The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-18
GlLLETTE'S REPORT
THE ENGINEER RECOMMENDS THE
2S-TOOT PROJECT.
CHANNEL NOT ALL IT SHOULD
HE RECOMMENDS s4s6,5OO FOR
MAINTENANCEs.

The Report IA Strong Argument for
the Use of the Unexpended Appro-
printion-The Work ON the Chan
mel Reviewed-The width and
depth Not Sufficient TO Insure the
safety of the Commerce of the
Port-Ah Appropriation of s5s, 900
Recommended for the River Pro-
ject.
Washington. July 17.-Capt. Gillette's
annual report on the operations In
Savannah harbor during the fiscal year
just ended is very strong argument
in support of the appeal made by SEN
ators Clay and Bacon for the expendi-
ture of the entire unexpended balance
of the river and harbor appropriation.
Capt. Gillett gives a detailed report Of
the parious projects for a number Of
years back. and coming down to the
last year, shows conclusively that the
width and depth of the channel is not
sufficient to insure the safety of the
constantly growing commerce of Sa-
vannah harbor. He says during the
fiscal year the contract for opening the
inside route to Beaufort. S. c.. was
completed. The contract for dredging
the upper part of the harbor between
the Central Railroad wharf and the
old watrworks was completed June 20
last. He then proceeds to give in detail
the depth and width of the channel
from the old waterworks all the way
down the harbor to the outer bar. The
width of the channel varies from one
hundred to three hundred feet and the
depth ranges at low water between Ill
at Long Island crossing to 2O.5 feet at
Tybee knoll.
The Channel Not What IL should be.
1T will be SEEN" says the report,
that the controlling depth Is III feet
at Long Island crossing. The channel
is therefore somewhat shallower and
much narrower than the channel con-
templated in the project of 1892. which
provided for a channel 26 feet deep and
from three to four hundred feet wide"
New Project .RccOmmended.
Continuing the report says 1.-TWO
boards have reported that further work
on the breakwater is inadvisabIe. 1t
| is also recommended that a new pro-
| jeet for a depth of 2S feet at cost of
$1,039.155. including the $425.40S now on
| hand he prepared. Should an appro-
priation for this be made no funds will
be required for the maintenance OF the
channel to June 30. 1903"
| The report also treats of the work on
the upper Savannah river and other
parts of the district under the direction
of Capt. Gillette. AS there was no river
and harbor bill last year very little
work has been accomplished.
Appropriations Recommended.
Capt. Gillette makes the following re-
commentators for the next fiscal
year:
Savannah harbor. s4Ss,5OO for main
tenance.
Savannah river. s5S,OOO for complet-
ing existing project.
Doboy Bar. Ga, $4,000 for mainten-
ance.
.Altamaha river. Ca. $4,000 for con-
tinuing existing project.
Oconee river, Ga, $4,000 for contin-
uing project.
Ocmnlgee river. Ca. $4,000 to COM,
plete project. tr
Inside route between Savannah and
Fernandina, Fla, $4,000 for continuing
project.
Cumberland Sound. Ga. and Fla,
100000 for continuing project.
Maj. John G.. knight, in charge Of the
river and harbor Improvement in the
Chattanooga district. makes the fol-
lowing recommendations for the next
fiscal year:
Tennessee river above Chattanooga.
$500. 100000 of which is for continu-
ing existing project; from Chattanooga
to Decatur, Ala, 1891 900; below River
ton, Ala $4,000