Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-14
The STATE OF GEORGIA.
SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES 1T
OFFERS TO lAGSuGRANTS.

S0tt, Productions, Climate and hea tns
Laws and Institutions, People, Etc, Z
Etc, Etc.
To Georgia has been given the distnc-
tive honor of being called ''The Empire
State OF the SOUTH" and to this honor she
is justly entitled, While she may be
surpassed by some of her sister Southern
States in expanse of territory and popula-
ton, there is not one that can compete
with her in the combined advantages of
her commercial situation, her variety OF
soil and productions, her salubrity OF
climate the liberalitY of her institutions,
and the refinement and hospitality OF her
people
COMMERCIAL POSITION.
Georgia forms the keystone OF the grand
arch composed OF the Atlanuc ana gun
States. Situated in the lower halt oil the
temperate zone, her rivers and barDors
are never blocked by ice, and her railroads
and highways are never obstructed Dy
snow. The natural advantages OF Georgia |
from a commercial point OF view are sup !
plendented and almost infinitely increased |
by(rhe excellence Of her railroad systems, |
which place her ports and principal IN
terior business points IN easy ana RAPID
communication with the American |
metropolis and with the states of the
North and West and Southwest. Steamship |
lines connect Savannah, her principal
port and the principal commercial city
Of the Southwest, with New York, Phila- |
delphia. Boston and Baltimore, while her
products and the products of other States
which seek market through her are sent
by steam and sail vessels direct to almost
every port in the civilized world.
Bordering on the Atlantic Ocean from
the Savannah river TO the St. Mary's riY-
err. distance, as the crow flies, of about
100 miles, a magnificent system OF sounds
and inlets gives her a coast line of nearly
500 miles, Along this line are found sew
eral very superior land-lOcked harbors, of
easy access. and the inland water route, !
protected from the storms and waves of
the ocean by the outlying islands, forms |
not only a most excellent channel OF COM |
munication with South Carolina and
Florida, but between the cities and towns
along our own coast.
Connected with this inland route at
their outlets are navigable rivers-the |
Savannah. on which boats run as far up |
as Augusta: the Great 0geechee. princi- |
pally rafting stream, which is also con |
nected with Savannah by canal; the AL |
tamaha, which is formed by the union OF |
the OcOnee and Ocmulgee, which together |
afford about S0a miles Of navigable water; |
the Satilla and the st. MarV's.
The topography and soil of Georgia are
varied. The low islands of the coast as
well as the plains on the
to 80 miles inland, are principally level
and bordered IN many places ON the salt
and fresh water streams by marshes which
are under water at nigh tide. The eleva-
tiOn above the sea is from 10 10 20 feet.
The soil is an alluvial sandy loan, COW
cred with muck in low places. A large
part of the land is very fertile, while
there are many barrens. The arboreal
growth OF the coast belt consists Of pine,
cedar, live oak, water OAK, magnolia,
palmetto, etc. Tue creeks and inlets
abound in fish and oysters, while bears,
deer, raccoons, foxes, wild turkeys and
many other kinds of game and towl ar,
found to delight the sportsman or con-
tribute to the sustenance OF the people.
About 20 miles from the coast tue sur
face becomes elevated to a mean height
OF nearly 100 feet above the sea. About
20 miles further inland is another rise-it
may be 81 nd terrace-whrn the mean
elevation is about 100 feet Then here IS
q gradual rise for about 100 miles over
the latest tertiary, sandy and clayey
formation, the surface being either almost
level or gently rolling until the ancient
line OF coast Is reached, where the eleva-
tiOn is over 500 feet above the sea. This
slope contains the great lOng-leaf yellow
pine forests OF Georgia. After
this comes the rolling clays
and IimestOnes of Middle &c r.
gia, with the alternating aud rotating
forest growth of black oak and short leaf
yellow pine, interspersed with nearly all
the timhers common to he temperate
zone. The su lace continues TO rise until
the dividing ridge between the waters
that flow into the Atlantic and Gulf
.a.Na l. rl.s.
about 1000 feet above the sea. Here.
about $50 miles from the coast, b giu the
delightful mountains and valleys of North
Geurg a. VIII re the surface varies from
sou t., 1000 feet above the sea, some of the
mountains rising TO height Of over 1000
feet.
PRODUCTIONS.
On the sea islands and ia the coast tier
of counties the cultivation OF long staple
cotton VAS almost entirely abandoned
after the war on account Of the democrat
lied conditton If the aboring class. The
lands are peculiarly adapted t. tle growth
of this staple, and many plantations
now given over 10 bushes ana weeds
IN proper hands could be made To
smile as Ia days of ore, and they can be
bought At nominal prices. The rice planti-
tions on the rivers are still kept up To
something Ike the old standard. The
soil and climate of the coast c0un-
ties are well suited 10 the growth
Of small fruits and vegetables. Hundreds
Of profitable truck farms are now under
cultivation. Sugar cane, lnaian corn,
sorghum, durra, oats, barley and MANY oi
the grasses flourish here. Tue
soil and climate are exceeding
ly favorable 10 the production /
0fmelOns, hundreds OF thousands Of which
are shipped North every year. sweet and
Irish potatoes grow 10 perfection. Among
the fruits, peaches, pears, plums, tigs,
p0megranates, apples and cherries do
we'll with little attention. Oranges, ba-
nanas, olives ana lemons, etc.
may be grown il the trees
are protected during the coolest
weather in winter. they do not need
protection for more than 10 20 30 davs
the mulberry anu Usage orange II iurish
here. and SILK can be produced with ease.
Large quantities Of SIX were shipped
from Savannah for nearly 30 years pre-
ceding the Revolu iOnary war. and the e
are now a few silk growers in this Vi
entity. The tea plant grows "a well here
as in its native country, aud excellent
tea Is produced yearly Tor home cOnsump-
ti0n by several persons 10 .outAefn G OF.
gia. Indigo arI tOiaccp were produced
~ considurahlc quantities. ia the sold
colony days"