The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-22
is A MEANS OF PROTECTION.
PORT ROYAL NAVAL STATION Me-
CESsITY TO SAVANNAH.

SLSclIA ~ 81 ANN-hhhs
As a Naval Base in Time of War IL
WouId BE of Immense Value and
Would Furnish Protection to Both
Charleston and snvan nnh-Mayor
Myers to Appoint "a Committee soon
TO Take This Matter in Hand and
Also That of Deeper Water for sa-
vannRh.
Mayor Myers will take steps at early
date TO arrange for a large committee of
citizens TO take in hand Savannah's in
terests in the Port Royal Naval Station
and in securing an appropriation from
Congress for the purpose of deepening the
channel of the river from Savannah to the
sea to depth of twenty-eight 10 thirty
feet.
These matters must have prompt and
careful attention from business men who
can give some lime to the city's interests"
said the Mayor. Those who have had
experience in these matters in the past
are TO be preferred. of course, but there
aer others who can do good work. We
can't get favors of this kind from govern
ment without agitating for them and en-
listing the sympathy of our friends in all
quarters. A good deal can be accom-
plshed by the circulation of properly
wolded literature. We found this very
effective in our campaign for the big APP
propriauon of 1892"
An argument in favor of the retention
of the naval station at Port Royal which
takes a somewhat different ground as TO
the reasons why Savannah should oppose
the removal of the station, which was
brought to the attention of the Mayor re-
Gently struck him very forcibly. The
idea is that it IS not simply for the COM
mercial benefit TO be derived by Savan-
nah by the retention of the station at
Port Royal that causes her to oppose its
removal TO Charleston. The question OF
protection from foreign foes in case of
war is an important one which seems to
have been overlooked in the discussion
hitherto.
With the naval station at Port Royal,
that point would naturally become the
naval base of fleets operating on the South
Atlantic coast. Port Royal being located
midway between Savannah and Charles
ton fleets stationed there would afford
protection to both ports without difficulty.
With the naval station removed to
Charleston that point would naturally be-
come the naval base in time of war, and
Savannah, with her large and growing
commerce, would be left without protec-
ton.
THE commerce of Savannah is now
enormous and is steadily and constantly
growing" said the gentleman who ad-
Vanced the argument "and the city and
its environments should be amply pro-
tected. The station remaining where it
is affords a base for naval shipping and
supplies and would give protection to
both Charleston and Savannah being
equally distant from the two ports. Re
move the station TO Charleston where
trade and traffic is lessening every year.
and Savannah. where the contrary is the
commercial state of affairs, would be a
long way from necessary naval base
should any unpleasantness arise"
The point is very well taken" said
Mayor Myers after listening to this
opinion. and l shall not fail to bring il
30 the attention of the committee to be
appointed soon"
The board of naval officers, which re-
Gently made an inspection of the condi-
tons and facilities offered at Charleston
and heard her committee of citizens ex-
patiate on her advantages, has not yet
made its report Should this report be
favorable to Charleston il is probable
that the order for removal would be
issued by the Secretary of the Navy as
the bill passed by the last Congress ev-
identity contemplates such action
1t is evidently fortunate for Charles
ION that the naval board did not delay
its visit to that city until within the last
week or ten days. or il might have
had some difficulty in finding that abund-
ance of fresh water with which Charles
ton has guaranteed to supply the naval
station in case Of its removal to that
city. Savannahians who have returned
from Charleston within the last day or
two report a water famine in that city
The people depend chiefly on their els
terms for water for drinking and house
hold purposes The water in the cisterns
has become exhausted during the present
hot spell and such as remains is largely
unfit for use.
The Charleston people are depending
largely on melted ice for drinking pur-
poses said a Savannah man who return
ed from that city Monday. What lit
tie cistern water they have left is bad and
the artesian water is so bad that they
can't drink it, When the Atlantic Coast
Line train came through the other night
IL was besieged by crowd of men who
drank the coolers dry. The state of af-
fairs is such that bathing is a rare luxury
and the best the average Charlestonian
do these days is to give himself a
dry rub"
Uncle Sans young naval officers might
not care so much about the lack of wa
ter for drinking purposes, but let them
once get the idea that they might have to
go without a bath and a protest
against Charleston will Immediately
arise from the entire navy and will not
fail to have its weight with Secretary
Long. .s.ax
ITS LAST AFTERNOON MEETING.