The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-01
WHY NOT TwENTY-EIGHT FEET

WHY NOT TWENTY-EIGHT FEET:
A movement is about to be inaugurated
in behalf Of a channel of twenty-eight feet
from Savannah to the sea. Congressman
Lester has already been asked to bring
the matter to the attention of the river
and harbor committee. There is no doubt
he VIII do so as soon as Congress recon-
venes. And there are good reasons foI
thinking that he viii meet with success.
The fact is not very generally known
that the channel of twenty-six feet was
planned with the understanding that il
might be determined to increase the depth
of ii to twenty-eight feet, but such is
the case. Therefore, for channel OF
twenty-efght feet no additional plans are
necessary. The plan for twenty-six feet
is completed, and is in every respect
success That this is true is shown oy
the movement of the large government
transports in and out of the harbor dur
ing the last month. The Chester passed
down the river and out TO sea on Thurs
day drawing twenty-four feet and
four inches. and the tide. when
she crossed the bar. had been
falling for three and one-quarter
hours. From this it is apparent that she
could have gone to sea drawing twenty-six
feet. The Obdam went TO sea on Friday
81 .ow water, drawing nearly twenty feet.
As the rise of the tide is about seven
feet. il is clear that the channel will ac-
commodate a vessel drawing twenty-siX
feet at high water
A remarkably strong Argument in favor
of deepening the channel to twenty-elght
done for the remarkably small sum of
81 SEQ 600. That is the estimate of Capt
Carter. That his estimates are reliable
is shown by the outcome of his estimate
for the twenty-six-foot project. That great.
work was accomplished for less than the
estimate by more than 100000. 1t is safe,
therefore, to accept the estimate which ne
made for the twenty-eight-foot project
when the twenty-six- foot project was I'M
der consideration.
There ought to be one port on the South
Atlantic coast capable of accommodating
feet. Why should not that port be Savan-
nah? She is by far the most important
South Atlantic port She has about as
much business as all the other ports on the
South Atlantic coast combined. and there
is far more rich territory tributary to hel
than 20 any one of the other ports. The
foregoing facts ought to have and we
have no doubt will have, a powerful inAu-
ence with the river and harbor commit
tee
Now is an excellent time to bring the
matter to the attention of Congress. New
York is asking for about $5OO0.OOO for a
thrty-five-foot channel She has thirty
feet now Philadelphia is asking for S.
100000 for a thirty-foot channel. She
has now less than twenty-sx feet. AZ
a matter Of fact, savannah's exports are
probably considerably more than those OF
Philadelphia. She certainly ought TO
have a channel of twenty-eight feet IL
Philadelphia is to have a channel of thirty
feet.
We can see nothing in the way of Sa-
vannah's getting an appropriation for
channel of twenty-eght feet. and We see
many reasons why the appropriation will
be made if there is the right kind of effort.
to get it, What the people of Savannah
must do is to work earnestly and bar-
moniously together for the harbor. If thev
will do that there is not much doubt that
success will crown their efforts