The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-20
To DEEPEN The RIVER
DREDGING WILL BEGIN SHORTLY
THIS SIDE OF VENUS POINT.
CONTRACT ALREADY LET.
CONTRACTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS
OPPOSITE THE CITY.

The Contract for Dredging Venus
Point Involves the Expenditure OF
About $4,000, and Has Already
Been Let to p. Sanford Ross-Other
Contracts, Calling for $2O,O 900 Adj
ditiOnaI, VIII Be Let shOrtIy-Part
of Appropriation for Extension of
Oyster Bed Training Wall Being
Used for This WOr<-The 2S-FOOt
Project Is Kept Steadily in View.
Dredging to improve that portion of
the entrance to the harbor of Savannah
this side of the Tybee breakwater, or,
as it is officially denominated. 1.-The
detached extension of the oyster Bed
training wall" will soon begin, prob
ably in the course of the next two
weeks.
The contract for the dredging has
already been let to P. Sanford Ross,
and Mr.. Ross will begin work as soon
as a dredge which is now in Beaufort
harbor can be brought here. The
dredging will be done in the channel
near Oyster Bed light and Venus Point,
and the contract calls for work that
will approximate 100000
Another contract will shortly be let
for the improvement by dredging of the
channel in front of the city and oppo-
site the terminals of the Central Rail-
way, which will call for an expenditure
of about $4,000. Another $4,000 will
be expended in dredging in other parts
of the channel, between the city and
the sea-
These contracts have been or will be
let by Capt. c. E. Gillette, engineer
officer in charge of the improvement
of rivers and harbors in the district of
Savannah, under authority from the
Secretary of War to use $4,000 of the
original appropriation for the extension
of the Oyster Bed training wall for
purposes of maintenance. 1t will be
remembered that two boards of en-
gineer officers have condemned the pro-
ject that included the extension of the
training wall and recommended its
abandonment by the department. The
last board recommended that the unex-
pended balance of the appropriation
for the extension of the training wall
be applied, with about $1,000,o0O addi-
tional appropriation, to the 2S-foot
project for the improvement of the
harbor.
Acting on the instructions given in
the reports of these boards of en-
gineers work on the training wall
was stopped, pending the action of
Congress, which is the only authority
rrixv the
of the appropriation in any manner
not contemplated in the original pro-
ject for which the appropriation was
made. 1t was the contention of Capt.
Gillette and others that this project
contemplated other works of improve
ment than the extension of the train
ing wall, and some months ago an eff
fort was made to induce the chief of
engineers to authorize the expendi-
ture of the unexpended balance of the
appropriation for purposes of harbor
maintenance or in the advancement
of the 2S-foot project. This effort fail
ed, because the chief of engineers could
not be induced to see the project in
the light in which it was viewed by
Savannah people.
The use of $4,000 of this money for
maintenance was permitted by the de-
partment, however, and it is this that
is now being used for the dredging for
which Capt. Gillette has let contracts.
All the work done will be more or
less in view of the expected appro-
priation by Congress at it's next session
of an additional 81 100000, and of the
unexpended balance of $4O0, 900 or more
from the old appropriation. for the
purpose of carrying to completion the
project for giving the harbor of Sa-
vannah a depth of Is feet, and suit
able width from the city to the sea.
An effort will be made before Con-
gress to have the North Breakers jetty
reincorporated in the project. The
building of this jetty throwing, as it
would, the water of Catalogue Sound
through a narrowed course, it is be-
lieved by many would deepen the bar
and at the same time the jetty would
afford safe anchorage for vessels at
Tybee. The success of the jetty sys-
tenn for deepening water has been prov