The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-10-06
snL.,t'.f.-,l.1 - al q.
PORT ROYdL.

sl"Tei.i ~ .lH HOhI IcOf< al
Who has not heard yof Port ROYAL
Ytf, how mahy of the people of this
- understand where it is and
what its surroundipgs3 Port Royal
Is one of the finest harbors along the At.
lan,ic coast, and since the close :of the
war, has been steadily gaining in irnpor
tanee. 1T is simply deep indentation of
the general line of the coast, occurring
below Charleston, and above Savannah,
but being rather ,nearer.the latter place.
1t has no r., large rivers pouring their
waters into it,. in that particular, it is
similar i'm to Brunswick, in Georgia. Broad
Rivcr is merely an arm of the bay reach
ing off. northwest a short distance into
South Carolina. Beaufort River is onlv
an inside channel, through which, to the
northeast, Charleston can be reached by
still water, causing large islands to iuter-
vene betwecnithe ocean and the bay, or
port, thereby 'effectually protecting the
latter. .r,r. 30. /. '.'-
The island Mt the mouth of Port ROYAL
harbor is Hilton Head. Behind this is a
channel, affording still water intercourse
witt Savannah. Il, At the northest end OF
this island and fronting tho. har9or, was
the town Hilton Head, during the W ar, a
purely military station, the name Of which
became interchangeable with that Of Port
Royal. These cognomcns mean exactly
the same thing. From Hilton Head sig
nal station, there was thrown forward
into the bay, until deep water was
reached, long wharf of about 1000 feet.
AT this, in times of military activity,
wouldlbo found heavy draught transports
from New York, the Arago and Fulton,
and smaller steamers, and other craft for
icoasting purposes; while out in the bay,
lying safely at anchor, above the line of
the Hunting Islands was the huge fri
gate New Hamshirc, half dozen wicked
looking, low browed monitors, and per
chance a ship .or two. Below the wharf,
along the beach, the surf soon begins to
break, and half a mile, or a mile down.
on the,tront of the island, the roar of the
advancing and reccding ocean waves is
as regular as ut Cape May; and, in spots
the beach is as delightful to drive upon.
Port Royal then, is noble sheet of salt
water, witli1an excellent aud well defined
entrance, admitting vessels drawing
twenty five or thirty feet, almost com
pletely protected, although not handbook
ed, and having fine, soft bottom
anchorage, Its value as point of dis
tribution was 30 marked while the wo5
lasted, that 1t has been growing in favor
with the Government, and the people MS
well, ever since. Hilton Head has been
abandoned, but another place above, fur.
tIier away from the ocean, and near r
Beaufort, has been established. This is
at the end ofa railroad. which connects
with the interior net work of roads at
Augusta, Georgia, and crosses at right
angles the Charleston and Savannah
road, about half way between the two
cities. e. ,,.f|
Those who are intcrested d in Port Royai
who have finn faith In its eventual DC.
vclopment as the greatest of Southern
ports-expect to SEQ it the Atlantic ter
minus of the great transcontinentaI route
from San Diego, California, by way of
Marshall. Texas, VicKsburg and Jackson
Mississippi, Montgomery, Alabama, and
Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia. Already,
q line Of weekly steamers from New York
to F,rnapdina, makes Port Royal the
prineipni stopping point, and soon semi.
weekly trips VIII be made a line of irst-
class steamers to Europe is in contempIa-
tiop.aiThc United States feet was order
ed from Key West to this port for the
surinicr;t and because Of itsbeaithfuIncss
strong asYprahces are givelIthat 1t will be
selected as naval station. Beaufort
near hy, has always ba,n noted fer ,he