Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-14

Her Marvellous Resources and Won
drOus GrOwtb-Savannah as a Field for
Investment.


north and south, and an extreme breadth
of POI miles east and west. 1t contains
1877 counties. There are several cities,
including Atlanta, the capital, Savannah
the chief seaport, Augusta, Macon, Col
umbus, Athens, Rome, Albany and Rruns-
wick, with populations ranging from 40
600 to 5000, besides numerous towns Of
1000 population and upward, and many
thriving villages. The population of the
State, made up of natives, whites and
blacks, foreigners and immigrants from
other States, numbered 1,53904S in 1880.
The foreign population bears but a
slight ratio to the total number OF IN
habitants.
The soil of the State is, on the
whole, fertile, and in many sections par
ticularly so. Every variety Of agricul-
tural products can readily be raised. The
same may be said as to fruits. Those
common to northern regions flourish in
the upper portions of the State, and those
peculiar to warmer chimes in the south.
The climate varies according to location.
In North and Middle Georgia one will eX-
perience in winter the average cold pecu-
liar to the Middle States, but in South
Georgia actual cold weather is almost
unknown. The State is rich III
mineral wealth, and her stores
Of timber are Of vast dimensions. The
great staple of the State is cotton. the sea
island variety being largely raised along
the seacoast. The lowlands are chiefly
valuable for rice plantations. The nu-
merOus streams Of the State endOW her
with water power perhaps une&celled
in the Union. Numerous eligible sites
have been chosen of late years, and the
State holds a creditable rank in manufac-
lures, In many counties grazing is eX-
tensively pursued, and the yield of wool is
steadily increasing In the southern por
ton of the state the business
of fruit and vegetable growing =.
largely followed with surprising WON'T,
the genial climate admits Of quick re-
annually assuming larger and larger di-
mansions, quick transportation being
afforded to Northern markets. The num-
Der of nurserymen III South Georgia is
steadily increasing, and their pursuit,
with that of truck farming, bids fair to
speedily become one of the leading indus
tries of the State. All varieties Of vegeta-
bles thrive well, and peaches, pears, figs,
pommegranates, Strawberries, etc, grow
in prOfusiOn. The melon crop is prodigious.
A recent but growing and profitable bTsi-
ness is the naval stores industry, Jast
tracts being yearly encrOached upon for
the procuring of turpentine ani r0sin.
The lumber industry is of immlnse pro-
portions, and is yearly attracting the at
tentiOn of Northern and foreign capitalists.
The chief manufacturing INDUSTRY of the
State is that of co'$0n CO. the bulk of
such GOO 80" it the splendid
mills lc5..,t. .. and Columbus,
though there are flourishing factories at
other points, and their number is steadily
increasing. There are iron furnaces and
foundries in various parts Of the State,
but the iron industry is as yet compare
lively in its infancy. Coal mines have
been opened, and direct communication
will soon be had with the vast coal fields
of Alabama.
The various religious denominations are
represented in Georgia, and churches
abound. The school system of the State
is being steadily perfected, and nearly
every town of consequence is supplied
with an academy. The State University
at Athens, with its several branch
colleges, maintained by the State,
furnishes excellent facilities for
the higher education Of youth.
Besides, as rivals to the State University,
there are Mercer University, at Macon,
and Emory College, Oxford, besides others
of lower rank. Wesleyan Female College,
at Macon, Shorter College, at Rome, the
Lucy Cobb Institute, at Athens, and nu-
merOus other female semmaries, afford
like opportunities for the education Of
young ladies.
Of the State, and its volume of trade runs
far up into the millions. Next to New
Orleans, it is the greatest cotton market
i'm the world. Its trade in naval stores is
the largest in the world, and it holds high
rank as a lumber market. Its trade
in rice is naturally large, and
the volume Of business transacted
in other lines of goods is yearly swelling.
The Savannah river is WOntedly crowded
xtrif oh n n
vast ocean steamer to the modest coaster.
The magnificent fleet Of the Ocean Steam
ship Company comprises the finest Amer
lean steamers afloat. These splendid iron
steamships are crowded with Georgia
products on their regular voyages TO New
York, Philadelphia and Boston, and heav-
ily frelghted returning. Besides, there is
Baltimore, and minor lines to
Charleston and Florida ports. The
foreign commerce of Savannah is large,
and consists mainly in the expectation Of
cotton, naval stores and lumber.
The Central Railroad Of Georgia, with
its far-Teaching connections, pOurs the
products of the State into the lap of Sa-
vannah. The Savannah, Florida and
Western, with its Florida connections,
swells the quantity of products borne an
nually to the city, and when direct route
to New Orleans Is opened, as it will be
shortly, there Will be through connection
with San Francisco. Direct trade be-
tween Savannah and Europe is among the
probabilities of the near future.
No better field for the investment
the Forest City" as Savannah is
styled by reason Of its beautifully shaded
squares and avenues.
The homes of its wealthier citizens are
models of taste and elegance, and the
dwellings in general are neat and cOnve-
nient. The city is supplied with capa-
ciOus water works, gas works, fire alarm
telegraph, burglar alarm and district tele-
graph, an admirable police force, COM
petent paid steam fire department, street
railways, and is partially, and soon to be,
fully provided with the electric light Its
churches-Episcopal Methodist, Baptist,
Pres byterian, Lutheran and Roman
CathOlic-are spacious and many elegant.
The city has an excellent school system,
besides numerous private institutions.
Savannah is one of the busiest of South
ern cities. The river front for several
miles is occupied by wharves, including
those of the Central and Savannah,
Florida and Western Railway COmpa-
MES, which are immense structures. The
city is resort of SOuth-bound tourists,
the Atlantic Coast Line placing it within
speedy reach of New York and the East,
and the Central railroad WIN the North,
West and Northwest. Three hundred
tourists stop in the city, on an average,
daily, during the height of the season.
The population of the city is
made up of merchants, profess
sional men, planters, store
keepers, mechanics and laborers, the
great majority of the latter being cOlOred.
The activity of the population is surpris-
ing to the tourist, who, on his arrival here,
finds his notions as to the humdrum life
of the South quickly dispelled. Few cities
of the South have surpassed Savannah in
development since the war, and none have
a brighter future.
Augusta, Atlanta. Macon, Columbus,
Rome and Athens are busy manufacture
ing towns, and important distributing
points for rich and thriving sections of
territory.
An industry peculiar to North Geor-
gia is gold mining. The value
of the mines is being made
more apparent from year to year,
and the amount of capital invested in
their development is assuming large di-
OF late years the Increase of
small farms has been conspicuous, and
must tend to the diversifcation of indus
try, and the consequent prosperity of the
State. Farmers are becoming more and
more addicted to raising their home sup
plies of meat, provisions and food for their
cattle, and are fast growing Independent.
AS illustrating the agricultural growth of