The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-12-07
Cat Fish, Spill Ways and Batteau
SIuiccs,

South Carolina is in n tantrum over her
share Of cat fish and suckers in SAVANNAH
River waters, and threatens to tear down
the large dam across the river seven miles
above Augustaw which was built by Angus
to people and Augusta money.
The great State of South Carolina is
Jealous. Because there is at present no
fish way at the dam, the fish way having
been washed away in the flood of W years
ago, and fish cannot cross over the dam.
For this reason South Carolina asks why
she may not tear away the dam.
That dam furnishes Augusta with thon-
sands of horse power. Almost all the in
dustries of the city get their power from
this DAM. Cotton mills, grain mills, ma
chine works, Industries large and small
are furnished power from this dam, and
to tear it down would mean that the In
dustries of the city would be crippled be-
yond measure.
And all this because of few sand cats,
mud cats and mullet!
1t does not look very neighborly for
South Carolina to TINS treat her sister
State. If there were anything at stake it
might be different, but all of us know that
navigation on the river is impossible
unless millions were spent in cleaning the
channel.
Years and years ago when there were
no railroads a few cotton boats worked
their way I'D and down the river, over
rocks and through whirlpools in q most
laborious' fashion, but when the railroads
came the cotton boat disappeared. They
could not meet the competition.
In the language Of a man who used to
run the river, ut is the hardest work
that I ever undertook. We padded our
shoulders SO that the poles would not
make them raw and ever then we were SO
sore after each trip that we had to rest
several weeks before we could make
another
y AS far as the fish way is concerned the
people of Augusta promise TO put in one
to be O pproved by the U. S. Government
and are only awaiting instructions and
specifications. 1t is not becoming in US
to thus threaten and worry our neighbors
over a matter Of no Importance to us and
which is of such great import to them. A
State, as we'll as an individual should ex-
ercise some lienency and charity toWard
others.
The people of South Carolina especially
Of Abbeville County, should remember
that they may be placed at some time in
the shoes Of the tormented. Undoubtedly
the greatest asset that this county has to-
day is the Calhoun Falls. The immense,
overwhelming power and energy latent in
those falls is beyond the comprehension OF
most of US. The power will some day be
developed by the government and not by
individuals and it will thus belong to the
citizens Of the State and we could we'll i'm
agine our chagrin should such develop
ment be retarded by citizens of Georgia on
account Of a catfish run or a batteau
| Sluice!
If you are reading this in Anderson or
Abbeville or Greenwood and at night, you
are probably debtor to Savannah River
power for your light. Which is Of the most
use to you, that light, or few bewhisker-
ed channel cats or larger headed mudcats
fioundering around over in the Savannah?
People are quarreling about the batteau
sluice being closed by dams when as a
matter Of fact, about the only way to
make the River navigable is to build dams
at the different falls thus making water
whereabouts Of sufficient depth to float a
boat. AS it is this writer has waded Sa-
vannah River from the South Carolina
side to the Georgia shore and he is no Co
Hath of Gath either! This, too, was at the
foot of Calhoun Falls. What think you Of
calling such a river a navigable river2
The men of Augusta are fair minded
men they will do any thing in reason and
it is hardly worth while for b State OF
South Carolina to hold over their heads q
threatening stick. South Carolina gave
Augusta permission to put the dam there
and it does not become her now to thus
threaten Augusta even though She has no
intention or tearing down the dam.
Besides it is q State against individuals
and in such a case the stronger should ex-
ercise all charity in dealing with the weak
err. we have no patience with the action
Of the State thus threatening to paralize
u neighbor on account of a batteau sluice
and q bunch Of cat fish.
Even sbelow Augusta which is on the
Fall Line, it has been impossible to sue
coed at navigating the river, and only last
week the citizens Of Augusta met and sub
scribed a large sum of money in a desper-
ate effort to recusitate the Augusta Savan-
nah line. 1t simply won't pay.
II it has been shown that such a line as
this will not pay what may we hope for
I'd here where a school boy can wade
across the river?