The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-30
TO COAL SHIPS AT TYBEE.
sAVANNAH's ADVANTAGES as A
CoAIsING STATION.

Mayor MeIdrim and Vice President
Egan OF the Central Railroad VIII
Back Up the Effort to Secure the
Establishment of a Station at Ty-
bee-SenatOr bacon and Congress-
man Lester VIII Work For II.
The announcement in yesterdays Morn
ing News that the Secretary of the Navy
is seriously considering the establishing of
a coaling station at Tybee Island, was re-
eeived with general satisfaction here.
A coaling station at Tybee has long been
recognized as one of the needs of the port
Mayor Meldrim, in speaking of the matter
said: 81 am very much in hopes that SEN
ator Clay will be successful in this mat
ter. Congressman Lester will, am salts
fed, give all the assistance in his power
A coaling station at Tybee would be of
great advantage in many ways"
Vice President John NJ. Egan of the
Central Railroad and Ocean Steamship
Company is heartily in favor of a coal
ing station at Tybee. He thinks such a
station would be of benefit to the port,
and he is determined to do what he can to
aid In its establishment. Since he has
been with the Central Railroad and Ocean
Steamship Company Mr. Eagan has lost
no opportunity of showing that the policy
of the companies is to advance in all ways
possible the interests of Savannah and
the other cities with which they are
brought in Lpuch
For long time the question of a coal
ing station on Tybee island has been con-
sidered by Mr.. Egan. From the time he
first looked about Savannah and its vlcin-
ity he has been impressed with the advan-
tages the Island offers for a station. Some
months ago he advocated its establish
ment, and gave representa-
tive Of the Morning News some Of the
reasons why such a venture, if engaged in
by citizens of Savannah, would prove
profitable to them.
Now that the government is considering
the advisabiiity of making Tybee coal
ing place for the vessels of the navy the
question of a private coal supply for mer-
chant and other vessels comes up anew.
M. Egan said a government station would
very probably be followed by a private
one.
AS soon as 1t is seen that the govern
ment has enough faith in the port and the
correct understanding of its advantages
as a coaling station" said Mr.. Egan.
there will doubtless be private individ-
uaIs VINO would be ready to put in the i'm
proved machinery that reduces greatly the
cost of coaling a vessel. The protection
that viii be afforded points at this end of
the island by the new Notifications and
their Dig guns will make a station per-
fectly safe. Vessels could coal there i'm
time OF war without danger of being mo-
Tested by those of the enemy while The pro
cess was going on.
Vessels from the Gulf ports for Eu-
rope coal now at Norfolk They pass
within 100 miles of Tybee, and It would
save great deal of time for them to put
IN there and coal If a station We're on the
island. A much more direct route across
the ocean would thus be secured.
The cost of putting in plant, with all
the modern machinery for its rapid work
ing would not be great. Tybee would not
need a very extensive station and the cost
of establishing one could be easily borne
py men or means who might wish to I'M
dertake the work
lybee is within easy touch with the coal
fields of Alabama. The cost of transpor
tatIon Is not great and the port needs such
a plant. The present method of coaltng
vessels is expensive and tedious. The price
paid is twenty-five cents a ton for its
transfer from lighters to the vessels. With
a modern coaling plant at Tybee the cost
would be greatly reduced"
The Ocean Steamship Company does not
coal any of its vessels here. 1t is done in
New York and Boston on account of facil-
tiles here being inadequate. The manage
ment is now considering a private coaling
plant that Will convey the coal by steam
power from barge to the bunkers of the
vessels. When this plant is put in it will
be the first of its kind to be used here.
WAR WOULDN'T STOP rrIurM