Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-10

year were: oUJ, oo4 barrels OF r0sin and "a, O59
barrels Of spirits, which, compared with the
receipts OF the previous season, shows
heavy increase. Well informed merchants
engaged In this line of business predict
that another season will witness Savannah
the leading naval stores market of the
world, and this opinion is justified by the
rapid increase which has taken place from
year to year during the past seven years.
The rice crop OF this section wss consid-
ersbly damaged by the gale Of 1881, which
accounts for the short receipts at Savannah
during the past season. The damage ap-
pears to have been experienced on the
North and South Carolina coasts, but in con-
sequence Of 3 larger crop In Louisiana,
prices were not materially affected until the
spring of the year, when it was found that
the crop had been uuderestimated. However,
prices were fairly remunerative. The num-
Der OF tlerces marketed at this port was 3d.
900. During the year additional milling ia
eilities have been added, and Savannah Is
now provided with four first clsss, well
equipped rice mills. which will enable our
merchants to handle with promptness
aud care all the rice brought to this market.
The outlook for the present crop is good,
and 1t is conf IDENTIFY expected that full
average crop will be harvested.
The expectations of lumber and timber
during the commercial year amounted TO
about seventy-seven million feet, which
included both foreign and coastwise. This
was, perhaps, the largest business in this
line that has ever been transacted in Savan-
nah during season. Prices were good up
to July last, when a heavy decline was re-
allied, which at one time threatened the in
dustry seriously. It is now believed that
cause for serious spprehensions has passed,
and the business is once more becoming
profitable.
The work of public improvement con-
nected with the Savannah river and hsrbOr,
under the direction OF the General Govern |
ment, has been prosecuted with energy. An
increased depth OF water has been secured |
over the sandbar opposite the Upper Rice |
Mil, at Garden Bank, and at all points to |
the eastern terminus Of the Savannah, |
Florida and Western Railway wharves. |
Contracts have recently been entered into |
for continuing the work from that point. |
The plans adopted By the Board of En- |
gineers, U. s. A for the purpose are so |
extensive, that the full benefits to be ex
pected as the result of these improvements, |
cannot be realized until the work approaches |
completion. The engineers in charge ex- |
press the fullest confidence In the practical |
bility and success of the plans, and enter. ain |
no doubt that with the increased apprOpria- |
ton available for this seasons operations |
decided increase in the depth Of water will |
be secured from the city to the ocean.
The subject of additional lighthouses on |
the river, and to which reference was made |
in our last annual report, is matter which |
has been attended with much delay and |
annoyance. The United States Congress, |
during its session of 1S79-S0, made an spprc- |
priation, aud a contract was entered into |
for the cons truction of twelve iron stTuc- |
lures, the work being under the direction |
of the United States Lighthouse Board, who |
located the sites with view to having the |
entire improvements completed during the |
past summer. The work has been DELAYED |
In consequence of the strikes OF iron work |
ers in the West, where the contracts were |
given out, and also by difficulties In obtain |
ing satisfactory titles to the land required |
for sites. It is understood that the struc- |
lures are now ready for erection, aud that |
the difficulties about titles to most of the |
sites have been arranged, and that the ques- |
ton as to the titles Of the portions of land |
which remain unadjusted will be settled by |
process of law at an early day, and the |
work will be completed during the present |
winter.
Mention was made in the last animal re-
port of the increased facilities for ocean |
transportation offered by the Ocean Steam |
ship Company of Savannah, and again we |
chronicle still further improvement IN that |
particular. Two of the large iron steamers
heretofore plying between this port and the |
CITY Oh new 4OTk nave Deeu bOlu duQ Trans |
ferred to the Boston and Savannah Steam |
ship line-while third of the same class of |
vessels has been placed on the Philadelphia |
line. These three large and eommodious |
steamships have been replaced by three yes
sells of still larger capacitY-upon which |
money and first-class workmanship have not |
been spared to make them equal II not su-
perior to any class of vessels engaged in |
the cosstwise trade of the United States. |
The fine class of steamers engaged |
in the trade between Baltimore and Savan-
nah, together with the changes above men
toned, affords superior facilities and |
advantages for this port, which are not sur |
passed or equaled by any South Atlantic or |
Gulf port. The combined carrying capacity |
of all the lines is taxed to the utmost limit, !
and the steadily increasing trade Is con- |
stantly requiring increased facilities.
The general prosperity of our city is |
evinced in the constant building OF new |
houses, included in which are many hand |
some residences. Every Office in the bust |
ness portion of the city is occupied, and |
there is good reason to believe that arge |
addition has been made to our population |
within the past year. We sincerely hope |
that the prosperity which has been so |
apparent from year to year during the past |
six years may continue, and that the enter
prise of our merchants and citizens may be /
crowned with a grand success, such as their |
worthy efforts richly deserve.
Respectfully submitted,
II