Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-20
ALTAAIAHA ITEMS.
Something About Steamboats,, Railroads
and Naval stores Business.

CorresDoqdencs Of tie Horaing Nelcs.
D0CToRrowN, GA, Feb. l9.-In my former
communication 1 promised to advise vour
readers Of any improvements to facilitate
navigation, and report with much pleasure
and satisfaction the successful efforts in this
direction of United states steamer Tocoa.
under command Of Capt. Westerfeld Per
sonal observation, as well as the statements Of
river pilots establish the fact that the once
almost impossible shoals at Pinev and Town
BLUFFS have yielded to dynamite, and fair
channel over these points is now OPEN Mum
bers OF snags and other distractions have
been removed and the boat is still doing rOod
service, but, unfortunately, the appropriaiion
Is about exhausted, and we trust our repre-
seHlatiVes, COls- Nichols and BlOunt, will not
fan 10 urge the very modest sum asked for bv
the Engineer Corps to complete that which
has becn SO happily commenced. This is a
matter beneficial not alone to our own citi-
Zens, but particularly SO TO many of your own
hourshlng and beautiful city.
AleSsrS. y. *. Clarke Il Co.. OF Savannah
do an immense business at English Eddy.
and the thlrty-fOur manufacturers of naval
stores on the banks of the three rivers ara
mainly indebted to the capital Of your enter
prlSlng merchants for carrying on the busi-
ness. tlour!shng country stores are on
almost every bank. whose supplies are drawn
from Your city, via the railroads and river
boats.
Three fine steamers now make connection
Docl0rt0Wn, and stIll another from Cape Fear
river, y. C., VIII be added to our line. One
OF the number Though l by no means dispa-
rage the others | desire espeeiaIIv 10 com
mend To your citizens beng purely Geor-
gldu institution, and admirably adanted to
the trade. She was built at Dublin, Laurens
county, by Capt. Bearne, of Columbus. one OF
tit most competent steamboat designers and
builders IN the state Her frame and tiaibers
are of Georgia white oak, her planking of the
nn5st Georgia yellow pine; machinery
anu Doilers OF latest improved style
manufactured at the Columbus Iron
Works; length, rs feet by y feet beam: ca
paclty, from to 500 barrels naval stores
draws light, but Il inches OF water and con-
sequently can navigate our streams when the
others, by reason OF greater depth. are unable
10 run: Her commander and part owner
Capt. K. l.. Hicks, Is by birth Georgian, a
graduate OF the University of Virginia
strict temperance man. fine dlsciplinarian
and a thorough worker. This boat bears the
name OF the late distinguished and lamented
VIM. NJ. w Wadley.
Mr.. Editor as l look back to wears Num-
bered with the past, the idea forces itself upon
my mind that were IL possible for this great
railroad chleitlan 10 rise from his grave. he
would be tempted to tear his hOnored name
from the pilot house of this steamer for daring
70 convey even one bale of cotton from his be-
loNed central. She was originally intended
I" ply between BUbiln amt the Central Road,
but owing to unrelability of the waters of
tue Oconee and misunderstanding with ofli-
clais OF that road, she was transferred to this
ilNcI' ana unuef the management of her gall
lanI ana genial captain, Is DONG good service.
What a change since the great Wadlev
hYed and ruled. He would now see magnif-
cent through Pullman sleepers crowded with
tourists from the North and West passing
within sight of his last resting place. and
could his vision follow would see them trans
ierred from his great thourOshfare TO long
trans or palace cars on that once dcspsed,
but now cOurted. savannah. Florida and
W esjern, and speeding over steel rails for the
Land Of Flowers at the rate of 40 miles an
hour. Would ne not eXclam: it cannot be
true, It's surely an illusion. lie lived for
his Central, died its chief. and his memory
is enshrlned IN many grateful hearts.
ALTAMAHA.