The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1912-08-06
RIVER PLANS ARE
OPENED AGAIN.
RIVERS AND HAR8oRs COMMIT
TEE LISTENS TO CON-
GRESHAM RRANTLEY.
MEANS MUCH TO BRUNSWICK
It May Mean that Congress Will Ap-
propriate 100000 Instead OF $4,000
for Work Cooperation Asked and
Should Be Forthcoming.
MEANS MUCH TO BRUNSWICK

washington, Aug. 5.-In the river
and harbor act approved March 3,
1908, there was an item for a new
survey of the Altamaha, Oconee and
Ocn ulgee rivers. The Ocmulgee and
the Oconee rivers unite to form the
Allan 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
rjyels have been under improvement
by the government for a great many
years but the project of improve
ment adopted in 1890 is not very
exit Ced one and the annual appro-
prlatlons have been small.
The purpose of the survey last or
dered was to obtain a new plan of
improvement on a more complete and
extended scale and to secure larger
apDrt Iriations The survey as au-
thorlzed by the river and harbor act
of 1.e9 was made under the direction
OF Col. Dan c. Kingman and resulted
in the recommendation that the sum
vi pOOCJOOU US SApSnOCu OA JuC LII &C
rivers to be expended $155,360 the
first year, and $4,000 for each four
years thereafter. With this amount
OF money it was estimated that there
woult be obtained an actual depth of
feet or better for 95 per cent of the
time of five feet or better for 88 per
cent Q. the time, and of six feet or
better for rs per cent of the time.
Would ReVolutionize 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 Creek
canal near Brunswick that affords an
ample and safe inside passageway for
the river boats to enter Brunswick.
When the report and reeommenda-
tion of Colonel Kingman, based on
the survey reached the board of en-
gireers for rivers and harbors the
new scheme Of improvement was re-
jected and with the result that the
chief of engineers reported to con-
gTess that the maintenance and fur
sther 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
channels 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-
prlation 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 body before the
river and harbor committee Of the
house and urged larger appropria-
tion, but without success. When the
bill reached the senate further effort
was there made to increase the
amount, but again without success.
Recently Mr.. 5rantIey appealed to
the river and harbor committee Of
The house 70 adept a resolution ask