The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-18
WILL MAKE PLEA
FOR DEEP WATER
ORDERED TO WASHINGTON.
COL. QUINN TO GO BEFORE RIVER
AND HARBOR COMMITTEE.

Telegram Received by Him Yester-
day Morning-COnfiden tIy Believed
That Committee Wishes Complete
Information on Subject of Deeper
Water for Savannah Colonel
Quinn Prepared Facts and Fig
ures-W1II Do Best for Movement.
There are almost certain indications
that the effort to secure deeper water
for Savannah are to be hardpushed be-
fore the present session of Congress.
Col. James B. Quinn, division chief of
United States engineers, has been or
dered to appear before the River and
Harbor Committee at it's meeting on
Monday afternoon.
The telegram was received in Sa-
vannah several days ago, but did not
reach Col. Quinn until yesterday morn
ing. He has been absent on an in
spection tour of the Florida district,
and the telegram was awaiting him
when he entered his office yesterday
morning. He will leave for Washing
ton this afternoon.
Just what is wanted of him by the
committee is not stated in the tele-
gram, but Col. Quinn feels it is on
business relative to the deep water
project. 1t is known that Col. Lester
who is member of the committee
is doing his utmost to secure an ap-
preparation for this purpose, and the
indications are that the committee has
decided to take the matter I'D at once
Savannah's Excellent Chances.
There is a general feeling here that
the matter can be pushed through to
a successful elimination. The last
Congress failed to make any appro-
priation for any project in this line
in order that there might be no
charges of over-appropriations lodged
against the administration. On this
account it is reasoned that liberal ap-
preparations will be made by the pres
ent Congress and in view of Chair
man Burton's statement that the more
important projects would be first con-
sidered, Savannah should stand an ex-
cellent chance of securing the needed
moneys.
Col. Quinn is a warm friend of the
movement for a deeper channel here
and the cause is certain of staunch
support from him. He spent the
greater part of yesterday afternoon
preparing facts and figures that will
tend to present the matter in it's
strongest light to the committee.
Goes Well Prepared.
With him he will take his map of
the river and the figures obtained by
the survey made by his engineers. His
estimate of the cost of the work and
the time that would be taken to COM
plete it will be taken before the COM
mittee and given in detail.
AS for the advisabilty of the deepen
ing of the channel. Col. Quinn will be
well fortified with arguments. The
statistics of the cotton business. the
naval stores business, and the other
enterprises carried on here have been
condensed so they can be readily pre-
scented. Statistics showing the rapid
growth of the exports and imports of
the port, and an outline of the posi-
bilities with deeper water have been
prepared and they will be presented to
the committee in as forcible a manner
as possible.
Prospects Are Bright.
While it may be that the commit
tee desires Information on other pro-
jects, as well as the deeper channel
here Col. Quinn is inclined to believe
that the Savannah river work is the
subject on which the greatest stress
is to be laid. 1t is the largest work
in his division and one from which
the greatest benefits will probably be
received.
The news that the engineering off,
Ger had been ordered to appear before
the committee was good news to the
Chamber of Commerce, and all the
friends of the deeper water move
ment. The outlook is brighter now
than 1t has ever been, and there is a
general feeling that success is to
crown the work that has been pushed
so consistently by Savannahians.