The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-07-01
UNFAVORABLE REPORT MADE.
BY Engineers ON Proposed South Ed.
i>to River Improvement.

preliminary survey of the South Ed
isto river from the main stream to
a point near Springfield. This un-
favorable report was based on the
fact that this improvement would be
of no effect until after the main river
shall have been improved. AS yet
| there has been no congressional ap-
preparation for this purpose.
Congressman Byrnes states that he
intends to appeal from the decision
of the engineer, Major Youngberg. to
the board of engineers for rivers and
harbors, and that he is now arrans-
ing with them to personally appear
and argue the appeal or to file an
argument setting forth his reasons
for asking that favorable report
be made.
The report of the engineer affords
no surprise to the people of Bamberg.
as it was pretty we'll understood that
the engineer would not favor this
project unless the main stream is i'm
proved. What Mr.. Byrnes is work
ing for is to have a favorable report,
so that when the main stream is i'm
proved, as it doubtless will be in the
near future, the improvement will eX-
tend on up South Edisto river. The
engineers report on the North Edisto
river improvement was likewise un-
favorable, but Congressman Lever Sc
cured a reversal of the report.
l.. Mr.. Byrnes has worked hard on the
South Edisto river improvement and
there is very little doubt but that he
will be able to have the engineer S
report reversed. The following cir
cular letter has been mailed to those
interested in the project:
War department, United States
engineer office, custom house, Char
lesion. S. c.. June 2, 1915.
Il. 1t having come to the notice
of the undersigned that YOU have eX-
pressed an interest in the pending
proposition for the improvement OF
the South fork of Edisto river to a
point opposite the city of Springfield,
you are hereby informed that the
preliminary examination of the To-
cality named, with view to certain
improvements therein, authorized by
the act of congress approved March
4, 1915, has been made, and that the
report submitted thereon is unfavor-
able to the improvement being un-
dertaken at this time.
20. The basis for such unfavor-
able report is, briefly, that improve
ment of this fork will be Of no effect
until after, the main river shall have
been improved; that the river itself
is so obstructed by brush, trees,
snags, and sandbars, as to make
clearing and subsequent maintenance
of a navigable channel very ex-
pensive undertaking; that the river
is SO shallow, narrow, and crooked,
that only small boats with low car
60 carrying capacity could make any
use of the river after it were clear
ed; that distances to seaports by river
are very much in excess of distances
by rail; that there are now no boat
landings, no towns and no trading
centers on the river, and that it
would be very difficult to establish
such in competition with existing
towns on the railroads; that the ter
ritory is we'll supplied with railroads,
and freight stations are numerous;
that freight rates are regulated by
federal and State railway commits
sions, and finally that a boat line
would be under such disadvantage
as to time. distance, and uncertain
ty of schedule, insurance rates and
transfer charges at terminal points,
that it could scarcely hope to COM
pete with existing facilities.
IS. Copy of the report may be
seen at this Office, o. information in
regard thereto may be had on appli-
cation. You are informed that
this report will be reviewed by the
board of engineers for rivers and
harbors, a permanent body sitting at
Washington, to which all eXamina-
tion and survey reports of this char
acter are referred, and if you have
any statements, facts, or arguments,
concerning the necessity for the pro-
posed improvement you are advised
to present the same to the board Of
engineers, either orally or in writ
ing. Written communications should
be addressed to the board of en-
gineers for rivers and harbors. South
ern building, Washington, D. c., and
should be mailed in time to reach
the board within four (4) weeks
from the date of this notice. If oral
hearings are desired dates for the