The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-09
HOPE FOR SAVANNAH
SECRETARY ROOT MAY REVERSE
HIS DECISION.
BACON MEKES.A STRONG PLEA.
SHOWS ADVANTAGE OF DOING THE
WORK NOW.

what Different Light and That ft
Demands Further Consideration.
The Junior senator Puts savan-
nah's Case I'm New Light, Both
Legally and PracticaiIy-Capt.
Purse Was Present.
Washington, d. c., July s.-There is a
possibility that the Secretary of War
may reverse his previous decision relative
to the expenditure of the unexpended ap-
propriation for the Improvement of Sa-
vannah harbor. In view of the exceed
ngly strong representation of the case
by Senator Bacon to-day, supported by
series of letters from the commercial
bodies and steamship and railroad lines
doing business in Savannah, Secretary
Root admitted that the Situation appeal
ed to him in a somewhat different light.
and demanded further serious considera-
ton.
Senator Bacon, accompanied by Capt.
d. G.. Purse of the Savannah Board of
Trade called upon the Secretary of War
this morning by appointment, to discuss
the Savannah harbor question. Previous
to calling upon the Secretary of War.
Senator Bacon conferred with the engin-
eer officers of the department, who have
heretofore insisted that under a strict
Interpretation of existing law, the money
unexpended could not be applied for
dredging Savannah harbor. SO strong
and forcible were the facts presented by
Senator Bacon, that even the engineer
officers are disposed to recede somewhat
from their original position. Under tho
circumstances Secretary Root was there
fore in a more receptive mood when Sem
ator Bacon appeared before him at the
War Department this morning. The sena-
tor was well fortified with facts and fig-
ures but he briefly summed up the situation
in an interview which lasted about twenty
minutes. He briefly reviewed previous
legislation relative to the Improvement
of Savannah harbor and coming down 10
the present time, explained to the Sec
retary that to dredge the channel 70 the
widths ard depths provided for by the
law adopting the present project in 1882
| will require 1856 500.
| To dredge the channel to the widths and
depths which 1t actually had at the COM
| pletion OF the work 10 July, 1896, will re-
| quire s2i5,0OO. There is now available
$4SS 000
The amount that can legally be expend-
ed on dredging for maintenance is some-
what uncertain. The judge advocate gen.
eral of the army has given the legal
opinion that IT cannot all be spent.
The chief Of engineers is willing to as
sumo the responsibility for the expendf-
ture OF such amount as may be required
for necessary emergency maintenance
work, provided such amount does not ex-
ceed $4,000, this latter being the amount
heretofore estimated for annual mainten-
ance.
Mr.. BRcOn's Argument.
1t was estimated In the annual report
for 1895 that the annual maintenance
would amount to $50 600, provided the
breakwater was constructed and might
amount to s250.OO0 annually, If the break
water was not constructed. The break
water has only been partly constructed,
and the abandonment of further construc-
tion, as unnecessary and inadvisable, has
been recommended by the local engineer
and two separate board of engineers,
which recommendation has been concur
red in by the division engineer the chicf
of engineers and without any opposition
by the House Committee on Rivers and
Harbors, the Senate Committee on Com
merce and both houses of Congress.
Dredging in small amounts is always
expensive. Dredging in large amounts
cen be done very cheapy now. as 20
many dredges are lying idle. Dredging
after the passage Of another river and
harbor bill will be expensive. as there ere
not dredges enough on the Atlantic coast
to promptly do the work provided for in
the last river and harbor bill, which fall
ed of passage. The difference between
100000 worth OF dredging done now and
done after the passage Of the next river
and harbor bill would probably amount TO
$4,000 or 100000
Our Commercial Importnnce.
Without wasting words or trespassina
upon the secretary's valuable time Sem
ator Bacon impressed upon the Secretary
that Savannah is the third largest cotton
port In the world and the largest naval
stores port in existence. He argued that
the naval stores trade OF Savannah is
greater than that OF all OF the ports OF
the United States combined. As a sup
plement to the Importance Of maintaining
the channel of Savannah harbor Senator
Bacon introduced letters from President
Jenkins Of the Merchant and Miners line
Samuel Spencer OF the Southern Railroad
j. NJ Egan, OF the Central X. q. Erwin
OF the Plant System. ana @. NJ. Barr OF
the Seaboard Air Line. All OF these
gentlemen stated that the commerce OF
Savannah would be seriously impaired
unless the harbor facilities are at once
improved.
Root Favorai,Iy Impressed.
The able and earnest presentation OF
the case evidently made very strong
impression upon Secretary Root He
stated frankly Inat Senator Clay had pre-
scented the casc so favorably that the de-
partment had conceded $50.0o0 Of the un-
expended appropriation. for dredging.
Notwithstanding the failure OF the river
and harbor bill at the last session OF
Congress After hearing Senator Bacon
and listening to the letters Of the gentle
men named read by Capt. Purse. the
Secretary very frankly admitted that
from a legal standpoint the cose had been
presented TO him in an entirely new light
Senator Bacon laid particular stress upon
the proposition that the Original appropri-
alton has been made Specifically 20 ac-
complish three specific purposes. One was
10 shorten the route to South Carolina:
the second was TO construct a breakwater
In Savannah harbor. and the other
was 10 maintain the channel to
the sea. Tho first object OF tho
appropriation has been completed ana the
breakwatcr has practically been abandon
"a as impractleablc and inadvlrabie.
Thus leaving the maintenance Of the
channel 70 a suficlent depth 10 onabis
heavy draft sea-going ships 10 como AMI
80 without danger. tho one remaining
object 10 be Obtained in accordance with