The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1905-11-15
A Trip On the Congaree.

A Trip on the congaree.
The State, Nov. |.
Acting in the interest Of all con-
cerned, General Manager Withers
took party consisting of congress-
men, government engineers and bust
men of this city down the Congaree
yesterday on the steamboat City of
Columbia."
While the trip was delightful
outing, the beauties of the fall foliage
from the changing tints of the will
lows at the waters edge to the bril-
liant colors of the sweet gums,
hickory and poplar on the high hills,
skirted by the winding stream, being
particularly appreciated by penned-
up city folk, it was not picnic but
business jaunt.
The Importance OF water naViga-
tion is daily becoming more deeply
impressed on those considering Co.
lum bias future and the development
of South Carolina. They realize that
the navigation of the rivers between
Columbia and Georgetown must
henceforth be considered from q
broader standpoint. It is the affair
not only of Columbia and George
town, but of the State at large, and
it contempIates not the operation of
one boat between those two termi-
mails, but of half dozen boats that
will develop vast and rich territory
which is now practically bottled.
During the drought that has pre-
vailed for two months, the naViga-
ton of the Congaree has been
difficult, at times impossible. The
channel in many places is obstructed
by snags, and sandbars have proved
barriers at other points. The stop
page OF developing traffic by such
trivial impediments ia intolerable and
it was to show the congressmen and
the engineers the easily surmounta-
BILE difficulties that this trip down
the river was made yesterday. There
were in the party Congressman
Lever and Eilerbe, Capt. G. P.
HOWELL U s. engineer, who is in
charge OF all government river work
in this section: Reid Whitford, with
headquarters at Georgetown, assis-
tant engineer; W. O Whitescarver,
assistant engineer in charge of the
government work at Columbia; Mr..
John NJ. Bates, connected with the
Santee Lumber Company, and about
q dozen of the business men of Co.
lumbia.
The party was conveyed in auto.
mobiles to the CRANKY landing and
the City of Columbia cast off at
$50 o'clock. The river was minute
ly inspected by the interested pas
sengers, and sl:hough an excellent
lunch was served and there were
several sharp bends in the stream,
there was never but one river in sight
from either deck or pilot bouse.
There were several guns and rifles on
board and they were frequently used,
but the few ducks that excited the
spor, smen were at last accounts in the
land of the living. The City OF Co.
lumbia passed through the draw OF
the Southern railroad at Congsree at
4 o'clock and proceeded down to
within q short distance of where the
Congaree and Wateree unite to form
the Santee. A mile or two from the
confluence the snag boat Great Pee
Dee was met at work, and after it's
inspection by the United States en-.
gineers the party returned to the
railroad station at Congsree and took
the night train for Columbia.
The view OF the river opened the
eyes of engineers and congressman.
They saw it's possibilities and Oolnm-
bians hope they appreciate its needs:
Capt. Howell says that the matter OF
removing dangerous snsgs will have
immediate attention and that sur
vey of the river from Columbia to
| its mouth, with the view OF deter
| mining what ia required in the way
of permanent improvements, will be
begun tomorrow. Congressman Lever
has already demonstrated his active
interest in this work, but the inspec.
tion of the Congaree gives him addi'
tional inspiration and ammunition
And Congressman Ellerbe, whose
district is intimately affected, prom
ise every assistance that he can
render. Altogether this day on the
Conearee was we'll spent.