The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-18
A UNITED EFFORT
WILL BE MADE TO SECURE THIRTY
FOOT CHANNEL TO THE SEA.
SAVANNAH TRADE BODIES
WILL LEND AID AND ENLIST con-
GRESsMEN AND SENATORS.

Col. Quinn Will Aid in Pushing the
Project which Is Entirely PrRctt-
cabIe-Ne Trouble In Securing
Thirty Foot Channel, He says
with the Appropriation in Hand.
At noon to-day the first step will be
taken toward securing for the SaVan-
nah river a thirty-foot channel at mean
low water.
AT that hour the special committee
of five, OF which Mayor Myers is chair
man. of City Council, will hold it's first
meeting at the City Exchange. and
plans will be discussed by the Mayor
and four aldermen.
Mayor Myers had a long conference
with Col. J. H. Estill, president Of
the Chamber of Commerce, before Col.
EstilI's departure from the city several
days ago. At that time the matter was
gone into fully and the Mayor was
assured the heartiest support of the
Chamber of Commerce. Col. Estill sug-
eested to Mr.. Myers that it would be
proper for the Mayor to take the initia-
tive and the trade bodies would GER
tainly fail promptly in Inc.
Trade Bodies VIII Unite.
Every trade body of the city will
unite in the effort to secure the thirty
foot stage at low water in Savannah
river. as recommended by Mayor
Myers, and the cooperation of Col.
James B. Quinn, of the United States
Engineers Corps will also be given. The
move is believed to have been given
an impetus at just the right time 70
work out for the best interests of Sa-
vannah, and the cooperation of the
Georgia senators and congressman will
be asked.
The deepening of the channel is re-
garded as practically a necessity. and
the work will be pushed as rapidly as
possible. Col. Quinn stated that. al
though he would do what he could for
the movement. yet he believed a serious
mistake had been made some
years ago. when the inn
provement of the present chan
mel was undertaken. In his opinion the
South channel should have been used
for a Underwater way. The deepening
of the present channel, however, is en-
tirely practicable, and if the consent of
Congress can be secured the work will
be completed in comparatively short
time.
United Effort for Deeper Water.
A united effort toward securing the
stage will be made by everybody in
terested in Savannah's trade The
Chamber of Commerce will lend its
full support to the movement and the
influence of its members both as a
body and individually will be used
The Board of Trade will also assist
in the movement and will do what it
can to aid the City Council and the
Chamber of Commerce.
The heartiest support can also be
counted upon from the Cotton Elk
change and the members of that body
will exert every power at their COM
mand toward securing the thirty foot
water way from Savannah to the sea-
1t is probable that the cotton men
are more interested in this deeper wa
terway than any other class of men,
and assurances of their support are
given through their president, Maj
Williamson, and through other infiu-
best efforts of Council are of course
assured.
COngressmen and Senator's to Assist.
There will be no difficulty in secur-
ing the aid of the Georgia senators
and congressman to the project The
movement is one which cannot but
result benefcially to the entire state,
as we'll as to Savannah. The approval
and cooperation of Col. Quinn will
give added weight to the movement
and there seems to be little doubt of
its being pushed through to a sue
cessful completion.
The work of deepening the water
way can no doubt be accomplished
speedily when once the necessary ap-
preparation has been secured. The bids
for the Savannah dredge have been
opened and work will probably be COM
menced within a comparatively short
time on building the dredge. 1t will
require about one year to complete
the work and send the dredge here.