The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-04
MILITARY HOSPITAL AND POINT OF
EMBARKATION DECIDED.
IN HER FAVOR.
ALGER SEES HER ADVANTAGES.
CHARLESTON MAY GET SOME OF
THE OVERFLOW BUSINESS.
Gen. Hecker's Report Reviews the
Facilities of the Two POrts-Sa-
Vannah's Offer the Most Lib
eraI and Consequent
Iy Accepted,

Washington, Oct. S.-savannah has been
selected as the point of embarkation for
troops, to be ordered to Cuba and Porto
Rico.
A military hospital, to be conducted in
connection with the port of embarkation,
Is also to be established al Savannah
This decision was reached this morning
by Secretary Alger, after carefully consid-
ering the reports of two boards Of officers
designated to investigate the subject.
Gen. Hecker. who has charge Of the
transportation division of the war depart
ment, visited a number of South Atlantic
ports all of which are referred to in his
report.
Tie selection narrowed down to Charles
ton and Savannah. The reason for the
selection of Savannah over Charleston is
stated in Col. Hecker's report which fin
ally received the approval of Secretary
Alger.
With regard to Charleston the reports
states: Charleston has three railroads,
the Atlantic Coast Line system, running
North to Richmond, where connection is
made by use of the Richmond and Fred
ericksburg and Potomac Railroad with
the Pennsylvania Railroad system; the
South Carolina and Georgia Railroad,
running west and making direct con-
nection at Augusta and Columbia with
with railroad systems West and North.
The Clyde Line steamers form a good
freight rate route from New York The
channel from sea to dock, about five
miles, is direct, and has twenty feet of
water over the bar at low water Tide
rises five feet There are ample
docks and warehouse facili-
ties, admitting of loading vessels
to depth of twenty-four feet Machine
shop facilities for making needed running
repairs seems TO be adequate The South
Carolina and Georgia Railroad tender the
free use of docks, wharves and storage
facilities for shipments coming over their
lines. Water for use of hospitals and
troops is rendered free. Coal is offered al
50 Is a ton in ships bunkers. Ice is offer
ed at 50 net ton. Vacant warehouses
could be used for temporary camps of
troops awaiting embarkauop.''
Touching upon Savannah, the report
says: Savannah is on the line of the
Charleston and Savannah Railroad to
Charleston and the North; the Savannah.
Florida and Western, Florida Central and
Peninsular, running West and South the
Central Railroad of Georgia and the Geor-
gia and Alabama Railroads, running
west. The Ocean Steamship Company
runs steamships to and from Boston and
New York, and the Merchants and Miners
Steamship Company to and from Balti-
more.
Savannah is located eighteen miles
from the mouth of the river Depth of
water is twenty feet at low water Tide
rises five feet six inches. Water at docks
is twenty-three feet; free wharfage and
e-f F.r
Price for coal, S2.75 per ton i'm ships bunk
ers. Ice, So per ton. Good machine shop
facilities for making needed running re-
pairs. Free camp grounds for troops
awaiting embarkation are offered located
two and a half miles from docks, to which
city water will be piped free of expense:
also potable water for vessels use will
be supplied. River water is suitable for
boiler use"
The reports also refers briefly to Port
Royal, S. c., Brunswick. Ga, Fernandina
and Port Tampa, Fla. They are dismissed
with by few remarks. In summing up
the situation Cot. Hecker says:
Giving due consideration to all the facts
and data available, / respectfully recon.
mend that either Charleston or Savannah
be selected as the port of embarkation for
the shipment of troops until May l, after
which date, because of quarantine regula-
tions, some port further north should
is selected
The direct channel to Charleston has
advantages over the long and more cir
cuitous channel to Savannah, but Savan-
nah's more numerous advantages, railroad
and steamship lines, give her advantages
which, In my opinion, make Savannah the
most desirable port.
Gen. Luddington, chief quartermaster
approved Col. Heckers recommendation
of Savannah, and Secretary Alger gave
his official sanction to the selection of Sa-
Vannah
After reading the report of Col Hecker
very carefully Secretary Alger stated that
he viewed the proposition simply from
business standpoint and Savannah made
the most desirable offer. The price of fuel
is lower at Savannah and the dock facili-
ties are better than at Charleston where
free dockage and storage is offered for
shipments over the South Carolina and
Georgia Railroad only. At Savannah sim
liar facilities are free on all railroad and
steamship lines.
Charleston has three railroads, Savan-
nah has five. Charleston's conceded ad-
vantage over Savannah is her quick and
easy communication with the sea The
secretary says he does not intend that his
decision I'm this instance shall operate to
the disadvantage of Charleston. 1t is in
tended to give Charleston a fair share of
the shipping business later on, but Just
at the present time IL IS necessary that
q pOHb VI eluDei hdtOll aHdi De selected,
and close to il shall be established a mill
tary hospital.
Savannah offers better facilities at this
time for both the point of embarkation
and also the hospital, hence orders to
that effect will be at once issued.
Charleston is to have a military camp
In its immediate vicinity, and Summer
Vile Is the site named by the secretary
Summerville was inspected by Gen
Schwan. and was highly commended.
The movement of troops from Savannah
will begin soon as the regiments se- |
lected for service in Cuba and Porto Rico |
are prepared for journey. IL IS possible |
that the embarkation will not commence |
before the middle or latter part of the |
nrosenf month The rranornI rrn1,.n.,,.., i. - |