The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-07

and beneficial to those living along the
water lines, and although some tigne may
be required to develop the plan, there Is
little doubt that such a route will eventu-
ally be established. These steamer lines
are indeed a factor In Savannahs trade
For instance the Beaufort and Savannah
line alone lay out i'm Savannah an annual
expenditure for COAL labor, etc, q sum
aggregating $4,000.
The Mermaid is q small boat and is
owned and operated by the Oemler Oyster
Company. 1t IS run between Savannah ami
Wilmington Island and does quite an ex-
tensive business. The Macon Navigation
Company now has two steamers, the City
of Macon and the city of Hawklnsville
This line, which formerly ran to Savannah,
operates between Hawkinsville and Bruns-
wick. Railroads have cut off the trade
extensively on this line, still they handle
large quantities of heavy freight and con-
siderable merchandise, as well as some
lumber and naval stores.
Perhaps the principal business through
the steamer lines is done between Savan-
nah and Augusta. All of this trade is
carried on through the Gibson line OF
steamers. This line, consisting of three
vessels, has an aggregate tonnage Of 1000
tons, and round trip Is made once in five
days Going up, these steamers carry heavy
cargoes of merchandise, consisting chiefly
OF groceries, but on the return trip they
carry the products of the Augusta facto-
ries cotton, cotton sweepings, waste ami
naval stores. Trade through the steamer
lines In naval stores is decreasing, this Is
caused by the growing scarcity of pine
trees, and continuous working inland in
thls line OF trade, hence the railroads are
carrying a larger quantity Of naval stores
than usual, while the river lines are fall
ing Off. River traffic between Savannah
and the neighboring towns and Islands is
quite factor and the volume of busi-
ness much larger than most people ordlna-
rily suppose.
There are six regular and active steam
ers or the lines running out of Savannah
not including one or two small steamers
such as the Mermaid. The Gibson line
makes trip up the river once in five
days, and the Beaufort and Savannah
boats make iri-weekly trips down the riv-
er, connecting with The sea.
Aside from these lines which carry ON
regular business with towns contiguous 10
Savannah, the larger vessels have done a
good coastwise business with Eastern and
Northern ports, while exporting has also
averaged satisfactory. There has been an
unusually large number Of tramps in port
and the Indications are that business on
all water lines, ocean and inland, for the
season has been equal to, if not greater.
than the trade for the year preceding with
The opening up Of new business with Cuba
and Porto Rico for the next season. ana
the unusual demand for lumber. fertilizers
and phosphate rock, both as exports and in
Northern markets, the business in the
steamer lines, both inland and ocean. is In
a fair way to book an Increase In trade for
the coming year.
a number.of new steamers are in course
OF construction on waters tributary 10 Sa-
vannah. One of these Is the "William a..
Lee now building at Bluffton for the sea
island trade with Savannah. Two or more
poats are also to be built at Augusta Coz
the up-riYer trade.