Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-25

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hereto attach q short synopsis of the popula-
| ton, political power, resources, productions
! and commerce OF the territory you represent.
We also attach, as eminently suggestiVe.
| brief Standardization from government rec
| ords and unquestionably correct-ot the
amount expended by the government, up 70
ana including the year 1881, on the lmPToVsr-
ment of the rivers and harbors OF the North
| Atlantic States, from Maine to Mary ana, IN
| elusive; the four Northwestern states OF
OHIO, Illinois. Wisconsin and Michigan, which
| border on the great lakes; and the south At
| lantic States, from Virginia to Florida, inclu-
| siYe.
RAPID GROWTH OF COMMERCE.
We have thought it best to present the in
| formation by States, instead OF specifying
each port; otherwise the details would De
too great ana the report too veluminons
| These particulars are not important to the
| success of the purposes of this convention,
| We are here to counsel together and unite
! our efforts to secure TO all the South Atlantic
ports that aid from the general government
| which will dt them to meet the demands OF
| the rapid growth and increasing commerce
OF the territory tributary TO them. Each port
| VIII present its own claims TO the appropriate
committee OF Congress, with the hope and as
surance that every other port and Its repre-
sentatives will give them earnest support.
THE soUTH's POPULATION.
You gentlemen represent a population OF
! ll,s2i,000, and have in the United States Con-
! gress 20 Senators and rs Representatives.
| Your territory contains 2s0,Sl7,l0o acres OF
| land. Its annual cotton crop is 3795,9S2 bales;
| its annual lum Der product, 1852, 900 feet;
| its annual rice crop, So $50, $40 pounds; wool
| product per annum, Is, l6s, 722 pounds; tobac-
| co product per annum, Sl0.9l9602 pounds;
naval stores, cash value, $l0,0T5,500; number
| Of manufacturing Embellishments 81, 1871; capt.
| tai invested in them, $3.50 :Ss,l95; value of
| their annual products $2S7.ll0,62S.
The fruits and vegetables which are an
nuallY grown and are increasing in produc-
! ton every year, have become a very impor-
tant item in the trade Of our section; but we
| are unable TO give accurate statistics Of the
| extent or value of these products. The mines
Of iron and coal, and the quarries of granite.
! slate and marble are in the infancy OF their
development, but are taking on gigantic
growth.
IT'S GREAT RESOURCES.
| Their products are now competing success
! fully with the best of the world. Your for
ests are to-day the most valuable IN this or
| any other country OF earth. The value OF
/ these mines, quarries and forests cannot be
gwen IN accurate fgures-to estimate them
even at any approximate valuation would
| seem exaggeration. The food crops which are
enormous and OF great value, we do not emu
| merate-as they are principally consumed at
| homo and do not enter into our estimates OF
| Interstate or foreign commerce to any great
| extent. Your railways completed and in &C
| tual operation, extend 1887 miles, and have
| invested in them the sum of $S5S, 1858 900. Our
| ports are also connected by railroads ext nd
| ing beyond our territorial limits with the
great provision marts of the West.
When their lakes are frozen and the rail-
| way lines of the higher latitudes are block
AIDED by snow storms, we can afford them
| uninterrupted transportation to the sea and
access to their customers in Europe.
FACILITIES FOR TRADE.
Our trade with them would be greatly in
| creased to their advantage, and ours If our
harbors had the NJ cessary improvements.
Many Of your products are such as no other
country can grow or compete with You IN
| quality and cost of production. They attract
the attention of the traders Of the civilized
| world, and are exchanged for the best money
of its best markets. Your own ports are the
natural outlets and depots for your own pro-
| auctions, and the commodities of other coun-
/ tries which we need are received in exchange
for them. Your tonnage, foreign and domes-
| tic, for the past year amounted TO 2.3ll, 42t
| tons The exhibits of commercial prosperity
which they make are encouraging and graft
! flying. Steamships and sailing vessels ply be-
tween them and all the leading ports of the
ports of the European nations.
THE WORK OF IMPROVEMENT.
Our South Atlantic ports have had for some
years past appropriations from the govern.
ment for their Improvement, and considera-
BILE benefit has resulted therefrom. The of
ficers of the United States army who have haC
these improvements In charge have mani
tested great interest in the work, and hav'
discharged their duties rs efficiently as tbs
limited appropriations would permit. II tbs
funds were provided to carry out their PLAN
and specifications. the work would be speedi
ly and thoroughly accomplished. The amounts
voted have been inadequate, ana the cessa
ton of work for the lack of appropriation
has greatly retarded its progress and in
creased the ultimate cost.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE.
A careful examination OF the records show
that the North Atlantic States. Maine t,
Maryland inclusive, have received fer appro
priatous for rivers and harbors up to and in
GLIDING the year 1881 the sum of $24, 10 500; thu
four States, Ohio. Wisconsin, Illinois anC
Michigan, slS,4Sl 0GO; the South Atlanta
States, Virginia to Florida inclusive, 81, 26s, 900
We do not complain at the liberal aid which
these highly favored and prosperous State
have received. We rejoice at the great pros
perity, wealth and increase OF population
which they enjoy as results of this wise AM
generous treatment they have received from
the government.
We do not believe the government is indif
ferent or inimical to u, and to our interests
Proper efforts will attain for us the recogni
ton and aid given to other sections. Gu
lack of success will simply be reproach to us
THE ST. JOHNS BAR IMPROVEMENT.
The Jacksonville Board Of Trade placed
before the convention a circular and sta
tistical report, giving a full account o
the work done on the st. Johns bar i'm
provement. 1t shows that the sum o
57,476 % was expended by the govern
ment for the ten years following the lat,
war in dredging. Capt. j. B. Eads inspect
ed this bar March 20, 1878, an(
gave 1t as his opinion that a perma
nent channel OF at least 90 fee
In depth at average food tide coulC
be secured by iettles at total cost o
, $1,717,050. Gen. Q. A. Gilmore, OF tht
United States engineer corps, also ex
amined the bar, and said he believed
permanent channel OF 16 feet could b,
obtained by jetties at cost of 81, 425, 900
From the year 1880 to 1884 the appro
priatiOn asked for at various times aggre
gated $4,000. 900, and the amount obtained
was only $525,000. Had the amounts
asked for been appropriated to THU
! work, there is every indication tina
3. our bar would now have twenty fee
Of water on 1t instead OF thirteen
. The results already achieved from
, the meagre expenditures are encourag
Ing, as the channel across the bar ha
G been deepened from an average of 10 fee
, in June, 1884, when the effect OF the jettie
first began to make itself felt to an aver
, age OF IL feet, the present depth. Their
is less shifting OF the channel than for
!. rerly. The jetty channel has fully estat
lshed itself, and has attained dept
nearly equal TO that OF the main channel
At 2:l5 p. m. the convention adjourne
until p. m.
THE CLOSING SESSION.
e The convention was rather late in a.
sembling last night. The fact that tn
: proceedings during the day had been s
harmonious led the delegates to believ
NTH n full Iaax 1t 49, 4 4.