Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-05
NEW FIELDS OF TRADE.
sAVANNAHs OPPORTUNITY TO
INCREASE HER COMMERCE.

The Development of a New Section
HawkinsviIle, Dissatisfied with Rail
Transportation, to Establish Steamer
Lines and Seek River Connection
with savannah-A Committee to Visit
the City This Week and to Invite Co.
operation.
The continuance Of the commercial re-
latlons BETWEEN Savannah and Hawkins
Vile and the Oconee. Ocmulgee and Alta
maha river trade will be brought before
the business men Of Savannah this week.
The matter is one Of vital Importance, not
alone to the cotton and naval stores inter-
ests, but to all classes of trade with which
these interests are allied. 1t is an ac-
knowledged fact that Savannah has lost
the greater portion of the trade in the sec
ton Of which Hawkinsville is the centre
during the past two seasons through the
refusal Of the railroads TO grant SAUSAGE
tory rates. The question now IS, whether
this trade shall cease altogether or whether
an effort will be made To retain 1t.
The East Tennessee, Virginia and Geor-
gia Railroad is acknowledged to be an
tagOnisIic TO the interests Of Savannah
and Brunswick. and particularly Sayan-
nah. Its effort has been to divert freight
from the legitimate territory OF savannah
and carry il to Norfolk, Richmond and
other points North and West. For in
stance, naval stores are carried to Haw-
kinsyiIle by water from landings
on the Oconee, Ocmulgee and Al
tamaha rivers. The rosin is graded
there and through rates given by
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia
for its hauling TO all points North, East
and West, but in no case Is through
rate given to Savannah or Brunswick.
n = eli aFrsFr auErsaE
from these two ports to which 1t properly
belongs.
HOW THE TROUBLE AROSE.
A merchant Of Hawkinsville recently
made application to the Savannah, Flori-
da and Western Railway for
through rate on cotton to Savannah
stating that if a reasonable rate could
not be secured he and other merchants
would endeayOr to establish steamboat
connection with Savannah, and by that
means secure a rate that would be salts
factory. The reply of the road was that
in view of that fact it could not enter ain
any proposition for cheaper rate; that
its rate from Hawkinsville would be 81
per bale and 35 cents additional for
raising the bale at DOctOrtOwn from the
steamboat to the cars.
This in itself, it is claimed, was Virtu-
ally prOhibitOTy, ami left the mer-
chants and farmers OF that sec
ti0n Of the country to their own re-
sources. A prominent Hawkinsyille
merchant said il looked as though COM
bination had been formed by the East
Tennessee. Virginia and Georgia and the
Savannah, Florida and Western to bar the
ports of Savannah and Brunswick from
the business OF that section.
NEW STEAMER LINE.
The merchants Of Hawkinsyille propose
not to submit to this arbitrary ruling,
but VIII take the matter in their own
hands. They propose running line OF
steamers on the Ocmulgee, OcOnee and
Altamaha rivers between Hawkinsyllle
and this port, providing they can secure
the cooperation of the merchants here In
aiding them to inaugurate the enterprise
in the way of guarantees of freight for
the boats. For this purpose committee
will visit the city this week and lay the
matter before our merchants.
There are now two steamers plying on
the Ocmulgee river between a point called
Old Lake and Hawkinsyille, distance OF
$50 miles. These steamers are controlled
bv the merchants of Hawkins1ille, who
propose TO utilize them in moving freights
as far as DOct0rtOwn. where connection
VIII be- made with a larger steamer and
the freights brought to Savannah. They
have already money sufficient to build
cotton compress on the banks of the 0c-
mulgep. and it is now in course Of cree
ton and will be soon ready for business
By this means the heavy cost of transpOr-
tatiOn to railroads and the water side
Will be saved. The cotton will be pressed
and put aboard the steamers without any
further expense and will be brought direct
to Savannah.
DEVELOPING OUR COUNTRY.
The country back Of the East Tennessee,
Virginia aud Georgia has never been prop
erly opened up, and is i'd to be a garden
spot, one Of the finest sections in the
State. not alone for cotton and naval
stores, but for general agricultural pro-
ducts, having magnificent timber forests
which have never been touched.
now II WILL BE DONE.
The company which the merchants Of
Hawkinsyille propose organizing intend
TO open up this section in conjunction
with the steamer lines, utilizing an old
rOadbed running about 30 miles southwest
from place on the Ocmulgee called Old
Bond Trail. The route was first surveyed
lust before the war broke out. The road
bed was dug out for the purpose OF laying
ties and establishing a road. No ties or
iron, however, were ever lad,
and the war coming on the
project was abandoned. The roadbed
is still said to be fairly we'll preserved,
only a few washOuts having interrupted
the line, which can readily be reclaimed
the entire length. 1t is proposed to CON-
plete this road, which, il is claimed, can
be easily accomplished, the land through
which il runs being owned by one or two
parties interested in the enterprise, thus
opening up the entire section.
There are several other steamers ply
ing on the Ocmulgee, OcOnee and Alta
In NIT
Florida and Western and East Ten
nessee, VIRGINIA and Georgia Railways
at Lumber CITY and DOctOrtown. These
steamers are not owned by the roads, but
are free traders, and have heretofore
transferred their freights for rail ship
ment. 1t is proposed to utilize them IN
the new route. These vessels are of light
draught ana well adapted to the service.
EXCELLENT NAyIGATION.
The navigation of these rivers is very
good, particularly the Ocmulgee.
Last year boats ran with the ex-
ception Of one month throughout
for stopping that month will probably
never occur again. 1t is claimed that
goods shipped by steamer, no matter what
class. whether cotton or naval stores, are
ALWAYS received in much better condition
than when shipped by rail.
HAwKINsvILLE's OPPORTUNITIES.
Hawkinsville receives and ships annu-
ally about $4,000 bales of cotton, besides a
large quantity of naval stores. 1t is well
known fact that its people and the people of
the surrounding section of country prefer
doing business with Savannah in prefer
ence t. any other. port. Tthey say they
want a nearer seabOard outlet than Nor
folk for their products, and with the above
project in view they Will no doubt receive
a substantial encouragement in their ef-
forts to obtain it by the active
cooperation of Savannah mer-
chants who are as much interested
in the successful inauguration of the en-
terprise as are the merchants of Hawkins
vile. The Board Of Trade as we'll as the
Cotton Exchange, it is understood, will
take active steps IN the matter. The
Hawkinsville people say that if the bust
ness Will warrant 1t other steamers Will
be put on the route along with those al
ready running.
THE NEW COTTON CROP.