Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-14
CHATHAM COUNTY.
Where Immigrants May Find Homes
and Prosper.

and Prosper.
This is the extreme southeast county OF
Georgia. 1t is bounded on the northeast
by the savannah river, which separates 1t
from South Carolina, ON the southeast bY
the Atlantic Ocean, gu the south west by
the Great Ogeeehee river, which separates
1t from Bryan county. Ca, and ON the
northwest by Etfingham county, Ga Tue
county, as defined by the trustees in l74l
as one OF the two counties into which the
province of Georgia was divided, was
called the county OF Savannah and en-
bTaced all that part Of the colony north
OF DarIen. 1t was laid out IN 1855 into
ST. Phillips and Christ Church parishes.
and Christ Church and part OF
ST. Phillips were formed INTO a separate
county and named in honor % the Earl OF
chatham. Tue county Is % miles long
10 miles bread, and contains ABOUT APO
square miles. Almost One-Jnird OF the
area of e county consists OF islands, of
which there are over 40, some Of them be-
ing many square milesiR area. The larger
of tue islands ats SKidAway, WILMINGTON
Great and Little Warsaw, WDitemarsh,
rybee, Queens, and HutchinsOn's op-
posite SaVannah) Most OF these islands
are surrounded by salt water rivers aud
creeks, aud contain very little tilla0le
land, being mostly salt marshes and
swamps. The primo pal island plantations
are on Skid2way. Wilmington, White
marsh, and hutcuins0n's. The county is
inttrsected by the Little Ogeechee river,
AID several other fresh water streams OF
lesser volume.
The surface OF the county is level rarely
Using over forty feet aD0ve the level of
tue sea. The soil OF the bottoms is loamy,
aud consists OF accretluns from The rivers,
while that of the higher land Is sandy.
The fertility OF the l0wlands is remarkable
and there are thousands OF acres wiLh,n
sight Of Savannah that could be reclaimed
at small coat. The higher land is very
productive in some portions of the county,
while in others IL ls poor, but responds
readily TO generous fertilization and Guilt
vau0n.
The forest growth consists OF live oak,
cedar, palmetto tree, scrub aud cabbage) J,
magnolia, water oak, pine and many
species Of lesser Importance. MARSH,
Bermuda ana other grasses flourish and
are very valuable for stock.
The population is approximately $4,000
of which $4,000 is in SAYannan), ABOUT
One-hait being white.
Tae railroads leading from Savannah
through the county are the Central Bail
road, running nOrthw west; the Charleston
and Savannah, north; the Savannah.
Florida aud Western, west; the Coast
Line, to Bonaventure and Thund rbolt;
the skidaway, to Isle or Hope, Montg0m-
cry and Nernonburg.
Excellent shell roads lead to Thunder
bolt via Bonayeuture, to Isle OF Hope,
Montgomery, and White Bluff. Other
main roads are the Ogeechee, Louisville
and Augusta. The Great Ogeeohee river,
about forty miles abOyeits outlet, ls con-
nected with Savannah by the Savannah
and Ogeechee canal, naViKable Tor boats,
RATS, etc.
Among the points OF interest outside OF
Savannah are Tybee beacJ, ort Pulaski
Fort o glethorpe Caustin's Blum, Schuet.
zen Park, BOnaYenture, rhunderbOlt, Isle
OF Hope, Bethesda Whitheid's Orphan
Home), Catholic Miss on on Skidaway Is
land, Beaulieu, Montgomery, Vernon0urg,
aud Jasper Springs.
fhe natural productions of the waters
are FISH, crabs, shrimp. oysters, ETC..
wnien latter are also cultivated to some
extent. The market Is well supplied, aud
ducks aud other game birds are plentiful
ia season. Other products Of the county
are rice, cotton, vegetables, melons, fruits,
flowers, and the soil aud climate are
adapted to the growth OF silk, olives,
peaches, etc. Oranges and bananas can
he raised II trees are protected In winter.
There are extensive rice plantations on
the savannah and Ogeechee rivers which
are very fertile. The rice produced in
the county amounted In 1884 to 2.000, 900
bushels rough, an average Of 40 bushels
per acre,
Very little cotton is grown in the county
rice. vegetables and melons being more
remunerative-but cotton, both long and
short staple, gro rs aud produces well.