The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1908-09-04
=: BRUNSWICK ::
DEEP wATER-ITs VALUE.

Brunswick has a channel depth
docks to the sea which Mr.. Conant
the engineer in charge under Colonel
Kingman, announces is for much Of
the durance originally requiring. i'm
proving it the requisite depth of 81
feet, for remaining distance % feet
That work has progressed far enough
to demonstrate with practical certain.
ty that there is enough Of the appro.
priation of practically 100000 left to
insure channel of 30 feet at all
points. That all indications point to
the maintenance CT this increased
depth at a yearly cost insignificant
as compared with the cost Of maintsn-
ance at most Of the harbors Of the
world.
It may be stated with assurance
that-no important harbor deepened BY
artfcial mediums in the recorded his
tory Of such works approaches as near
" self-maintenance as the harbor Of
Brunswick.
! 1t is only II years ago in March.
1891, that a spectacle existed in the
anchorage ground near St simons Of
six vessels loaded and ready for sea
| all of which were loaded before March
spring tides. the deepest draft but
20 feet inches, ranging from that 10
is feet 8 inches. all Of which were
held to April spring tides. the deepest
draft held until May spring tides.
Grounded in the effort to get TO sea.
dragged by ali the tugs in the harbor
back to it's anchorage in the sound,
only reached the sea through the new
channel we created after SO days de.
tention.
To-day any Of these vessels could
cross the outer bar upon mean low
tide. A vessel was detained in that
same period by excessively low tides
for three weeks after loading, await.
ing a spring tide which could now
cross the bar in the lowest tide below
mean low tide ever known in the his.
tory Of the port
BY these comparisons we form some
Idea OF the advantages OF deep water.
No wonder that our commerce increas-
ed from $5.6O0,ooo in 1893 to $4,000
goo for 1907 With the conditions in
1881 does any one think any capitalists
would have been insane eaeqgh to
have invested in a great railroad from
Atlanta and Birmingham to Bruns-
wick? In terminals at Brunswiek cost
ing 100000 and TO cost $4,000 600?
In FIVE great steamships costing about
s1,25O.oC1.
l remember as late as the fall of
1895 when a steamship with a draft
Of 20 feet crossed ne bar and 1t was
a great event in Brunswlcks history.
To-day this vessel could cross in an
ordinary tide at half tide and when
our Sofoot ,depth is secured, upon an
ordinary tide an hour after mean lew
tide.
The majority Of the commerce han
died in sailing vessels from this port
will be in vessels of draft ranging
from IS to % feet. There will be only
an occasional sailing vessel with
Greater draft This means that when
our improvement is completed no sail
vessel need ever be detained in any
ordinary tide even for any rise from
low tide, except the occasional vessel
drawing the excess draft.
A vessel which can cross the outer
bar at or near low tide can cross in
a condition of weather which would
not permit a vessel to cross at times
requiring the highest stage of tide.
steamships are steadily being con
structed of deeper and deeper draft
We have had many steamships in
this harbor whose maximum draft
ranged from % 10 % feet. They have
necessarily been limited in their load
ing draft With this improvement
completed they need be limited ne
more
Vessels of 29foot draft may be load
ed. The range in class of vessels Il
charter reduces freight rates. From
long study of this bar and praetica
knowledge OF it l do not hesitate Il