The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-03
TuE TIME is NOW OPPORTUNE.
SHOULD PRESS IFS CLAIMS
'i' ,oN THE GOVERNMENT.


,- NeIdrim Gives His Hearty In
,-..unent to the Movement to IRr
the Depth of Water i'm the
,,,,.r 10 TNventy-eight Feet-0ut-
lines His Ideas as to the Manner in
,-hi,h the Matter Can Best BE
.,.r..ht to the Attention of Con-
and Regrets That His Term
- Office Is so short That He Can
-, personally Undertake to Put
uis Plans Into Effect.
.r-. convenient recently announced in
H.. Morning News for the purpose of Sc
.i-. an increase in the depth of water
,,,, .a, city to the sea to % feet meets
s,b rr7ry Endorsement in all quarters.
with the general tendency now to the use
Greater draft vessels and the great ad-
,rr,-e- inuring to those ports which
able to accommodate such vessels it
a,s r-adily perceived in commercial cir
,s. that the attainment of a depth of %
fs+ AZ mean high water in the river was
usr,,y step in the direction of com
u.rcfsl supremacy and that to establish
savannah as the first port of the South
,ban.i, beyond question further effort is
REQUIRED
,r,vor Meldrim expressed himself yester-
DIV a. most heartily in favor of the move
rert and ready and anxious TO lend it his
and in every possible manner, both per
sopaly and officially.
tn, anfh #
,5e river" said Mayor Meldrim. lis one
az the important matters relating to the
,ty.s welfare which have had in mind
t,r some time and which have only de-
erred bringing to the public attention be-
ausa the time was not opportune and for
5e further reason that there We're mat
srs relating more directly to the city's
aAairs which demanded my attention. Had
/ INV business interests been such that l
could with justice 10 myself have remain
"A at The head of municipal affairs l had
ullv intended to bring this important mat
Ter to the attention of the Council and the
pub,ic at an early date. In fact, l would
have REGARDED ii as the most important
pubjc matter demanding my attention.
Had the time been opportune the proper
method for the city to have adopted and
the one which l would have recommended
10 Council would have been for the latter
body TO authorize the Mayor to equip him
sell with all information of every class
and character pertaining to this import
ant subject, and to then proceed 90 WASH
mgton TO remain there as long as might
BE- necessary in the interest of the move
ment The first step after arriving az
Washington, of course, would be to secure
the cooperation of our efficient represen-
Htive Mr.. Lester, which, it is unneces-
sary to state. would be granted as soon
as asked. The next would be to enlist
the interest of our senators, to secure
which l apprehend there would be no diff
dculty The next step would be to Sc
cure the active sympathy and cooperation
Of all our congressman from Georgia,
which would no doubt be readily granted
Having our forces arrayed in a solid front,
would then move upon the river ana
harbOr committee of the House. This
committee, or a majority of its members,
visited Savannah about a year ago, and
were entertained by our people. Their
knowledge of the local situation here and
the vast improvement already accomplish
cd would be of great assistance in interest
ing them in the movement to carry the
project to entire completion. Naturally In
presenting this subject to the members OF
the committee the personal acquaintance
enjoyed by the city's agents with MEN,
0ers of the committee would be of great
Il adyantage"
This, to my mind" continued Mayor
0leldrim, lis the simplest and most direct
method which could be adopted to bring-
4 ing TINS matter to the attention of Con-
B eIess IN a manner which would effect the
desired object, and I only regret that my
n tim OF office is so short that l am I'M
II a0ie TO take up the work on the line l
Il suggest The expense would be small, az
4 no Mayor or other public official would
'hnk Of charging the city anything for his
services IN such a cause, and the only
oduay to which the city would be put
"oulu De the payment of the actual ex-
iehses OF its representative while i'm Wash
mstoh. Ii was not feasible TO undertake
such movement earlier for the reason
'Ha' congress would have paid no atten-
UoI 10 any request of this kind while the
war with Spain was in progress, and there
q "sie %her matters under discussion re-
Iu"s 10 the work which might have
4 s'ouoeu 'he main issue. The time is now
9pIol tune in my opinion to press this mat
~ upon congress and the city should nor
neglect its opportunity"
Il MAYOR Meldrim said there was no doubt
.9l council would give it's hearty official
ra,',,, seinent OF the movement whenever it
might he desired to do so
, III me last seven months there have
tn.. u 'nlrty sailings of vessels drawing
n eo "en'Y Two feet or over. During that time
o| SaIIngs have demonstrated that yes
craving twenty-four to twentv-four
h ok inches can use the Savannah her-
r. twenty-five feet draught Is about
Fo Utmost limit as the harbor now stands.
is "uch OF the distance, though, there
eot sTeater depth than this. Twenty
Il me- OF water to the sea would not
mean dredging channel the entire d..
depth TIC SEA 10 mat
4 ss 'fe nthrty sailings referred TO have been
''''i' OF vessel. Date of Sailing. Draft.
RAM Feet.