The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-11-20
MADE PRESENTMENT
ON RIVER QUESTION
GRAND JURY STATES FACTS
IN CASE
MATTER GOES UP
Anderson County Authorities Will
Ask Federal Government to
Investigate Savannah River.

feOplc all over Anderson county
have been waiting for several weeks
gone by to hear the report of the
special committee appointed to ex-
anime into whether or net certain in
tcrests have caused damage to the pco-
pie attending to traffic across the Sa-
vannah river. by reason Of having
erected dam at distance some
miles up the river and therefore inter-
fercd with passage between Anderson
County. South Carolina, and certain
Georgia counties. This special COM
mittee furnished presentment to the
court OF general sessions yesterday
and their document makes very in
teresting reading. The report says in
part:
ave have investigated these COM
plants and find that they are well
founded. Navigation has been serious
ly interfered with and We find that
many citizens OF Georgia and South
Carolina have been interfered with
and caused delay in crossing the Sa-
vannah river.
I'm view OF tho serious nature and
Importance of this matter to the citi-
Zens Of this State and of Georgia, as
terested in Browns Ferry and the
Portman Shoals dam and in view also
OF the fact that this question involves
the question Of power and jurisdic-
tion. not only Of this State and the
State Of Georgia, but also OF the Unit
ed States, we deemed It proper to sub
NIT the matter to the solicitor OF the
circuit, with the request to make an
investigation and tJ submit to us re-
port and we also employed special
counsel to assist in the matter
For the present we have decided
that 1t will be sufficient to call the
matter to the attention of the proper
Federal authorities and to the attor.
ney general Of this State. We there
fore recommend that your honor in
struct the clerk OF court to send q
copy Of this special presentment. to-
gether with the report and opinions
attached thereto, to each of tho fol-
lowing officers, to wit: secretary OF
war at Washington, each of tho United
States senator's from South Carolina,
to the member cf congress from the
Third congressional district. to the
attorney general of the United States,
to the United States attorney for the
district of South Carolina, to the at
torney general of South Carolina"
In the report OF counsel, prepated
by Kurtz p. Smith. solicitor and ETn-
est F.. Cochran. tho attorneys make
tho statement that in their opinion
this matter can not be handled nc
cording to law by the courts of South
Carolina and that 1t Is a matter for
the United States courts to decide. In
conclusion the statement saws
1--WE suggest therefore that the mat
ter should be brought to the attention
Of the proper Federal authorities and
II relief is given there will he no ne
cessity for any action by your body
or In the, State courts. II, however,
the Federal authorities should 7ail to
give any relief. then this grand jury
might determine whether or not II
would be advisable to present an in
dlctment in the court OF generol ses-
sions and test the jurisdiction of the
State courts in such proceedings, or
the matter might then be brought to
the attention of the attorney general
CT South Carolina In order that the
State Of South Nrolina might insti-
tute suit for an Injunction IN the
State court and the power OF the State
court over such nayigable streams
may be determined In this manner"