The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-10
GROVES NEED OF DRY DOCKS.
n.vsHIP HhLCRAG NOT RE-
n,IRrD IN COMPLETE MANNER.

.t Was Repaired at ROurle's
uhorf in Temporary Manner.
r-,,onent Repairs Could Not BE
,,.,,. for want of Dry Dock FaciI-
ntes-Mr. Rourke Says 100000
,,..,b of work Has Left His
,,.,orfi in Last Ten Years for Want
of These Advantages.
.rss British steamship Hillcrag, which
.1.5 Yesterday after undergoing repairs
~ several days at RoVrke's wharf fur
a.. an ant illustration of the necessity
7ry docks at Savannah. To have
MI. repaired the leak caused by
,,s rtvers in the Hillcrag's bottom
/ ,.,5 have necesstated dry-docking the
This being out of the question,
,.,.,sr the next best thing had to be
done.
The repairing was done from the in
eide the only way out of the trouble was
J., cover the space about the leak with
,,i,, and cement which will have to do
ortfI the ship reaches her home port 1t
q. stated that the repairs amounted to
-oo5 deal but the sum would have been
mre5 larger if the ship had been dry
locked which it is estimated would have
cost about S1,oc0.
,.Tbe Question Of a dry dock has been
discussed a long time in Savannah, but
there has never been an approach to ac-
o,n,,isbing anything in this direction"
said Mr. John Rourke. During the last
ION Years have seen 100000 worth of
work leave my wharf alone, which
could have been done here if the
mort had had dry dock facilities.
The necessity for dock is real
wed by our people. and there seems
~ he no question about an investment of
this kind paying fine dividends. but for
some reason the matter has never been
taken up with enough determination.
Knowing from the large amount of ship
ping to and from Savannah that dry docks
would pay liberally, I should not hesitate
10 do all IN my power TO promote any
movement looking 10 the organization of
company 20 put such a project on foot.
NV idea would be for those interested to
have plans drawn and submitted to the
government for lis approval" said Mr..
Rourke The object should not be 10
obligate the government for It's patronage,
but to adopt a plan the government would
ndorse so that there would be no reason
for not getting the work ON transports or
other vessels, which il might be preferable
to repair here instead of going to Port
Royal or elsewhere. Then, too, dock
Of the kind the government will accept
needs no further Endorsement, and might
be relied upon as the proper thing.
ut would be a mistake TO undertake
to build a dock in Savannah unless it s
intended to build one that will fill the bill"
continued Mr.. Rourke. "A small dock
which would accommodate one class, of
ships and not the other would be worse
than none, owners would have no assurance
that their vessels could be handed if 1t
We're necessary to put in for repairs, and
for this reason Savannah would always
be Kept in the background, with no pros
poet of getting the class of work that pays
best To suit all ships that would likely
come here, a dock should not be less than
~ leet wide. 800 feet long, and of suf1i-
Gent depth 10 accommodate ship of Is
1eet draft. Il would not pay, in my judge
heut' TO build a dock smaller than this"
1900 'NNHt NJ lJOhS upon the Undertaking
as one which could be easily executed if
Sufficient energy were put into it. A unit
60 move by the railroads, and individuals
wiling TO make an investment of this
Alna' would be enough to start the ball
IoAlns Unless a start is made by home
people, MT. Rourke thinks, nothing can
oe accomplished in this direction, as out
sue capital could not be secured for an
Undertaking in which the people them
selves did not feel or show confidence.
one thing in particular that prompts Mr..
hourke to believe the building of a dry
oock is feasible, is the cheapness and
ABUNDANT supply of lumber There is no
tna TO the supply, it is close enough to be
uehVered at reasonable cost, and there
T. no reason to apprehend any trouble in
getting other necessary material
What capital do you consider the nm
dertaking would require?" Mr.. Rourke
was asked.
mat is difficult to say, but I should
'hi9k $4,000 would go a long wav." he
Iepi'ep. While this seems like large
s'n' sun believe it could be readily sub
s-,Ioea II the railroads we're induced to
I'm ~ 'ile STOCK their interests demand. The
l'aH' system and The Central are each
9Pe'd'lhs extensive steamship lines and
1ol 'nls reason are interested more than
Guy Ollef corporations. As soon as the
,o',l odoS take 10 the project and the move
., Is sulticiently agitated among The
Popie TO attract outsidesattention I think
,''S necessary capital viii be forthcoming
eoHuacting firm sent representatives
ele some years ago to see what cou,d he
tba III ms direction. They conferred with
IT. oHiciais of the Central Railroad. but
-, rs curing the roads gloomy DAYS. and
No uaI account the prospectors received
wa, e'ieouFa cement. They were told the road
l,ai,.l LeaItiIy in sympathy with any move
en5 TO the building of docks. however
80, Mould gladly take stock If 6nanciar
b ayo INSTANCES would permit it, AS things
are ghansed since that time, it might he
NJ 'iHhS could be done If the matter
brought up again"
ont 'i,e uIy dock project could be carried
t,,,.. successfully, Mr. Rourke thinks he
in,'rS an we OF the port would be greatly,
sbirb'':,1;. ne conditions are favorable for
uidlng. Farther north This car,,ot w.
e1co. ,u on without hindrance at times on
IN M ' 20. oI cold weather. The mild winters
The ~ 9pu lI would make it possible 10 keen
W., III, II, constantly going, however yyb,cb
"Rnt ~ ~, an important consideration,
sd515 ' M, me main thing is to make q star, -
goyerr- ,,lI. Kourke. Get the plans, Tet The
the nra.t approve them, and Then nnt
o., iI pJeCU In the bond r P"S