Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-08
THE EASTERN WHARVES.
DEVELOPING THE PROPERTY
BELOW THE CITY.

editions Being Made to the NharFes OF
the Savannah, Florida and Western
RaiIwey-New Warehouses for the Re
ception of Freights-A General System
of improvements.
To one who does not frequently visit
the eastern wharf front Of the city the
vast improvements that have been made
IN that section are surprising. They
show that the needs of the port are fully
appreciated and met. There is a solid
wharf front running from the basin or
slip east of the Tyler Cotton Press
up to the Savannah, Florida and Western
Railway COmpany's wharves. A year or so
ago this locality was partly submerged
with water. and there were 10 wharNes
lining this immense stretch Of river 'front.' ,
but during the past year il has been nlled
in with earth, lined with piling and COW
cred with sheds, affOrding magnificent
mOOring accommodations for a very large
number of vessels. Even the basin is not
allowed as frequently to lay idle, but
is fully utilized. The cargo
of the Italian bark Idea, which put into
this port sometime ago in distress with a
cargo of timber from Pensacola, is now
lying in the basin, having beer discharged
there so that the bark can go in the dry
dock for repairs, when she Will return
and reload the cargo.
Below the basin is the line new brick
and metal warehouse for cotton, in close
proximity to the wharf re-
Gently built by Messrs. W.
w. Gordon & Co.. and connected with
track from the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway running alongside,
which facilitates the unloading OF cars
with cotton or other freight upon the plat
form Of the warehouse, into which ii can
be trucked or put aboard the ships at the
dock in front.
East of this is Gordon's wharf and ma
val stores yard, which is complete for the
handling of naval stores both by lighter
and in the yard. The wharf is built over
new and cOmmOdiOus sheds for the hOus-
ing of turpentine.
Then come the immense wharves of
the Savannah, Florida and Western Rail-
way stretching over a space Of wharf
front fully $500 feet. The two guano
pany, new bridge connecting both plat
forms, cover large space. I'M
mense spars so feet high are
built and used as hosting derricks
for the loading and unloading of vessels
at the docks. The guano is taken from
the vessel in bulk and is carried over the
bridges and runs into the warehouses,
where IL - put up III cdChbs ne ucAt
building on the wharf IS the naval stores
yard, the first being the immense turpen-
tine sheds, east of which are the immense
runs of TOsin covering the entire space.
A new enterprise is also noticeable here.
The Savannah, Florida and Western Rail
way has dispensed with the naval stores
yard, which was formerly inclOsed near the
depot in what was called the upper yard.
All the stuff now goes to this wharf, and
that which formerly went to the Augusta
steamers wharVes, and in fact ali the
naval stores coming into the city, 90 TO
GOrdOn's wharf and to the Savannah,
Florida and Western Railway wharves,
and for this purpose the railway
company has increased its space,
and has now ample room for all the naval
stores arriving in the city. This facili-
tates the handling Of the shipments that
60 coastwise By steamer, and which are
usually lightered, thereby doing away
with the slow process OF drayage. Tie
foreign shipments, which usually 90 by
sailing vessels, are filled up at the wharf
East of this still comes the lumber
and timber WharVes, where there are a
number OF sailing vessels loading for
both foreign and cOastwise ports. The
whole space back of the wharf front aud
the warehouses is one network Of rail-
ways, where trains are continually arriv-
ing and discharging their freights and
taking on guano for the interior. At the
further end of this wharf can be heard
the clatter of the hammers and saws OF
the ffty-hYe Workmen engaged in build
ing the new and powerful dredge for the
river and harbOr service.