for the military gov
ernorship of the island, is quoted as say
ing that it will require at least 2O.O0O SOL
diers in Havana and vicinity and probably
a total of 1900 in the island as a whole.
II will probably be along in October when
the movement Of the new American forces
to the island begins.
The movement of the Seventh Army
Corps from Jacksonville will be an affair
OF considerable magnitude. To handle
27,00O men with their baggage and NUM-
tons of war is no small thing. To the
city selected as the place for their en-
barkation it will mean considerable in
nux of visitors, outside of the soldiers, and
large expenditure of money in general
business.
Savannah, but 172 miles from Jackson
vile, with two lines of railroads reaching
that city, with every facility for handling
transports and troops, is in a magnificent
position to be selected as the point of
embarkation for a large proportion, if not
ALL of the soldiers. But one point can
Int
Jacksonville has but sixteen feet OF water,
and Fernandiua but eighteen, while from
Savannah transports drawing from TWEEN
ty-three 10 twenty-four feet can go out
to sea on one tide, as has been clearly
proved.
The Board of Trade is taking hold Of
the matter and an effort will be made to
get the business men here interested and
at work. With the facts in the hands
of the war department, and with every
possible local influence brought to bear,
there as every reason to expect success.
The two railroads. the Plant System and
the Florida Central and Peninsular Rail
road, would hardly find it to their adj
vantage to do other than assist Savannah
in its efforts, the haul from Jacksonville
to this point being probably as desirable
as that to Tampa and Offering the adj
vantage of better facilities for the proper
transaction of the governments business,
President Purse of the Board of Trade
in starting the ball moving wrote Maj
r. Willis. quartermaster as follows:
with a view to making an appeal to
the war department urging that Savan-
nah be further used as a point of en-
| barkation of troops for the islands Of
Cuba and Porto Rico and as a point
OF entry for troops being brought back
from those islands, beg to ask that, IL
not inconsistent with your duties, you
VIII kindly give me your views as to Sa-
vannah's fitness for this purpose based
upon your experience in handling the
three transports of troops that recently
set sail from this point.
DID YOU experience any trouble or de-
lay in obtaining and handling such sup
plies as were needed at Savannah, and do
you consider Savannah capable of furn-
ishing promptly any supplies that emer-
gencies might demand in the future hand
ling of troops at this point? Did you find
1t difficult to get such labor as you need
ed for the preparation for the accommo-
dalton of supplies and troops? What do
you think of Savannah as a comfortable
and healthy place of rendezvous for
AlOOi}S. w udt 40 you tnfnk or savannah
as a point for properly and speedily hand
ling troops? In general, do you consider
| Savannah equal to any emergency that
may arise in the handling of troops and
| transports
IF you will kindly give me the above
information In a shape that I can forward
| same, with appeal, to the war department.
/ l will be greatly obliged, etc"
In reply President Purse received the
! following:
Savannah has excellent facilities for
! the prompt and economical transfer of
! troops, good railroad facilities, good and
! abundant water supply, good wharf ac-
! commodations. and the city being a good
/ market for all supplies needed. A good
camping ground is in close proximity to
| the vessels and there are first class ma
| chine shops for any repairs that may be
required. l am, with great respect.
"E Willis, Quartermaster"
| The following statement has also been
| received from Capt. NJ. p. Usina, of the
| Savannah Pilots Association:
! "Ou Aug. 10, 1898, the transport steam
! ship Minnewaska was taken to sea by
! Pilot James S. Bliss, drawing twenty
three feet of water, from Central of Geor-
gia Railway wharyes, in onei tide, Rise
/ of tide on that day six feet one inch.
ION July 25 1885, the steamship Birch
ton was taken to Venus Point by Pilot
| VIM. T. Daniels, Jr., drawing twenty
four feet one and one-half inches of wa
ter, without at any time touching the bot
tom. Rise of tide on that day only six
| feet seven inches.
ION April p, 1898. the steamship Essex
was taken 10 sea in one tide by Pilot
VIM. T. Daniels, Jr., under her own steam
without the assistance of tug, draft of
| water tweuty-three feet ten inches. Rise
Of tide on that day seven feet.
Vessels Of similar draft are being con-
stantly taken to sea from the wharves of
! the city without difficulty"
This and other matter will be placed
before the Secretary of War and every
effort viii be made to secure favorable
| consideration of Savannah's claims for Sc
lection as a point of embarkation for the
troops that are to leave the country with
in the next two or three months.
GOT A VERDICpT FOR s2OO