The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-21
WILL HEAR COMMITTEE TO DAY
SAVANNAH COMMITTEE MAKING
GOOD PROGRESS IN WASHINGTON.


Secretary Long Regards Savannah
With Favor-COmmittee VIII Also
Look Into River and HarbOr Mat
ters-A REORGANIZATION of the Is
Foot Project Is Included in the
Emergency River and HarbOr Dill.
Condition of Parsons Cut and In
side Route VIII Also Receive At
tentIon-Capt. Gillette Says Route
Can BE Improved at Small Cost.
The south Channel to Tybee BE-
ing Surveyed.
Savannahs committee, which Is now in
Washington for the purpose of calling the
attention of the Senate TO the advantages
of this port as a suitable location for the
naval station, which it is proposed to re-
move from Port Royal, seems to be get
ting in good work. Mayor Myers said
yesterday that the committee is to be
given hearing this afternoon before a
committee of the Senate.
Secretary Long has expressed himself
favorably to Savannah's claim" said the
Mayor yesterday. THE committee may re-
main in Washington two or three days
YET. until the matter is practically de-
cided."
The committee consists of Capt d. G.
Purse, Mr.. W. W. Osborne and Col. n.
". Dixon, and is regarded as a very
effective working party. Mayor Myers
said yesterday that he had requested the
committee to look into the status of Sa-
vannah's river and harbor Improvement
while in Washington. His attention was
called 10 the fact that in the emergency
river and harbor bill introduced in the
House last week by Chairman Burton, the
Savannah harbor is given the following
mention, as stated in Washington dis
patch to the Morning News:
. Savannah harbor, with a view to re-
examination of the plan of deepening said
harbor as substituted in the report of the
chief of engineers for 1888 and a report
as to what changes or notifications, II
any. are necessary to carry out this
plan"
The plan of 1888 referred to was the
project of Gen. Gilmore for providing
2S-foo& channel from the city TO the sea,
which was afierward modified by Capt.
Carter to a 26-foot channel. The inclu-
sion of this matter in The emergency bill
shows that Col. Lester has not been
asleep.
In this connection it may be stated that
the survey of the Savannah river now
being conducted by Capt. G. A. Gillette,
includes the South channel. The survey
is about half completed and is expected
10 have a very important bearing upon
the future Improvement of the Savannah
harbor. Capt. Gillette. when asked about
the survey of the South channel, simply
said that the survey included the entire
,-i,r botx f1a In nd no
sea- He regards the survey as import
ant, but declined to enter into any specu-
lations as to what 1t will show.
Another matter 10 which Mayor Myers
will to-day call the attention of the
Washington committee is the improve
ment Of the inside route along the Geor-
gia coast. Parsons cut, leading from Sa-
vannah TO Warsaw, has shoaled greatly
during che last year and is now almost
impossible except to steamers of very
light draft. This rs a matter Of consld-
cradle local interest, but the cut is also
a part of the inside route TO Florida, and
as such is of general interest.
Capt Gillette, when asked about the
matter. said that he had explored Par
sons cut recently for his own satisfac-
ton. and found only four feet of water
a. low tide. For satisfactory navigation
there should be at least seven feet. Capt.
Gillette said he had no funds at his dis
posal which could be used in dredging out
the cut, though the cost of the work would
be small There are four routes for the
inside channel past Warsaw, Habersham
Cut, Romerly Marsh, Skidaway Narrows
and Parsons Cut, for which the steam
boat men around Savannah have their
various preferences. Capt Gillette IS not
committed TO any Of these routes, but he
does not hesitate to soy that he would
like to see the entire inside route between
Savannah and Fernandlna improved. es-
pecially as tho work could be done at
small cost.
Outside Of the Warsaw route there are
only two shoal places which need 10 be
daepened in order to put this route in
good condition." said Capt Gillette.
There is one small shoal place near Da-
rifn and another between Brunswick and
Fernandina. The steamboat line between
Brunswick and Fernaudlna is of import
an 10 the latter port as Fernandina only
has one railroad while the steamb1a II
practically gives It an outlet over two
other lines by way OF Brunswick. The
service between Dar.en and Brunswick
might also be helpei by this improve
ment. I 90 n-t know that an improved
channel would help the Savannah steam
boating business any between the points
named. though Fernanolna might possibly
find some advantage in securing a c,nnec-
ton with the railroad and steamship lines
hero"
Capt. Gillette gave some attention In his
last annual port to the inside route,
giving a statement of the work alre DIV
d ne ard that remaining to be done with
an estimate of the cost. Mayer Myers said
yesterday that he would call the atten-
lion of the Savannah committee to this
n after to-day ALTO, and sufg st that they
en1eavor to have an examination of the
inside route included in the emergency
bill
SALE nEENNa TA-nAX