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


that this is an extraordinary con-
dition of affairs developed at Gulf
port; you have channel more than
the 10 feet on the whole-not only |
substantial compliance with the con-
tract, but a channel that is in excess
of 10 feet, channel Il, 22 and 20 feet
with the exception of this one place,
which is shoaled, because, as we think,
of the imperfect manner in which the
soil was thrown out from the anchor
age basin going into this point; but
/ still the character Of the soil being
such that vessels drawing from II to
90 feet of water go through with per-
| feet safety. and perfect convenience,
and of course the answer to that being,
here is the contract completed at an
| expense much in excess of the con-
| tract and at depth in excess thereof.
and as a matter Of equity and right and
for the benefit of the commerce of the
country the Government could well
afford to pay to the contractor the
sum of $4,000 and take charge of
this work itself.
And then the following from Mr..
Bishop and others on pages 10 ind 49,
Mr.. McLachlan:-Letm me ask this
question for the information of the
Committee: Would Captain Jones be
willing to enter into the original agree
ment of the Secretary of War to
maintain this channel upon the pay
ment of the $4,000 for five years if
the Government accepts the work and
pays the $15oOOO?
Mr.. Neville II am not authorized to
speak for him about that, but | am
inclined to think he would.
Mr.. Bishop:-With reference to
that, l understand that new suvey
has been made, a new project is pend
ing, not for 10 foot channel, but for
a "a foot channel. and it is that pro-
ject that they want to have substitute,
ed for this; they want to be relieved OF
the present contract in order that the
work on the new project may &c
ahead.
Mr.. Nevible:-I was going to say
Mr.. Bowers:-If. the chairman and
Judge Neville will permit me, l will
elaborate just a little on that and &C
quaint the committee with the presen
condition of affairs with reference t.
that point.
The last River and Harbor bill car
ried a provision for a survey at Gull
port. That survey has been made
The engineers have reported that
y great amount of commerce has bee
4 built up there and that wonderful re
suits have followed the expenditure G
4 the money. They say that commerce
:, will need 26 feet of water there; tina
q they ought to have practically "a fee
: now; but because of the existence
this maintenance contract and b.
= cause to enter ON the additional pr
a ject at this time would involve-I sa
q because" because, we presume tia
was the reason for it--they say b
cause of the existence Of this contra'
a they decline to recommend any fu
I Their work at that point for this tim
and. as well suggested by the chat
man, one of the desires in gettiI
al rid of this maintenance contract is thu
81 we may get squarely presented to Il
Il board of engineers, and to Congre'
the question OF whether the "a TO
Il project should be substituted for Il
y 10 foot project
Mr.. Neville:-I intended 10 state
q Mr.. Bowers has stated, and in adj
n ton to say for that reason / do n
~ think that Captain Jones would fl
81 Their agree to proposition of tn
b.. sort.
81 Mr.. Lawrence: Whether Mr.. Jon
n would agree to 1t or not 1t would nj
as | understand 1t, meet your wish
at all to have that maintenance clau
"A extended for five years.
~ Mr.. Neville:-That Is what
p want to gee rid of. and give to It
permanency of Government control
IL can not impress upon you with
III much force the idea tina. ,notwithstal
ing this great commerce there.
- fact that the advantages are not p
TX sessed there of docks to handle
III ports and imports. cotton and OIL
- bulk products is largely due to
feet that it is in charge of contra
~ or instead of the Government, Il
"a not giving to it the permanency t
the passage of this bill would give
It.
Mr.. Burgess: Will not you per
~ this suggestion? Linked with