The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-16
GILLETTE WOULDN'T TALK.
REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE CONsPIR-
ACY INVESTIGATION.

He Expressed Some Curiosity as 10
the Effect of Recently Adduced
Testimony Upon savannah People
and Some Content when Told II
Had Been OverwheImiuE-He Did
Not Care. However, TO Discuss the
Evidence Himself Savannhh's
Chance for n 2S-FOOt Channel to
the Sea-PreIiminary Examination
May BE Made ShortIy-COntract for
Dredging.
Can't. Cassius E. Gillette returned to Sa-
vannah from New York yesterday morn
ing, after a Few days attendance upon the
preliminary investigation into the charges
of conspiracy preferred by the United
states grand jury for this district against
B. D. Greene and the Gaynors.
Capt Gillette, when seen at his office
by a representative of the Morning News.
declined to discuss for publication any
ching in connection with the trial, though
he was a tride curious himself TO know
just what effect the evidence recently in
troduced before the commissioner has had
upon these good people Of Savannah,
who still retained their faith in the i'm
maculate purity of the late Capt. Carter
and his alleged co-conspirators.
He was assured that the effect of this
evidence in Savannah had not been differ
ent from that it produced elsewhere, and
that the testimony given by Mr.. Westcott
in particular. had come in the nature OF
revelation TO some Of those who had pre-
viously walked in darkness. With this
state of affairs Capt Gillette expressed a
mild content. though the content was rather
conveyed by his manner than by anything
he had to say on the subject.
However that the evidence in the case
has assumed the overwhelming and unan-
swerable characteristics that have recently
been given it must in reality be to him a
source of very considerable satisfaction
The pats on the back that are administer
ed by an approving conscience are all very
well in their way, but their effect on the
recipients peace of mind must necessarily
be diminished by the ill-concealed antag-
onism of a section of the people of the
community in which he lives. That this
antagonism has vanished and been replace
ed by an approval that is at once hearty
and complete is the guerdon Capt. Gillette
has won. That this heartiness of APP
proval has ben wrung from unwilling
breasts is probably all the more to his Xix
ing.
Capt Gillette, in answer to questions
relative 10 the Improvement of the har-
Dor, recalled the fact that in the last
river and harbor bill a preliminary in
vestigation of the conditions prevailing in
Savannah was provided for, which was
intended to show or indicate whether or
not the Importance of the trade of the
port was sufficient to authorize the neces-
sary expenditure to secure a 2S-foot chan
mel to the sea. Because of very many
pressing and onerous duties Capt. Gillette
has not had time or opportunity TO make
this examination, but will make ii as soon
as his other duties, more emergent in
their nature, will permit.
In the meantime advertisements are be-
ing published. calling for proposals for
dredging in that section of the river be-
tween the Central of Georgia terminals
and The new bridge of the Seaboard Air
Line. The dredging to be done amounts
TO about $50, COO cubic yards and the con-
tract will be awarded when the bids are
opened, on Sept IA.
This advertisement for bids is made nee
essary by the expiration of the dredging
contract held by Mr.. Rittenhouse Moore
Inc design IS 10 keep tnat portion OF the
river in shape for commerce, so. as Capt.
Gillette stated, that even if il is not used
very largely. it may receive the mud that
is washed down by the river before it
reaches more eastern and more important
stretches of the channel
In the meantime, of course. there may
be another project for the Improvement of
the harbor. Capt. Gillette stated. however.
that under any circumstances there would
probably always be d necessity for some
dredging in this part of the river, no mat
ter what project is finally adopted.
Capt. Gillette's acquaintance with the
harbor conditions and with trade condi-
tions prevailing in Savannah is so COM
plete that the preliminary examination
contemplated by Congress will probably
not consume great deal of his time A sur
vey for the new project has already been
made, so that if Congress can be induced
TO appropriate the money but little time
will be consumed necessarily in prelimi-
naries. long pull, a strong pull, a pull
together and all the other pulls that can
be brought to bear on the power that
looks after the appropriations will be the
real essentials towards securing the chan
mel that Savannahs maritime and COM
mercial importance entities her to have
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