The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-31
WILL HAVE DEEPER WATER.
MAYOR HERMAN MYERS WAS so IN
FORMED IN WASHINGTON.

Nisites the Engineering Department
with Col. Lester-The Gentlemen
Were Told That Survey rs Now
BEING Made That VIII Lead to
Deeper water in the HarbOr and
over the Bar@This Survey Contem-
plates the Abandonment of the ola
Channel for the New-Advnntnses
That would BE offered by the
Cbnnre-NO Military Department
for the south.
Deeper water in Savannah's harbcr ana
over the bar is regarded by Mayor Myers
as a certainty. He believes the survey
now being made will lead TO this. The be-
lief was induced by information he re-
ceiyeti when he called upon the engineer
ing department in Washington.
The Mayor is now in New York, from
which place he has written of his visit to
the engineering department. He was told
that the survey which is to be followed
by deeper water, both in the harbor and
over the bar is now in progress. Col.
r. E. Lester accompanied him when he
paid his call.
Inquiries were made in Savannah when
1t was ascertained that the Mayor had
written regarding abe harbor improve
ments. 1t was developed that the survey is
being made with the possible view of aben-
doning the present route from the city
10 sea, using, instead, the south channel.
The engineers Office has directed the
survey for some time. II is probable
that il will soon be finished. From the
data gathered, a report will be made
This report may or may not be a recon-
mendation that the south channel be
dredged out and used instead of the north
channel. From the positive statement
made by the Mayor, it is presumed that
the department at Washington is strong
ly of the belief that the recommendation
for the south channel will be made.
Two or three marked advantages for the
south channel are enumerated. One of the
chief is that 1t is two and half miles
shorter than the present route II is also
considerably straighter, and, therefore,
easier to navigate.
Ii is said the cost of dredging the south
channel from the point where il DIVORCES
from the north will be compare lively
small. Within the last few years the ex-
pense of dredging has decreased greatly,
owing to the improved processes that have
been developed. The suction dredges can
remove the dirt far more rapidly and with
less cost. The necessity for lighters has
been removed, the dirt is conveyed by
iron pipes to the banks where it is
to be dumped.
This filling up of the banks on either
side of the south channel would add TO the
depth of the stream. for the spread of the
water into the marshes would be pre-
vented, conf1ning the same quantity to
smaller surface and, thereby, increasing
the depth By the system of emptying
the dredgings upon the banks as the work
progresses, this greater depth could be
accomplished.
While no authoritative figures could be
secured it is claimed that the cost of
dredging the south channel to a depth
of Is feet would not be more than two
years outlay in keeping the channel of
the north river cleared. The claim is
made that the south channel would not
I'LL as rapidly as the north, while it is
further declared that it would not be nee
essary to establish jetties. The engineer
ing difficulties of the south channel are
not regarded as nearly so difficult as
those of the north
The cost of changing the harbor lights
Is regarded as inconsequent. They could
be removed from the north to the south
channel. TO indicate the course, for few
hundreds of dollars. Citizens are greatly
interested in the scheme for deeper wa
ter, and It is hoped THAI the Mayors be-
lief that it is in prospect may prove cor
rect.
Mayor Myers also visited the war de-
partment, calling upon Secretary Root
and Adjutant General Corbin He WIS
assured that all thought of re-esta blth-
1pg military department in the South
mas been abandoned. Indeed Mr. Myers
wrote II never received any great at
tentioH.