The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-27

whole.
Mr.. Bishop:-I think that is largely
embraced in the report that will come
to the committee, however.
Mr.. Bowers:-It is practically down
to 20 feet.
Mr.. Lawrence And do l under
stand that the engineers state that the
present commerce demands channel
of a depth of "a feet?
Mr.. Bowers: They say that COM
merce would be greatly benefited by |
a channel of rs feet, but they are per.
fectly noncommittal, Mr.. Lawrence.
on the proposition of what ought to
be done there because of the exist
ence OF the maintenance contract.
Mr. Humphreys: The rule we have
adhered to is that when project is
pending we shall not enter into an
other project. That has prevented the
engineers from making specific
Mr.. Lawrence:-I do not know but
that the engineers have gone so rar
as to say that II this maintenance con-
tract was out of the way they would
favor a channel at 26 feet.
Mr.. Humphreys think II you will
read that report you will draw that
conclusion from it; but that Is the
conclusion l get from the report, that
If this contract which is now pending
were out Of the way they would make
favorable recommendation.
Mr.. Jones:-It seems to me, when
we call on them for a survey, they
ought to go on and make their report
whether there is any project going
ON there or not.
Mr.. Humphreys -He does not say
how much this 26 foot would CO T.,
does he?
Mr.. Bowers:-I do not recall, but
it made the same impression on my
| mind that it did on yours, that they
regarded the 26 foot project favorahiy
except for the existing contract.
From these extracts it will very
clearly appear that great deal more
work and more valuable work than
was ever contemplated had been lone,
and that the advantages to be gained
were not only the permanence and
stability above referred to but to get
this contract out of The way in order
that greater scheme to imc owe
down to 26 feet might be inauguarte,
} 1t will also be clearly apparent that
1.-THE non-acceptance of this channe
: and the existence of the maintenance
contract constituted the great difficult,
| in the way. On that point quo-f
: from House document 1874, 59th Goa
t gress. Second Session, page 8. il,
D conclusions OF Mr.. d. G. Anderson
an engineer of the Mobile office wh'
:. made the investigation under the seso
? luton the passage of which ] Sc
}. cured:
a Conclusions:-The conditions a
n Gulfport may be briefly summarize
. as follows:
If 1. Prior to 1901 no harbor existe
e at Gulfport, and the natural depth
It along the line of the contemplated l
1t foot channel and basin decreased fror
If 10 feet at the outer end of the char
O. mel to 2 feet at the inner end OF tn
o. basin.
wi 2. Since. 1901 channel 300 fee
At wide and Z miles long and an ancho
e. age basin 2640 feet by 1920 feet, wit
ct an available depth Of 10 feet, hav
r. been nearly completed at Gulfport.
e, g.. This work has been performe
r. practically at private expense, as tn
- amount to be eventually paid by tt
at United States for work under the e
,e listing contract will represent on
IS about one fourteenth of the total CO
OF of dredging and wharf and revetmel
he construction.
A.. On account of the channel al
as wharf facilities thus provided, Gu
a. port has become one Of the large
Of timber exporting points in the Unit
N. States.
all 5. The export business OF Gulfpc
can be carried on in fairly satisfs
tory manner in vessels OF from "a
:. 26 feet draft.
~ Also Maj. craghills comments up
these conclusions:
Although the improvement of t
Gulfport channel to a depth OF "a
we rs feet would be a convenience
ne navigation, the contract for the I
, I nation Of 10 foot channels still
90 completed, and in addition the -prese
ho- contract requires the maintenance
ms the 10 foot channel for period
os- five years after completion. In vi
ca of this state of affairs, the furtl
ner Improvement of the Gulfport chan
the a., NOT raoommended at this time