Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-20
sAvAxSAns INTERIOR TRADE.

The HawkinsviIIe Navigation Company
and What IL Seeks to Accomplished New
River Connections with savannah
what the Protector of the Enterprise
says About it,
The commercial relations between Sa-
vannah and Hawkinsyile. and the con-
tiuuance Of the Oconee, Ocmulgee and
Altamaha river trade, constitute a ques-
ton Of great Importance TO the cotton
and naval stores interests Of Savannah,
and all classes Of trade with which they
are allied. The MORNING News, some
time ago, referred TO the differences be-
tween the merchants Of HawkinsyIlle
and the East Tennessee, Virginia and
Georgia Railroad. and the movement TO
organize the Hawkinsville Navigation
Company and place a line Of steamers on
the Ocmulgee, Altamaha and OcOnee
rivers running direct to Savannah.
Capt. ". a. Jeter. protector Of the en-
terprise. is in the city. In conversation
with a MORNING News reporter yesteT-
dav. he said that the movement was re-
ceiving substantial encouragement. capt.
Jetar. representing ". a. Jeter Il Co.. Is
the owner Of two steamers, the ''COllville"
and MARY Jeter," plying on the upper
end Of the route between Old Lake and
Hawkinsyille, a distance of $50 miles.
These steamers each have a capacity of
about 200 bales of cotton. and Will be
used on the Hawkinsville end Of the
route. 1t is the purpose Of
the company to secure $4,000
stock among the Savannah mer-
chants TO build a steamer for the lower
end Of the route to ply between Savannah
and towns on the Altamaha, connecting
with the steamers on the other end. ms
$4,000. with the amount invested by
Nessrs. Jeter & CO., will constitute the
capital stock Of the company, amounting
10 $50. 600.
A large cotton compress is now in
course Of erection AT Hawkinsville on the
banks Of the Ocmulgee, and will soon be
ready for business. With the opening Of
the new route cotton will be pressed and
put aboard the steamers and brOughtdlrec
10 Savannah. by this MEANS" said
Capt. Jeter. there is no doubt thai we
can increase our cotton shipments TO 3d.
600 bales annually. In establishing this
line we viii eradicate the movement OF
the East Tennessee. Virginia and GeOr-
gia in taking our cotton and naval
stores TO Northern markets. l at first
thought Of cooperating with the road. but
after locating its position l found il advis-
able 70 change the plan altogether and
adopt an all water route for the prOtec-
tiOn of our market and the enterprise we
are promoting.
Savannah being the natural outlet for
our trade our cotton could not be be ship
ped By the Northern route with that de.
gree Of satisfaction with which 1t could
be shipped to Savannah. as it would re-
quiTe fully two weeks to place it on the
market. The fluctuations in the price
I'd no ~ far NO
to accept the proposition"
when viii the route be opened fol
business:'
s-Just as soon as we can place steamer
on this end TO connect with the steamers
already running from Hawklnsyille. We
shall not wait for the completion of the
new boat. which may say viii be bull
in Savannah, aud viii be ready by the
first Of December, but we snail run {
chartered steamer. / am already negO
tiating with the DeBary-Baya Line"
Another feature" continued Capt
Jeter. will be the development Of the
country on the west side Of the Ocmulgee
which has never been opened up, anC
which is one Of the nGest sections in tn'
state. not alone for cotton and naYa
stores. but for general agricultural pro
/ duets, having magnificent timber forests
which have never been touched. Ihii
section VIII be opened up by running
railroad over an old rOadbed fifty mile
southwark from a place on the Ocmulge'
called Old Bond Trail. This new country
1 may safely say. in four YEAR
time. viii furnish 10000 barrels o
r0sin annually. The enterprise vii
! increase the revenues of Savannah, anC
Will more than double its present Bava
stores trade"
Capt. Seter viii remain in the city to
day and will call upon the merchants fOl
their encouragement Of the enterprise.