The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-03
100000 is NEEDED
TO COMPLETE CONTEMPLATED M
PROvEMENTs AT FORT SCREvEN.
WILL BE FOUR-POST GARRISON
EFFORTS FOR APPROPRIATION TO
BE PUSHED THROUGH CONGRESS-.

Four Officers Quarters, New
Guard House and n Coal Shed Are
the improvements Which Have
Already Been Ordered-FiIling-in
LeVelinG and Erection of Several
New Buildings still Desired-Deep-
er Water to Savannah Practically
Make the improvements Neces-
sity, Says Col. Quinn-Deep Water
Measure and the Fort Screven
Matter in no Way Interfere With
Each other.
Col James B. Quinn. chief of United
States engineers for this district, says
there are still Improvements amounting
to $780, GOO needed at Fort Screven to
make it a four-post fort. The improve
ments which have been ordered and
concerning which the Chamber of Com
merce Committee on Harbor Defense
was in doubt at it's meeting Tuesday,
consist of four officers quarters, a
guard house and a coal shed. These
will cost about ,0O0
The original plans, as drawn by En-
gineer Brosius and approved by Col
Quinn call for several new buildings
and for leveling and grading, making
a total cost exclusive of the improve
ments already ordered, of $4,000 If
the necessary appropriation can be
secured these Improvements will make
the fort one of the best in the country
and several new features, including a
band will be added to fort life.
Hopes 1t Will Go Through.
Col. Quinn is hopeful that the re-
quest for an appropriation can be
pushed through. The position of Sa-
vannah, at the apex of a large coast
indentation, makes it very valuable in
case of war. The deepening of the wa
ter to thirty feet at mean low water
provements to the fort and the increas-
ing of the garrison almost a necessity.
Many of the largest ships can then
come into the city in case of war I'M
less provision is made for stopping
them at the fort.
AS a benefit to Savannah the i'm
provements would be of untold value.
All the money for building the quar-
ters and other buildings would go to
Savannah contractors. In many other
ways the Improvements would be a
great benefit.
No Conflict With Deeper Water.
There was some fear expressed by
some members of the Harbor Defense
Committee that the request for the APP
preparation for fort improvements
might conflict with that for the deeper
channel. Col. Quinn states that such
would not be the case. The deeper
channel matter will be referred to the
Committee on Rivers and Harbors,
while the other matters will go to the
Military Committee. They are separ-
ate matters entirely and in no way
conflicting.
Col. Quinn is hopeful that both ap-
preparations can be pushed through. In
speaking of the matter he said:
las long as we do not allow them to
put us off indefinitely we are bound to
win We must just insist on having
the money and If they turn us down
this session why we must bring the
matter up again at the next session.
If we keep everlaStingly at it, we are
bound to win sometime
Maps of the originally intended i'm
provements have been prepared and
are in Col. Quinn's office. These will
be open to the inspection of the sub
committee for the Harbor Defense
Committee when they call on Col
Quinn, as instructed. The details of
the entire subject can then be easily
given and the Improvements already
ordered pointed out.