The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-01

Portrayal of the Fair and Strong
City-Feetures of Power, Details of
Progress, Charms of Beauty, and
Tokens of Greatness.
BY COL. I. W. AVERY.
Baltimore Manufacturers Record Proofs.
Translation IN German By ATnO KnOrr.
The beauty Of Savannah strikes every one
that visits it, and it owes that loveliness
largely to the original plan Of the place,
fashioned by the founder, Gen. Oglethorpe
Its wealth of foliage. reposeful seclusion,
and sylvan flavor, and aspect, blended with
its commercial convenience and business
compactness, attract and charm all So
journers.
Its exquisite squares were originally in
tended as soldierly precaution for gather
ing together in defense against the brutal
incursions OF the savages that lived around
in the native wilds. They have become
sweet and unique breathing places for the
myriads Of young children, and are the
healthful lungs of the delightful city. And
adorned with statues, monuments, fount-
aims and great forest trees, Rraced by
mingled magnolias, japonicss and tropical
growths like the catalpa and banana, they
are veritable GASES Of comfort and homeli-
ness.
Savannah has a cultured population of
over $4,000. 1t covers 4, 900 acres valued at
over $40 100000, with a commerce of Sl25,-
100000. 1t has of streets 106 miles; public
parks, 65 acres; street electric railways, Is
miles, and wharves, those symbols and agen-
cies Of trade 5 miles.
Savannah is the head of ship navigation
on the Savannah river, IS miles from the
sea, on a plateau so feet above the level OF
the ocean, 1t is little over So of north
latitude, and the gulf stream from the
tropics runs by little to the eastward,
while It's nearly TO- Of temperature marks
the extreme north Of the tropics.
The city is nearly square and the streets
are alternately broad and narrow and run
at right angles across each other. The lanes
come regularly between the wide streets and
bear the name of the street north of them.
The outskirts are planned differently.
The trade thoroughfare is Bay street, and
along its sides are the mercantile houses
commission firms aud cotton, naval stores
and lumber concerns that dominate her
large commerce and give to her the trade
repute she has. On this antique street,
picturesquely following the crest of the
bluff, right upon the rivers bank, we find
the custom house, exchange, cotton ex-
change, Board of Trade building, Quicken
heimer's stately grocery house and the hand.
some wholesale cotton and other places of
trade.
On Congress and Broughton streets the
retail stores do congregate with an oc~
casional wholesale house sand wiched in.
Bull street is the fashionable promenade,
starting from the exchange on Bay street
and running straight out to the parade
ground, and through the park TO the south
ern city limits and the White Bluff shell
road. Bull street, named after Col. Will
lam Bull, who aided Oglethorpe in laying
out the city, goes through five squares. in
four OF which are monuments,
to Gen.. Greene, Col. Gordon,
Sergt. Jasper and Count Pulaski.
The residences of this street are many of
them handsome, while stately churches line
reverently the squares. the Chatham Artil-
lery and Hussars ermories adorn it; Chat
ham academy intellectually rears its front,
facing the lofty Presbyterian church, while
farther on. where the barracks so long stood,
the splendid De Soto hotel enraptures the
northern millionaires, occupying the entire
square, and princely pattern of a modern
bostelry.
South Broad and Liberty streets cross
Bull at right angles, are wide, lined with
fine dwellings,, and, with their two rows Of
lofty trees, inclosing between at it's fu
length a broad green sward, they are ideal
streets, beautiful and with q certain aristo-
cratic aspect.
Forsyth park with ten acres, on
which borders the 2O-acre parade
beauty, with It's bordered walks amid
towering pines. the typical tree of the
! south, aud water oaks, and in the center Is
an imperial fountain embowered In flowers.
| There is no lovelier place in the world than
this park in the spring radiant in green
and blooms, odorous with fragrance, the
swards and foliage living poesy and the
fountain spray a sweet sort of dreamy
romance.
One of the chief charms of this fifty called
Forest city, is its luxuriarce of antique
marks. One meets them everywhere. All
kinds of quaint old symbols, and things
gladden. the eye, and vary the modern uni
! formity. The ancient vesdges are delight
full to the lover of the bygone times and
give relish to the dear old place, so his
toric, yet progressive, that no glitter can
| ever substitute