The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-11
BRIDGES SHOULD GO
.~UEACTURERS WANT THEM
REMOVED OR PROVIDED
WITH DRAWS.
EXTENSION OF NAVIGATION
M SAVANNAH RIVER ABOVE AU-
cUsTA TO BE URGED TODAY.

uearing of Application and the Oh
iections Thereto VIII Be Held Be-
fore United States Engineer Quinn
This MOrning-PrOminen Angus
tans Are in Savannah to Attend
the Hearfng-Savannah Concerns
Are Interested-SOuthern Railway
and City of Augusta Principal OBJ
jectOrs.
hearing touching the extension Of
the navigation of the Savannah river
will begin this morning at 10 o'clock
hefore Col James R. Quinn, United
states engineer, in his office in the
government building. Col. Quinn has
lust returned from Augusta, where he
went to conduct a preparatory inspec>-
ton, and a party Of prominent Au-
eustaians, representing the interests
which will be effected will arrive this
morning.
The hearing, which is the first mat
fer of considerable importance to be
heard in the Savannah District by the
new engineer, promises to be produc-
tive of a great deal of interest. Vari-
Gus interests at and above Augusta
are endeavoring to have the War De-
partment either elevate or equip with
draws four bridges that span the
river at that city, so as to extend
navigation several miles north.
Prominent Augustans Here.
The delegation of representative Au-
gustans who will attend the hearing,
and urge the installation of the draws
in the bridges across the river at Au-
gusta is composed of ]. B. Walker,
president of the Chamber of Com
merce; !. B. Verdery, president of En-
terprise Factory; T. l. Hickman, pres
ident Graniteville Manufacturing Co.;
George r. Stearns, president of River
side Mills; E. F. Verdery, president of
Warren Manufacturing Company; ].
A. A. w. Clarke, president Globe Cot
ton Mills Company; James Tobin, cot
ton factor; H. H. Cumming, real estate
owner and capitalist; j. C. Lee, lumber
manufacturer; Maurice Walton and
NJ. j. Hallihan, merchants, and Leo
nard Phinizy, capitalist and attorney
for petitioners in the case.
The bridges across the Savannah riv-
er stop the progress of the river boats
at the lower end of the city. Augusta
has builded westward, and every man
ufacturing plant. cotton shipper and
Wholesale merchant is above the
bridges. Draws in the bridges would
permit steamboats, to go three miles
further and touch at points opposite
each factory.
Objections Made.
Among the most prominent of the OBJ
jecting parties are the city of Augusta
and the Southern Railway. Both OF
these, together with other large in
terests, have filed objection to the Pc
ttions, and it is these that will be
heard before Col. Quinn. The testi-
mony will be taken, and sent on to the
War Department at Washington, win
a recommendation.
Three petitions will be considered by
Col. Quinn. That of Albert ]. Twiggs
shows that he is the owner of rock
quarries three miles above Augusta on
the South Carolina bank. Between the
city wharf and the quarry there are
five feet of water in the channel OF
the river at the low stage. Upon this
steamboats, could ply, so Mr.. Twiggs
will contend, were it not that four
bridges, two belonging to the Southern
Railway and two to the city of Au-
gusta, intervene. These are not high
enough for steamboats, to pass under,
nor have they draws that can be lift
cd. ODe Oh InGSe DIlNSSSt hC vii
tend, has been practically abandoned,
and is a menace.
Savannahiuns Interested.
Leonard Phinizy is the attorney rep
resenting Mr.. Twiggs. Mr.. Phinizy
also represents the Southern Transpor-
tation Company, a corporation which
operates a line of steamboats, between
Savannah and Augusta, which also de-
sires the removal of the bridges or
their equipment with draws. Mr.. Phin-
Ivy will contend for his clients that
the granting of their requests would
result in Increased business for both
of them. There are also numerous 9TH
er industries which, they aver, would
be benefited by the extension of naVl-
cation.
One of the prominent, Augustans
who will be present at the hear
ing is George r. Stearnes, president
of the Riverside Mills. Mr.. Stearnes
says that freights via the savannah
river are from 20 to 30 per cent. cheap
er than by rail, and that it is OF great
Importance to the industry which ne
represents and to other enterprises TO
get the full benefit of river transport
tation and it's facilities.
Numerous affidavits in substanuatlon
of the different parties have been filed,
and will be read at the hearing this
morning. A great deal of interest is
manifested in the proceedings not alone
in Augusta, but in Savannah as Well
where the interests of quite numper
Of 1ocaI aptarpriSeS are concerned.