The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-25
wlsNER's TESTIMONY ALL IN.
EXPERT ENGINEER QUESTIONED by
MEMBERS OF THE COURT.


The Cumberland Sound Contract
discussed at Length-Satisfied
THAT the Savannah Harbor work
rsan Eminent succeSs-NIr. AIexan-
derE. kastI Sworn and VIII Go On
the stand This Morning.
The long cross examination of Mr..
George Y. Wisner before the Carter court
martial was concluded yesterday morn
fr,. about 1890 o'clock. After a recess the
redirect examination took up about
,,.entv minutes to half an hour after
which Col. Barr kept the witness busy
answering questions up to the hour of adj
journment.
lust before the court adjourned to meet
Mt 1920 O'Clock this morning Mr.. Alex
ender f. Kastl was sworn, but his ex-
animation was not begun. Mr.. Kasu is
another of the expert engineers who have
been looking into Capt. Carriers work in
savannah harbor and at Cumberland
sound He has had wide experience in
barbor work on the Gulf coast both in
Texas and in Mexico. His testimony win
he somewhat on the line of that presented
by Mr.. Wisnor.
The third days cross examination of
Mr. Wisner by Col Bar was begun at
1880 o'clock one of the first features con-
slered being the question of the propos-
Ell harbor line cutting off a portion of the
quarantine station With funds on hand
MIR. Wisner said he would recommend the
adoption of the new harbor line, and the
proposed change in the channel would be
an advantageous one from a standpoint
of navigation. There has been a mis-
take, he said in abandoning the arbor
line there, provided the appropriation was
available for making the change.
There were several more object lessons
In mattress construction growing out of
the conversation between Col Barr and
Mr. Wisner. He considered that the cost
of a fifteen-foot brush fascine, such as
that exhibited in court, hauled out to the
barge was about so cents. The man who
makes such fascines for pc cents, will
starve he said unless he. has some other
source of revenue. He considered that
fairly good mattress work, well loaded
with stone, would compress about 80 per
cent; that he said, had been his expert
ence.
Mr. Wisner was closely examined again
as to his manner of making soundings on
the Tybee breakwater. One of the sound
ing poles was held by Thomas J. Daniels,
and another by one of the Gaynors in the
other end of the boat While out there
the party was approached by young
who asked by what authority they
were making the survey. They were not
al that time making soundings, but were
endeavoring to find the breakwater. Mr..
Wisner read the soundings himself, and
told Col. Barr, in answer TO questions, all
about the condition of the tide and just
how the survey was made There were
two or three holes in the breakwater, as
shown by his survey.
Mr. Wisner was satisfied that the Sa-
Yannah harbor work was an eminent sue
cess, the object contemplated having
been accomplished. The dredging of the
channel had much to do with it, he con-
sidered
Now long have you been employed by
the defense in this case for the purposes
of the defense?'' Col Barr asked.
Il came here on Dec. 26 from Detroit"
MI. Wisner said, "but have been away
on two occasions since them
Col Barr read from a discussion at a
meeting of the American Society of Civil
Engineers in May, 1893, in which Mr.. Wis
ner had taken part, saying he had not
IN his experience found the single curved
3ettY a success. That discussion Mr.
Nlsner said, was with reference particu-
Itrly TO the Pacific coast, but that was
ms opinion, he said, with regard to all
points except where there was a straight
regular flow, as at Cumberland sound He
sun thought that construction could have
been used there with success
Al iz'4o O'Clock Col. Barr announced
that ne mad finished with the witness and
recess was taken, after which Mr.. Blair
pegan the redirect examination. Mr.. Blair
oShed number of questions relative to
\ hxrrN hiatt
tne daF before. Mr.. Wisner explained
now Jetty construction has to be car
tleu forward in many instances sufficient
~ rapid to prevent the reformation of a.
oar Just beyond where the bar is secured
oul, When the jetty construction is re-
spiueu OF stopped, the bar forms again,
an" larger jetty or considerable dredg
Ing is required.
WIN regard to the brush on Hilton
lieau Island beach, Mr. Wisner said
S+ioulu the evidence show that there three
oulSe mattresses got away form the con-
udc,ors' the wind being favorable. he
t ouia expect to find a good deal more
~ ush on the beach Mr.. Blair questioned
tt e witness briefly on mattress construc-
ION ana then turned the witness over to
'he prosecution again
vi Barr wanted to know where under
ne contract of 1896 the officer I'm charge
M18 authorized to pay for guide piling.
H. H. hlalr stated none was paid for under
eIdt contract and the evidence did not
snow it When Col. Barr insisted on his
question Mr.. Blair said:
we VIII admit that he had no author
10y 70 pay for it under that contract. for
'le purpose of saving time"
Ooi, Barr went out again after the
nearting' of mattress in the Cumberland
e0uuu Jetties. He is having great diff
my IN locating it. Col. Bars position
: that Capt Carter departed from The
r,,oJect OF the board of engineers in men,
."1o'lhg under the 1896 contract there a
a"earting of mattresses" Mr. Wisner
u.o not agree with Col Barr. and they
couid come to no understanding with re-
eard to the matter.
al stanton asked a few questions. He
"ahted TO know about dredging in con-
necuon with jetty construction. MIR. Wis
ar aeE SAID ii is often very essential. The
%f'oucllon was that il should be provided
aCl "a the specifications. Maj. Stantons
questlons We're wholly technical
Col ). M. Mansfield asked about build