Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-08

been filled the cotton was piled up In
the streets for quarter OF mile from the
bay, and the harbOr was crowded with
shipping bearing the fags OF all nations.
Money was plentiful, and speculation az
fever heat. The ght on bale of cotton
ranged from $40 to $l5 from any point on
the river, and one steamer actually
cleared 100000 in a single season. Thir.
teen steamboats, and four tugs had con-
slant occupation. When railroad COM
municatiOns were re-established and en-
larged the town dropped and almost
lapsed into ruin. 1t was sad TO note the
deserted stores and dwellings and the
palpable evidences Of decay. But within
the past four years other industries have
sprang into existence and
MARVELLOUS CHANGE
has come over the scene. In little oven
twelve months one hundred buildings
have been erected and there are few, il
any, houses ITO let" Several extensive
saw mills, too, have commenced opera
tions, and the oyster and fishing business
is becoming leading interest. AL this
time two oyster canning establishments
are in full blast, putting no $4,000 cans per
diem, and consuming 1900 bushels Of Oys-
ters in the shell. In addition to this, huns
dreds OF barrels are shipped TO all points
If the country by every steamer, and
many gallons are also opened and sold.
Tue canned oy sters are held in the high
est esteem by tue trade. The process OF
canning may he thus briefly described:
The oysters are hoisted from the decks
OF the smacks lying along side OF the
harVes IN tubs measuring one and hall
! bushels each, costing Doc. per tub. They
are then snow led into boxes holding
| about 90 bushels, and steamed until prOp-
eriy cooked. When he mouths cape open
the boxes are showed into an adjoining
/ uDAI tmnut on "A railway and dfafrthufpd
among swarm OF negroes OF every age
aud sex to be "Opened." This is dong
with wonderful CELEBRITY at a cost OF SC,
! per half gallon, and the oysters are then
washed sailed, and hcrmetically sealed
up ia cans and labeled for market. The
FISHERIES.
also give employment TO a large feet OF
small vessels, and are very lucrative.
A single merchant, A. j. Murat, EN-.
| plOys 80 fishermen and exports every sea-
son 1000 barrels of picked nIullet, besldeg
a multitude OF fresh FISH sent of packed
| in ice.
The lumber business likewise is be-
coming an important factor in the COM
merce OF the town. COOmbs & Co. export
annually l2,O00,000 feet of lumber and
4,O00.OO0 cypress shingles to forei % and
coastwise ports. They employ 300 hands
and own a dry dock Tor the repair Of
| vessels.
Tue Cypress Lumber Company too,
| turn out 40, 600 shingles and 10000 feet Of
! lumber daily, and own besides a large
mercantile establishment.
ID. N Munro. ano her lumber merchant,
loaded 40 vessels during the past season,
and exported 1881 $50 feet OF lumuer.
Their is stu another industry which
| furnishes employment TO many persons
| IN the summer months. when the busy
season IL over. This IL the
SPONGE BUSINESS.
! Numerous small vessels are then en-
| gagged in collecting this curious marine
| production from the adjacent reefs. and
| even extend their researches for several
hundred miles. The article is dried in
The sun, aud commands from 30 cents To
81 per pound.
Messrs II. Ruge g. Sons control the ma.
jOr part Of this trade.
COMMERCE OF THE PORT.
ApalachicOla during the past year had
SO arrivals OF foreign ships and SO depart
ures, besides the coastwise trade which
gives employment to an equal number II
vessels.
Thirty-fve steam and sail bottoms are
owned by her citizens, pad a fleet OF 50
oyster shallOps IN the winter season coma
freighted with 100 bushels or more OF the
| toOthsOme bivalves, each, 10 the wharyes
tains 1900 Inhabitants. chuFches, 1
pubic and 3 private schools. six save
| mills are in tue vicinity. The Collector
OF the Port, Mr.. j. r. Grady, is a native
of the place. aud live merchant and en-.
terprising citizen. Hon. K. g. Baker is
Mayor. 70 show there is life In the old
land YET" it rs only necessary to say that
the business ACES are A. in number, and
some vi the stores would do credit 10 any
city.
The following list speaks for itself
| General merchandise, huge d sons, +. j.
f. bert, Mrs. l.. h. Myers, Porter Il Ora.
dy, q. A. Patton, II. Brash and Frank
Messiua; drugs, Alexander a. Wake.
Geld and Rush 4 Mirler; fancy and
family grOcers, II dman u Moore and
John Cook; box factory and planning
mil. Q. II. Smith; line liquors, Q. II
Marks, W. II. rneobald and X. +. Pickett;
m a. markets, +. ID. Johnson and George
Long, ApalachicOla ice factory; oyster
eanners, Hunt a smith; tin and hard.
ware, j. IL. Lockwood; master steve
dore, Joseph DAILY; lawyers, Messrs.
NJ. @. Hicks aud A. Cason.
Prof X. ellison is the veteran and ac-
compllshed principal OF the city school,
ana Rev. j. Il. CrOwder the excellent pas
| tor Of the Methodist Church.
There are two hotels in the town, the
| Fuller House and Southern Hotel. The
/ writer was the guest OF the latter, and can
honestly recommend IL 10 the patronage
Of the public. Mr.. Cason, the clever pro.
| prietor, is a true gentleman and COURTS
oas host.
UP THE RIVER AGAIN.
After pleasant sOjOurn OF several days
IN this interesting old seaport, your cor
respondent mbarSed on the steamer w.
ID. Ellis, OF the Peoples Line" Capt. w.
A. Randlette commanding, and returned
TO River junction, making connection
with the Savannah, Florida ana Western
railway for Savannah. This boat, the
fastest on the line, was recently impaled
and sunk by snag, but no lives werG
lost, and the Captain acted with such
GOODNESS and gallantry that the company
has since presented him with an elegant
silver tea service. He stuck 10 his boat
until every passenger and member Of the
crew had been saved. and then remained
by the wreck for weeks until IL was raised,
repaired and made seawOrthy once more.
This was his first trip siuce the disaster,
and the peoples Line" are fortunate In
the possession OF Capt. Randlette as one
OF their officers and representatives. Our
exhausted time and space will not admit
OF any mention OF the trip. IL. II. j.
Romance in Real Life.