St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-02-21
In the Sunny South.
A CaIedouian Representative Writes
Intere.tingIy Of His Trip 10 SaVannah.

g the ship is headed IS stu days away tn'
e yovager often feels that be has lost bi:
hold on the past and failed to SECURE
another on the future. The coastwis'
!, traveller, however, has the advantage
: over the transatlantic voyager in that
be seldom loses sight of land and only
for brief periods, and therefore feels
constantly in touch, as be is in sight oil
solid earth. In making a trip from
Boston to Savannah one could hardly
find more ideal, or more direct route
than that offered by the steamship lines.
We left Boston on clear, bright after.
noon, on one of the Merchants and
Miners Transportation Co.'s elegant
steamers. All the boats belonging to
this company are notable examples OF
goth century architecture, having been
built with the idea oisecuring the utmost
safety, comfort and convenience Of their
passengers. Over three hundred feet in
length and forty feet wide they combine
every steamship advantage. The state
rooms are coy, though sufficiently large,
and their windows, as well as those of
the main saloon ard social hall, admit
ample light and present a beautiful
panorama of sea, shore aud sky as the
vessel speeds along.
Our first stop was at Norfolk and few
northerners realize the vast importance
OF this city. 1t is the chief commercial
city OF Virginia, and one of the most i'm
portant cities of the United States. His
tory does not give US the exact date OF
the first settlement at Norfolk, but it is
known that Sir Walter Raleigh was
most favorably impressed with the
locality and carried glowing reports
home to England, and that it was one Of
the early settlements in Virginia. Nor.
folk was incorporated as townin 1905,
and chartered as city in 1915. Since
the latter date it has advanced rapidly,
and today claims a population very
close to 100000. In commercial sense
no finer location could be asked for.
| Situated on the Elizabeth river, it is the
terminus of the Albermarle, Chesapeake
and Dismal Swamp canals, and has
many important railway lines reaching
it. But it is as distributing point that
Norfolk attains its chief importance. 1t
is situated just half way between Maine
and Florida, and has barbor that is
accessible the whole year round. Within
a mile are located the depots and
wharves OF all the transportation CON-
panies. They are all connected with one
another on both sides of the river by rail
and water thus greatly aiding the trans
fer and shipment of goods. Steamers
may thus go to any of the wharves and
discharge their cargoes directly into the
cars or other steamers for distribution to
almost any point in the country. 1t is
readily seen that from no other point is
it possible to distribute goods so quickly
and over so great an area as can be done
at Norfolk. These facts have made her
the largest lumber port in the south, and
it is safe to say, the largest coaling sta
ton in the world.
Norfolk is rich in historic interest. II
has many fine buildings, and one beauti
ful landmark of colonial days, St. Paul:
church, built in 1889, the bricks being
imported from England. This venerable
building, so quantity beautiful in its
architecture has stood through trials o
war and fire, and forms a link in tn,
broken chain connecting the old colona
times with the present era.
We spent a couple of hours at Ole
Point Comfort, which is one OF the most
celebrated resorts in America. In wal
time it was famous as possessing one o
the strongest forts in the land, and it i.
hardly less famed in peace as fortress O
health. This resort was so named by
the first settlers from the fact that in
Dor and shelter.
From Old Point Comfort we took tn,
ferry over to Newport News. This city
claims the distinction OF having the larg
est dry dock in the world, accommodate.
ing three ocean liners at zone time; also
the inception of one Of the largest naval
construction plants on record. Newport
News and surroundings are unlimited in
attractions, and what interested me
greatly was small cemetery on the
sunny slope of hill, a short distance
from the city, where sleep our confederate
dead. Looking at these graves we realiz;
as never before that only the right car
be victorious, but we feel a sense of pity
for those who sleep below, and we also
say May they rest in peace" sung to by
birds and breezes until the call comes tc
parade before their Great Commander.
En- route from Norfolk we passed
Hampton Roads. 1t was on these
waters that occurred that great naval
engagement between the Merrimac and
Monitor.
1t is beautiful ride up the Savannah
river to the city of Savannah, which is
Is miles from the ocean. The city has a
population OF about 10000, has broad
streets with many acres OF lovely parks
and is one oft principal cotton mar.
kets in the south. 1t is rich in historic
memories, has a number of interesting
monuments, the Tefoir Academy of Arts
and Science, and many beautiful resorts.
The climate OF Georgia, while not
absolutely perfect, is so evenly tempered
as to be enjoyed the greater part of the
year. The beauty OF region, located