The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-21
DRAINAGE CANALS JOINED.
LAMAR CANAL NOW EMPTIEs INTO
BUCKHALTER.

The Connection Between the Two
Canals Made and the Drainage
From North of the sOuthOver d.
vide Now Flows Into the Little
Ogeechee River Through the Buck
halter Cut Instead of Into the sa-
vannah Through Musgrove Creek.
The successfHI Completion of the
work Witnessed by the County
COmmISsiOne
At O'Clock yesterday afternoon the Few
feet of earth that had separated the Buck
halter and Lamar drainage canals were
cut away and the waters of the latter
that had heretofore flowed into MusgroVe
creek and thence into the Savannah river,
were diverted to the south, reaching I'M
ally through the Buckhalter canal,the Lit
tie Ogeechee river.
A party of those most interested In the
project left the city early in the afternoon,
and went out to the place where the cut
was to be made, about four miles from the
city, and south of Southover Junction The
party consisted of Chairman Dale, of the
Board of County Commissioners, Commits
sioners Lathrop, Guckenheimer, Lyons and
Simkins Capt John r. Dillon, clerk Of
the board Superintendent of Public Works
Chaplin and MIR. ". NJ. Davant. Col. J. H.
EstiR had been invited, but was unable to
80 on account OF illness.
When the cut was made the waters of
Lamar canal changed their direction, run
ming south through Buckhalter and TO the
Little Ogeechee. The Lamar canal was
drained as far as the eye could reach and
a large proportion of the drainage that
hitherto has gone ultimately into the sa-
vannah river, is now carried south to the
Little Ogeechee.
The diversion of the waters OF Lamar
canal into the Buckhalter canal marks the
completion of nineteen months work, but
q the scheme of drainage of which the lat
ter Is a part involves its extension to a
across the tributary drain for a mile and
quarter further north to a point near
the intersection of the Charleston and Se-
vannah Railway rights of way. With the
canal SO extended 1t is expected that
Springfield plantatio will be drained as
far north as the dam just south of Gwin-
nett street and with the lateral drains
viii drain an area extending from the
battle-ground road, on the east, 10 the
right of way of the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway, on the west, and in this
manner diverting a large part of the
drainage of the section southwest of the
city from the Savannah and into the Lit
tie Ogeechee river.
Superintendent Chaplin is greatly graft
fed over the success of the work, as he
believes il demonstrates that the project
for which he has so long contended is en-
inently feasible and will result when COM
pleted in system of drainage for the sec
ton it is proposed to benefit that will be
of lasting advantage to its health and in
crease the value of its lands for agricu-
tural purposes. Further than this he
thinks that the diversion of the drainage
of that section from the Savannah to the
Little Ogeechee will benefit the whole city.
An extensive system of cross and lateral
drains is contemplated and will be con-
structed before the plan is completed. The
Lamar canal will be increased from Its
present width of five feet 10 a width of
fifteen feet, and other tributary drains in
the section southwest of the city viii be
similarly enlarged and improved. Others
will be constructed and when the entire
system has reached its completion the
Board of County Commissioners and the
Superintendent entertain no doubt that it
will be a complete success and will accom-
plish every object intended.