The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-23
Hermitage Farm,

Hermitage Farm,
Lowndesville, S. g., May IS, 1906.
Mr.. Wyatt Aiken, nj. c.:
Washington, D.. G.
Dear Sir-Before the building of the
Savannah Valley railroad. the Savan-
nah river was the great means Of trans
portation of this section.
Though the traffic of the river has
almost entirely passed in the hands of
the above Railroad, this fact has not
had for effect to %annihilate the navl-
gability of the river, and today the
owners of the lands bordering 1t and
the Il of the adjacent lands. are
entertaining the hope of obtaining
FROM The federal government b lm-
provement of the n~avigability OF the
Savannah river.
Irrespective of this situation, and
torgetful of the interests of a large
number of the citizens of their states,
as well as of the interests of the gen
eral public, and to US laymen IN VIOLA
ton of the laws of the country COLI
c rning the navigable rivers, the legis-
latiye bodies of the state of Georgia
and of the state Of South Carolina,
have lately granted to some indivld-
uals the right to build dams on the
Savannah river, without providing for
the protection and safety of its navl-
gability.
Under this grant, a damis now being
built Oh the Savannah liver at u
Gregg shoals.
This building, however, has awak-
ened the public to their interest in the
matter, and q petition will soo reach
the Congress of the United States,
having for its object not the prevent
ing of the building of said dam or of
similar ones, but the imposition on the
builders to so modify their plans as
not to endanger the navigability OF the
stream.
The petitioners are well aware OF the
importance of the development OF the
powers of the Savannah river, U
they are also we'll aware CT the value
of its nav~igability.
They are further convinced that the
combined development of the powers
and of the navigability of the Savan-
nah river would prove to be the source
of immense prosperity for this section.
In their estimate, their authorization
of the building of straighout dams IL
nothing but a wanton throwing away
and an %unjustified sacrifice of the USE
lfulness of the Savannah river as
q means of transportation and artery
of commerce without compensation 10
the public. .,,,
I have written you a little lengthily,
but I wanted you to fully understand
and appreciate the purpose of this let
ter which is to ask you, as our repre-
sentative, to investigate the Congress
lsional Records in order to ascertain
lst. Whether the Savannah river
and it's tributaries, the Tugaloo and
| Seneca rivers, are on the list of the
naivgable rivers of the Union,
End, Whether there is q precedent
or an example, of a State granting
authorization of building dams o n a
navigable river
To private individuals,
For the benefit of private individ-
uals,
And for the use of private indus
tries, without providing for the
safeguard of the rights and prop
erty of the public and Of the
private citizens.
In other words, of q State condemn
ing a public highway or interstate
thoroughfare, and as a natural conse-
quence, of every citizen of the Repub-
lie to the use of said thoroughfare, ADD
condemning the property of the own
ers of the land bordering it, for the
benefit of private individuals or enter
prises.
We are trusting that you will beable
to make this investigation and let me
know the result.
Yours truly,
Masculine.