The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-02
TO NAVIGATE HIGHER
EXTENSION OF NAVIGATION ON
SAVANNAH RIVER TO
FOUR MILES ABOVE AUGUSTA
WILL BE CONSIDERED BY CAPT,
GILLETTE NEXT MONTH.

Petition of Manufacturing Inter
ests Near Augusta Have Been For
warded TO War Departmental
Prima Fncie Evidence Warrants
Hearing, II Will BE Held Be
fore Capt. Gillette Next Month.
City of Augusta and Southern
Railway Would Have to BE Re-
presented-The Plans Proposed.
A hearing will be held during this
month at Savannah, before Capt. c.
e Gillette. of the United States corps
of engineers, touching the question of
an extension of the navigation of the
Savannah river. Various interests at
and above Augusta have petitioned
the War Department to have four
bridges that span the river at that
city either elevated or equipped with
draws.
These petitions will be sent on to
the War Department at Washington"
said Capt. Gillette yesterday, land, if
the prima facie evidence is such as,
in the opinion of the department to
justify it, a hearing will be ordered,
to be held in my office at Savannah,
probably during this month. The city
of Augusta and the Southern Railway,
the owners of the bridges, will, in
the event the hearing is ordered, be
notified, in order that they may APP
pear, if they so desire, to controVert
the claims of the petitioners
Bridges in the Way.
Three petitions are before Capt. Gill
lette That of Albert j. 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, the petition re-
cites, were it not that four bridges,
two belonging to the Southern Rail
way Company and two to the city of
Augusta, intervene. These are not
high enough for STEAMBOATS, to pass
underneath, nor have they draws that
can be lifted
Mr. Twiggs petition sets forth that
small boats and lighters have to lie
employed to transport the rock from
the quarry to the city wharf, and he
prays that it be ordered by the War
Department that the bridges be ele-
waited or have draws put in. One of
the Southern's bridges, it is shown,
has been practically abandoned, and
should be removed, as it is d menace
and an obstruction.
Benefit Industries.
The petition recites that there are
numerous industries located between
the city wharf and the quarry that
would be benefited through the extern
sion of navigation, and these indus
tries are named.
Leonard Phinzy Esq, is the attor-
ney representing Mr.. Twiggs in the
matter Mr. Phinzy is also represent
ing the Southern Transportation Com
pany, a corporation whose petition
shows that it operates a line of steam
ers on the Savannah river; that the
river is navigabe to Augusta and a
point two miles above, to Warwick S
Mills; that Riverside Mills have a
wharf, but have to use boats
or carts to reach the city
wharf, where goods have to be load
ed or unloaded for the steamboats,;
that the bridges obstruct navigation.
and that if the bridges were elevated
or equipped with draws, the Riverside
Mills. would be relieved of the neces-
sity of using lighters or carts to reach
the steamboats, wharVes. 1t shows
that the petitioner would be the gamer
through obtaining more business, and
that the shippers would be relieved
of unnecessary expense.
Cheaper Freight Rates.
Mr.. George r. Stearns' petition, as
president of the Riverside Mills, re-
cites the same conditions as the other
petitions, and shows that freights via
the Savannah river are from 20 to
80 per cent. cheaper than by rail, and
that it is of great Importance to the
Riverside Mills to get the full benefit
of river transportation and it's facili-
ties.
Mr.. Stearns attaches the affivadits of
Maurice Walton, James b. Walker
Albert Jr Twiggs and w B. Brighton.
showing that they are acquainted with
the river and that it is navigable some
distance above Augustus city wharf
that they are acquainted with the
Riverside Mills property and that the
conditions are as represented.