The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-26
WILL WORK FOR DEEP WATER.
COL. LESTER WILL URGE A 2s-FooT
PROJECT.

He Believes That Is what should Be
Done for the Savannah HarbOr and
Not n Reduction in the Depth of
the Present PrOject-Has Received
Copy of the Report of the In
speeding Board, Made IA Year Ago,
But sUII Kept secret-He VIA
Bring the Matter Up in the River
and Harbor committeeman Leave
for Washington This Week.
Hon. Rufus E. Lester will leave for
Washington the latter part of this week.
TO be present at the opening of the Fifty
sixth Congress. This win be the sixth
Congress Of which Col. Lester has been
a member. In the coming Congress, the
Republicans have working majority, but
not near so gsg2t as in the one now expir-
ing. Their majority is sufficient for all
practical purposes. however.
One of the first acts of the new Con-
gress will be the election Of Henderson of
Iowa, as Speaker, TO succeed the Hon.
Thomas B. Reed, who is now a resident
of New York City. Col. Lester has been
a member Of the River and Harbor Com
mittee for several years, In which capacity
he has done valuable work for Savannah.
His seniority by reason of long member
ship, entities him to reappointment on this
important committee. but as the Speaker
will be at liberty TO appoint whom he
pleases on the committees, there is no GER
tainty that Col. Lester win be reappointed
to this committee.
Col. Lester has received a copy Of the
report of the board, which inspected the
river and harbor work at Savannah about
a year ago, and made certain recommen-
datbons for important changes In the pro-
ject. The report was furnished him on
his request from the Office of the chief
of engineers, with the request that he
would regard the report as strictly conf
DENTAL as 1t has never been published,
and has never been called for by Con-
gress.
Col. Lester said yesterday that he was
not at liberty TO give out the report, but
as Capt Gillette, in charge of the engi=
neering work at Savannah, had made a
statement of the contents of the report
some time ago, he felt at liberty TO dis
cuss 1t. The report goes on TO say" said
Col. Lester, that the work for the Inn
provement of the river and harbor has
been successful, and then goes ahead 10
recommend lot of changes, for which
can see no good reason, The report shows
that the 26-foot project, begun In 1895, was
a success and that all that is required
is proper maintenance and continuance of
the work. After stating plainly the sue
cess of the 26-foot project, IL recommends
reduction in the plan to a channel for
vessels drawing a feet, with some addi-
tional depth on the bar. The depth on
the bar Is already amply sufficient for YES
sells drawing "a feet and more, and l can
see no reason why additional water should
be provided there if less depth is to be
allowed in the channel. So far from aban-
doning the 26-foot project, l am for, con-
unuing it and providing for an even great
er depth"
Il shall endeavor," said Col. Lester, ito
have Congress adopt a project for a o.
foot channel from the city to the sea. in
GLIDING the bar. l have given this sub
ject considerable study and l am salts
fled that 1t is entirely feasible. Gen. Gil
more's project was for 2S feet depth, and
this project would have been rec
commended by Capt. Carter, but for
the fact that the cost was considered too
great. Carter accordingly changed his
plans to a project for 20 feet depth, and
this project was adopted and successfully
carried out, as the report of the inspect
ing board states"
Col. Lester sees no reason why the trou-
bic which the government has had with
NeiA. Cdl AtA oAlOAlu DC dllOWSd 10 SldNu
in the way Of further Improvement of the
Savannah harror. He does not think the
port and the people dependent upon il
should be made to suffer for any alleged
misdeeds upon the part of the engineer
officer recently in charge. Col. Lester does
not think the report will come before Con-
gress unless called for by that body It
IS not unlikely that the officers who made
the survey will be called before the com
mittee to give such information as they
possess and to explain their recommended
tons. The matter is one which rests al
most entirely with the River and Harbor
Committee Col. Lester said, and upon the
action of that committee, in all likeli-
hood, depends the future of the Savan-
nah river and harbor work
In speaking of the recent death of Ho-
bart, Col Lester said that he had only
slight acquaintance with the Vice Presl-
dent, and could not speak of him from
personal knowledge.
[ Col. Lester will be accompanied to
WASHINGTON by his secretary. Mr.. w. w.
Shepherd.