The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-04-29
PRELINIINERY SURVEY MADE.
En"ineerS Visit EdiSto River and In.
spect Waterway.

Last Thursday morning Col. Jno.
+. Folk received a letter from Maj.
Youngberg, in charge of the marine
engineering office of the government,
at Charleston. notifying him that the
preliminary survey of the south fork
of the Edisto river, authorized by the
recent act of congress, would COM
mence on April 21st, by Mr.. w. o.
Whitescarver, and that he (Maj.
Youngberg) would visit Bamberg
on Sunday. He asked that Col. Folk
arrange for him to see the river at
several points on Sunday between
New Bridge and a point opposite
Springfield. where the survey COM
menced, as the Colonel had taken so
much interest in the matter when
the proposition was up before.
Maj. Youngberg arrived on the
1857 a., m. train Sunday morning
| and was met at the station by several
gentlemen. and after dinner he was
| taken in charge by party including
Col. Folk, Congressman Byrnes, and
| others from this city, and trip in
automobiles was made to Holman S
Bridge, Binnsker's Bridge, and New
Bridge, where the river was looked
over by Maj. Youngberg. At New
Bridge were found Messrs Whites
carver and Moorman, who we're max
ing the survey, they having arrived
at that point during Sunday morning.
Monday morning Maj. Youngberg
joined the surveying party at New
Bridge and went down the river as
far as what is locally known as Hops
Turnhole, where the party landed
and a delightful fish fry was tender
ed them, being prepared by that vet
eran in the art of cooking Edisto fish.
Romeo Govan. A number of gentle
men from town met them there, and
most pleasant social occasion was
enjoyed.
After dinner Messfs Whitescarver
and Norman again "set sail" on the
bosom of the Edisto river, for En-
bree, where they expected to arrive
some time Tuesday. this being the
end of the trip, while Mai. Young
berg returned to town and took the
afternoon train for Charleston.
While of course none of these gen.
tlemen would expires an opinion as to
what their report would be, from
from their conversation one could see
that they were impressed with the
possibilities of navigation on the
Edisto, as so many towns near the
river would be benefited by reduc-
tion in freight rates should the river
be opened for this purpose. 1t was
noted with interest that already the
Edisto Lumber company is operating
a boat of three feet draught on the
river between Embree and Hops
landing, which settles the question
already as to the navigability of the
river.
CONGRESSMAN Byrnes has had a
hard fight on this river question, but
at that last session of congress ne
succeeded in having an appropriation
put into the rivers and harbors bills
providing for this preliminary sur
vey, he will succeed in getting an
appropriation for a regular survey.
OF course everything depends on the
improvement of the main stream
from Embree to Charleston, but We
believe that with two such workers
as Lever and Byrnes in congress, the
opening of the Edisto river to naviga-
ton will finally be accomplished. 1t
will take time of course, but that is
to be expected. However, the citi-
zens of the towns and communities
who will be benefited by this, must do
their part and sustain their congress-
men in this undertaking.