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be percieved by a perusaLof the following extract from the sanitary report of the surgeon of the fleet uow at Port Royal. Sanitary report Xorth Atlanti Fleet 1S75. * * * Port Royal Sound having been made the rendezvous for the fleet, sov eral vessels have been permanently located there and it has been visited by nearly all. The advantages of the position o* these waters for the purpose designated are very obvious. The winter is mild.^ and the heat of the summer ihod*'*5'" *- 3 lv?. MmnSP3 teuipereu uy (IIUJWI uuiuf'?rv breezes. Facilities f(vt('t^ng are excellent aqd there is d**b* communication by rail with Charleston, and Augusta. question of a supply of water for the fleet became one of great importance, especially during the summer months, when the annoyance and bad effect of the extreme heit occasioned by the fires necessary for the purpose of condensing watei' became very apparent Several ineffectual attempts to obtain good water were made, and after leaving Port Royal I requested Surgeon J. C. Spear, to devote special attention to the subject; to make thorough examinations of all water that could >e suppled in sufficient quanti- 1 tv from the vicinity. The letter of Dr. Spear, which is appended, shows that the desired result has been obtained; that an adequate supply of excellent water exists iu the immediate vicinity of Port Royal. At my request Dr. Spear has also prepared tables of temperature and relative humidity, which are of great value, as ! are the statements in his able sanitary report, all of whieh papers are appended. It will be seen that the region is pecu- ! liirly healthy; that in a sanitary point of J view it compares most favorably with anf other portion or the coast * * * * * * 1 S. F. Coues, Surgeon oj the Fleet. The following is the report of Dr. j Spear referred to iu Jiurgeon Coues' ' report: t united states steam el dictator, Second Rate, i Port Royal. S. C., Septtmkr 30, 1875. I Sir?I respectfully report that in July i the water contractor, Mr. D. II. Small, S discovered near Beaufort, Soutk Caroli- j na, a soucre of water supply for. vessels of war rendezvousing here. It is a spring i on Albergottie Creek, a tributaiy of i Beaufort river five miles above the vjwu t of Beaufort. The water flows' frou a i wooded hill side, composed of clean wHte a sand. It is very clear and cool, is agree- g able to the taste, and contains very little t organic matter. The Dictator, Pawnee, c and Pinta have used it two months, and , all agree that it is wholesome, keeps well < iu tank', and is in every respect much j better than the water we formerly had . from Charleston. The contractor, since i leasing the spring has built a small sedi- i ment tank of brick and Roman cement and a large receiving tank with a capacity of nine thousand one hundred and thirty cillnn* Hp has also DUt UD iron uiDe for a distance of one hundred and fifty-six feet, to connect the receiving-tank with the water-boat in the creek below. The spring has now a capacity of hiueteen thousand gallons daily, and in the rainy season it will probably be more. At high tide a vessel drawing seven feet can reach the spring and load in time to get out on the next high tide. Very respectfully, John C. Spear,' Surgeon United States Xary. Medical Inspector Samuel R Coues, U. S. N. Fleet Surgeon, N. A. Station. These two papers prove clearly that an adequate supply of fresh water can be obtained at Port Royal, and it is reasonable to infer that the expense of obtainiug it is considerably reduced from what it was when it had to be brought from Charleston, a distance of seventy-five miles. The estimate therefore that 4'with - - t* , the force oow making rendezvous at rort Royal. the cost for drinking-water will cot be less than Si00,000 yearly" is based upon a state of facts that no longer exist, and upon difficulties that have long since been removed. That fresh water cannot be obtained at any port for vessels without some expense is a fact beyond dispute. I think I have fully met the objections to Port Royal upon the water question. *But supposing these objections to be still true, does the port of Savannah afford any superior advantages in this respect ? I think not. At any rate, let us see. It is stated by Commodore Ammen, who seems to differ in regard to the comparative merits of Port I \ - I V Royal and Tybee Island as a naval ren- j davfous with almost every naval officer CO with the Morth Atlantic squadron, aud with almost every Army officer who has any knowledge of the two places, that l,pure fresh water is found at all seasous of the year at the head of "" t i A * .Eiioa tsiana, or at u ui&iaucc ui ?wuc icu miles frop? 'he entrance of the river, and sev*^1 miles lower down during a c n?derable part of the year.'' Admitting that the ater obtained at the head of Elba Island is of a character fitted for naval use, pure, wholesome, and keeps well in tanks, equal in every re spect to the water at Port Royal, can it j be obtained at any less expense than tnat procured at Port Royal ? Certainly no.', for the depth of water in the Savannah River at Elba Island is not sufficient at any stage of the tides to permit vessel's of heavy draught like the Wabash and otheis now stationed at Port R?tyal to cross the the bar at Elb* Island and reach the head of the island where this pure fresh water can be obtained, so that it will bare to he hroucht to them in the same manner as at Port Royal. In this respect, therefore, Elba Island affords no advantage over Port Royal in the facilities for obtaining water; in both places it must be carried to the fleet. In proof of my assertion in regard to the depth of water in the river at Elba Island, I hold in my hands a communication fiora Captain Patterson, superintendent of the United States Coast Survey, in which, in answer to certain inquiries from me, he states that the depth of water on the bar it the lover end of Elba Island is eleven feet ?t mean low water and seventeen and three-fourths feet at mean high water, while on the bar at the middle of the Island, which bar must of course be jrossed in order to reach the head of the Island, the depth of water is only nine feet at mean low water and fifteen and ,hree-fourths feet at mean high water. As to the water lower down the river, n the neighborhood of Cockspur Island, lothing need be said in addition to what s contained in the report of Assistant Surgeons Roberts and Niles. These gentlemen state: "The water of the river in this vicinity s generally brackish, This condition is nodified by the state of the river and the ides, being almost fresh when the former s overflowed by rains from the up country ind ouite salt at hisrh tides and a low itate of the river. This evidently affects he evolution of malaria, the freshened surrent, in a high state of the river, saturating the soil almost to the surface, which, upon the subsiding of the water, is left exposed to the heat of the sun. producing the tonus of paludal fever tnon incidental to interior fresh water streams and swamps." Now. Mr. Chairman, I think I have sufficiently discussed the claims of Tybee Island, 9o far as relate to its superior advantages ever Port Royal as a place for a naval rendezvous. A few words in regard to its claim to equal advantages with Port Royal and I am through. It is asserted that Port Royal possesses no superior advantage in depth of water over Savannah, ''the depth of water," it is said, "over the entrance of Port Royai and Savanuh being the same, namely, nineteen feet at mein low tide. In this respect, therefore, m superiority can be asserted for the former, each allowing vessels of the same draught." This statement, in mild language, is simply incorrect. Referring again to the communication from Captain Patterson, I find that while the depth of water in the Savannah River at the outer bar is eighteen and one-half feet at mean low water, yet on # the inner bar below the deeo anchorage at the nor; h endofTybee Island, the depth of water is only seventeen feet at mean low water. As this inner bar has to be crossed in order to reach the anchorage intended for the fleet, the eighteen and one-half feet on the outer bar is of no importance whatever, since there is only seventeen feet on the inner bar. On the other hand, the depth of water at Port Royal entrance at mean low water is twenty-one feet or two and one-half feet more than on the outer bar at Savannah and four feet more than on the inner bar, while vessels can go up the Beaufort River to Battery Creek, which is twenty miles from Port Royal entrance and four miles above the present anchorage of the fleet, and find at the bar on the mouth of that creek nineteen feet at mean low water, one-halt" foot more water than is found on the oufer bar at Savannah. Uxtsd States Coast Survey Ozfice, Washington. May 18, 1876. De\R ^IR: I take pleasure in appending below the information called for by yoir note of yesterday. First. Depth on bar at Port Royal ennance (outer bar) at mean low water, twenty-one feet; at mean high water, ... J *U O iweiuy-seveu <*uu iuicc-xwun.ua xcci. Second. Depth that can be taken up to Batter}7 Creek, Beaufort River, at mean" low water, nineteen feet; at mean high water, twenty-five and oue half feet. Note that the least depth just stated is on a narrow bar near the mouth of Battery Creek; but the water is several feet deeper inside of it. Third. Depth on bar at Tybee entrance (this refers to the outer bar Savannah River) at" mean low water, eighteen and one-half feet; at mean high water twentyfive and one Ifclf feet. Depth ou inner bar below the deep anchorage at north end of Tybee Island, at mean low water, seventeen feet, at mean high water, twenty-four feet. Fourth. Depth of water on each side of Cockspur Island on the bar of the channel leading to north side of the island, twelve ieet at mean low water, and at mean high water, nineteen feet. On the bar leading to the south side of the island, at mean low water, eight and one-half feet; mean high wajer, fifteen and one-half feet; there Being a depth of from eighteen to twenty-nine feet at mean low water inside and abreast the ea3t end r?f thf> island. inglorious death of contagious and malarial disease in consequence of bad legis'ation by sending the men to a sickly port like Key West or Tybee Island near , Savannah, is not what the country requires as long as such a course can be avoided. Wnen men in their capacity as legislators who in the face of the honest facts and figures which in the most glaring manner disprove their ill-advised schemes, gotten up. for the furtherence of their own political ends, have the audaciousness to propose and advocate a measure which on tne very face of the case and as can be seen "fter very little investigation, is to the county's disadvantage, then indeed is it high time that such representatives, sent to Congress by a democratic constituency, look to their laurels. ! - - " - * ;? Judging iroui me copies ui owl-uu reports made to their Department by some of Jthe ablest naval officers, whose acquaintance with Port Royal sound Moes not date of last year only when the fleet was ordered to rendezvous there, but has its origin in the early days of the war, we are glad to say that there seems to be little danger to the good people of Port Royal of losing their naval rendezvous. In conversation with some of the eminent, thoroughly responsible and high minded officers of the navy who more than once have crossed the bar of Port Royal Sound on a fla g-ship drawing between 20 and 24 feet of wafer, your correspondent has heard informaljopinious wnich based upon scientific principles and the welfare of the U. S. Naval service sounded like an argument of which Port Royal may well be proud. Foremost among those who presented their protest against this attempted wrong was your townsman the Hon. Robert Smalls,'who, as an experienced seaman had fortified himself with a battery ol Fifth. Depth of water in Savannah River up to Elba Island, n the bar at lower end of the island, eleven feet at mean low water; seventeen and threefourths feet at mean high water; on the bar at the middle of the island, nine feet at mean low water and fifteen and thre fourths feet at mean high water. For the " comparative merits of Port Royal Sound and Tvbee Roads as a sheltered anchorage for large-draught vessel." I beg leave to refer you to the chart sent herewith, upon which both anchorages are given on the same scale. Yours respectfully, C. P. Patterson, Superintendent Vunited States Cost Surrey. Hon. E. W. M. Mackey. House 0/ Represen'atives, Washington, D. C. The amendmedment of Mr. Mackey was not agreed to. OUR WASHINGTON LETTER. Editor Standard and Commercial: Port Roval is a right " royal port " indeed ! Such a one as judging from what has beeu said about it, from official sources, by our Representatives iu Congress, and printed in the Congressional Record ana other papers, the United states Naw will never 'urive ?d,/ either in peace or in war, without a*most gallant fight. In speaking thus of the United States ' Navy we refer to those elements in it that are worthy of their title, whoso knowledge is based on solid scientific education and whose judgement is rendered with anojjinion untrammelled by political partisanship. The Navy is called upon to decide a question of momentous importance concerning its own interests and, through them, the interests of the country. What it decides and reports to the House will according to yester-day's decision of that body, become a law. Now, to have the officers and men ot the naval sendee, trained and educated to their profession at the expense of their country, die t he letters and official figures and facts, thus I leading the defense through a large democratic majority in the House to the harbor of safety, as he once led the steamer "Plauter" into Charleston harbor, through the dangerous passes and ob struct ions piled up by the eoemy. The same as fourteen years ago he had mniifl :i mark in rhf> liistnrv r?f t.Kp war. he yesterday gave a new evidence of his , en rues: 11 ess and perseverance in the cause or Ilia constituency and indeedr&ke United States. Overawed by Geuerar Smali's argumentative documeuts, read, by unanimous consent of the House at his request by the clerk, . Mr. Hartridge of Georgia who had the floor, repeatedly declined to yield the same to the gentfeman from South Carolina, who was well aware of the advantages he had already gained and which he was eager and ready to follow up, in a tactical manner, with a well supplied reserve force. The Georgia member consumed the full time he was eutitied to, knowing as he did that his side of of the qucs ion could not afford to sustain any more damage. His successor in the debate, the Hon. E. W. M. ^ / Mackey of Charleston, armed to his teeth as it were, with an infallible array of facts obtained from the U. S. Coast Survey office and the Medical report of the U. 8. Army, had prepared a well set and lengthy argument comparing the advant ages of Fort Royal with those of Tybee and Cockspur Island, in point of depth of the harbors, supply of fresh water and sanitary condition in the two localities. The able manner in which the important and difficult task of defeating the designing Georgia delegation was accomplished and the retention of the naval fleet at Port Royal was advocated by the Hon. Robert Smalls and Mackey earned them the support of the House in the decision that the matter concerning the establish ment of a naval station and rendezvous upon the coa>t of Georgia" or South Carolina, shall be "referred to a navpl board consisting of the three senior officers in the navy, for examination and repflft at the commencement of the next session of Congress." Now this, you will agree with me, is a victory; for not only will the fleet remain where it is for the time being, but the de - ? - i ?.i cisioo of its future location is vested witn meu who e profession alone, not to speak of their honor and reputation as gentlemen and high officers of the American uavy, forbids them to shape their verdict otherwise than the good of the service deman s. The matter therefore cannot be in better hands. The same officers who one year ago moved the station from Key West to Port Royal, will, after the excellent test the latter place has stood, not be apt to report in favor of a removal to a locality as bad or worse than the one they had vacated a year before. Moreover, when they moved to Port Royal they did not do so on a venture or without kuowing what they were doing; the advantages of Port Royal were as well known to them then as now. We learn from the Hon. R. Smalls, that he is in receipt of a memorial signed by the town councils of Beaufort and Port Royal in regard to the el&use in the naval appropriation bill, proposing to remove the naval station firom Port Royal. The memorial came too late to be read in the House of Representatives at the time of the discussion of the bill, but as \?e all understand, it has been referred to Senator Patterson who will present it in the Senate when the bill in question reaches that body. A. H. G. Strawberries to day at Robert's, V2\ cts, per qts. ^ 8ft- Egyptian Sugar Pates, 20 cts per lbs. at Robert's. ft- Choice Currants, 15 cts. per lbs. at Robert's. 8ft- Go to Robert's for your Confectionery. H7 M. STUART, M. D., Cor. Bmy & Eighth Streets, Beaufort, 0. O. DKALF.B IK 4^* DRUGS, AND CHEMICALS. FAMILY MEDICINES, FANCY AND TOILET ARTICLES STATIONERY, PERFUMERY, BRUSHES, Ac., Ac., Ac., Together with many other articles too numerous o mention. AH of which will be sold at tbelewes priee for cash. Physicians prescriptions carefully feb.l*! ^miijiuuiiuvu. BANKING HOUSE, Wm. H. Lockwood, BAY ST., BEAUFORT, 8. C. GOLD AND EXCHANGE ?ON? New, York Charleston & Savannah Bought and Sold, Collections made on any point in the United States. A<xjounts received subject | to check at sight. ap.27.6m. I