The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1912-08-06
RIVER PLANS ARE
OPEN Ed AGAIN
RIVERs AND HARRoRs COMMIT
TEE LISTENS TO CON-
GRESHAM BRANTLEY.
MEANS MUCH TO BRUNSWICK
II May Mean that Congress Will Ap-
propriate $500, 600 Instead OF $4,000
for Work Cooperation Askeld and
Should Be Forthcoming.
MEANS MUCH TO BRUNSWICK


and harbor act approved March 3,
1909, there was an item for a new
survey of the Altamaha, Oconee and
Ocir ulgee rivers. The Ocmulgee and
the Oconee rivers unite to form the
Altan.aha, and this whole river sys-
tenn les within the limits of the state
OF Georgia and the navigable portion
OF it is 490 miles in length. These
riyels have been under improvement
by the government for a great many
years. but the project of improve
mont adopted in 1890 is not a very
exit I Ged one and the annual appro-
prlatlons have been small
The purpose of the survey last or
dered was to obtain new plan of
Improvement on a more complete and
extended scale and to secure larger
apDrt rriations. The survey as au-
thorlzed by the river and harbor act
of 1yC9 was made under the direction
OF Col. Dan G. Kingman and resulted
in the recommendation that the sum
of $685., ,360 be expended on the three
rivers to be expended $155,360 the
first year, and $4,000 for each four
ynars thereafter. With this amount
OF money it was estimated that there
would be obtained an actual depth of
4 feet or better for 95 per cent of the
time of five feet or better for SO per
cent Q. the time, and of six feet or
better for rs per cent of the time.
Would ReVoutionize Commerce.
Such an increase in the depth of
the water in these rivers as thus pro-
posed would revolutionize the COM
merce of the entire section of the
country tributary thereto. There
would be sufficient water for all com
merce and there would be sufficient
water that with New York steamer
connections in Brunswick for all the
towns and cities along these rivers to
have water competition in freight
rates to New York. There has re-
Gently been completed what is known
as the Club and Plantation Greek
canal near Brunswick that affords an
ample and safe inside passagewey for
the river boats to enter Brunswick.
When the report and recommends
tion of Colonel Kingman, based on
the survey reached the board Of en-
g1reers for rivers and harbors the
new scheme of improvement was re-
jected and with the result that the
chief of engineers reported to con-
gress that the maintenance and fur
ther gradual improvement of the
Oconee, Ocmulgee and Altamaha riv
erS by the United States is deemed
advisable, following in general the
methods which have been carried on
UnC er the existing project, and that
the appropriations should be at the
rate Of $4,000 per year, the funds to
be applied to maintenance of three
feet depth during ordinary summer
low water up to Milledgeville and Ma
con, and to the gradual increase of
channel depth So far as practicable
without sacrificing the maintenance
work"
Georgians Get Busy.
Under this recommendation the
present river and harbor bill that has
JUS become a law carries an appro- |
pYiation of only $4,000 for the three
rivers and this is to be expended un-
der the old scheme of improvement. !
The several members of congress
from Georgia interested in these riv-
ers. Mr.. Brantley, Mr.. Bartlett, Mr.. |
Hughes, Mr.. Hardwick and Mr. Ed
wards, appeared in a body before the
river and harbor committee Of the
house and urged a larger appropria- !
ton, but without success. When the
bill reached the senate further effort
was there made to increase the
amount, but again without success.
Recently Mr.. BrantIey appealed to
the river and harbor committee of
<hk house TO adept a resolution ask.