The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-19
KNOWS OF NO COMPLAINTS.
CAPT. GILLETTE BELIEVES THERE
Is NO BASIS FOR ANY.

MartiaI--onIy Enough Work Being
Done Now TO Prevent Deteriora-
tIon Pending Action ON the Report
of the Board of Engineers-PIenty
of Money Available When Orders
Come to Go Ahead.
Capt Cassius Z. Gillette. United States
engineer. in charge Of the work in the Sa-
vannah district. read the special dispatch
from Washington IN the Morning News Of
yesterday. with some Rterest The state
ments contained in it were somewhat of a
surprise to him aud he so expressed him
self 10 a Morning News reporter
1t was evident from the remarks Of Capt
Gillette that his curiosity was aroused as
to the identity, of those who may have
made complaints against his conduct Of
the engineering work here and he quietly
intimated that he would have been glad
If the Morning News correspondent had
given the names of those who believe there
Is cause for complaint No one, he said
has recently expressed any complaint to
him. iutmated to him that there was any
fault being found with the operations of
the engineering department at this port
or suggested that there was any public
desire for a change in the personnel of
the office.
Capt Gillette was asked what basis
there is for the statement telegraphed
from Washington that Various com
plants have reached the war department
TO the effect that he is Indifferent as to
the work in the Savannah harbor and
most of his time and energies are directed
to the prosecution of his predecessor
Capt o. NJ. Carter"
do you know anything about this?"
he was asked.
VERY little" was the reply. During
the trial of Capt Carter, about year
ago. his attorneys laid some stress on
the fact that I was devoting consider
able time of myself and the office force
to the prosecution of the case. At that
time some one evidently complained sew
eral times to the war department of the
matter, the result of which was that
was directed by the Secretary of War to
devote every moment Of my time to the
fertilization work without regard to the
court-martial. You might ask Capt Car
ter's attorneys about that Previously,
though, I had orders from the chief of
engineers to afford the judge advocate all
possible assistance before and during the
trial. "
THE dispatch would indicate that some
think that you are doing the same thing
now"
4 know nothing Of any complaints at
the present time" continued Capt. Gill
lette. " 1 can imagine nothing on which
they might be based. The trial of Capt.
Garter was nearly a year ago, and since
that time l doubt if forty minutes of my
office hours have been directed against
the prosecution of my predecessor OF
course l naturally have thought of the
subject frequently, and have wondered
what had become of the case.
so far as l know, none of the duties
TO which have been assigned by the chief
of engineers have been neglected in the
slightest, but all have been done to the
satisfaction of my superior officer / nat
uraily prefer the approval of my supe-
rior officers, acquainted with the duties
entrusted to me and capable of Judging of
my performance Of them, to either the
approval or the condemnation of any out
slider who may not be similarly equipped
TO judge of the merits or dement's Of work
done. But for the false impression the
statements made in this Washington dis
patch may tend to create with those not
in position to know better, / should ig-
more it entirely The chief of engineers
Is, Of course, the proper person to pass
upon the character of work done here or
elsewhere and the professional capacity
shown in its performance"
rs the work on the river progressing
rapidly?" Capt Gillette was asked.
No he replied The contractors for
jetty work have done nothing for fifteen
months. They decline to work, and until
The case OF Capt. Carter is settled new
contract cannot be made"
How about the dredging contraet2"
Dredging Is going on at a rate lust
about sufficient 10 prevent deterioration of
the channels. The project of Improvement
was considered by a board of engineer Of
ficers ABOUT four months ago, as the pub
lie will doubtless remember. Untn their
report Is acted on it is not advisable to
increase the amount of dredging"
What does that report Govern
Il have not seen 1T. One item recon.
mended was, I believe, to cut an inside
route to Beaufort through Mud river This
would be of great benefit to small boats
from Daufuskie and Hilton Head Islands
as well as 90 steamers. The Clifton is
now forced 10 go outside, and few days
ago she struck the shoal near Catalogue
sound. Boats are much hampered b,
AOu6h weather N.ltH lney nave to go bN
that route. The inner route can be vera
quickly opened at moderate cost. apc
there is plenty OF money to do it, but il
cannot be done until Congress acts on ia,
report Of the board"
Has that report reached Congress?'
Il do not know. A few weeks aco
desiring to increase the dredging in III,
narbor, l wrote TO the chief of engineer
asking how soon the report would prob
ably be acted upon, but he could give m,
no informa ton beyond the fact that II Ia,
been forwarded to the Secretary of War
How about the funds at present avail
able?"
There is about $4,000 available to las
until next June. The dredging contracto
may earn $4,000 in that time"
What viii be done with the othe
$40 ,OOO?" ''''e
1T viii have to remain in the treasury
l presume, until action is taken or, tn
Carter case or on the report Of the boar
/ spoke Of"
You are reported to be Indifferent +
Savannah's needs and nterests?"
Il DO not know that my emotions bav