Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-01-10
A COLUMN or CLIPPINGS
Savannah the Right Place.

savannah is by all odds the most
logical place for a shipbuilding plan
such as Henry Ford plans to build
plant such as Henry ord plans to build
in the South. Savannah is the great
est port on the South Atlantic; the
greatest cotton port on the Atlantic,
and second largest in America; the
greatest naval stores port in the
world has a population Of one hun
dred thousand, and during the past
year has been selected as the place
where new Factories and plants cost
ing over six million dollars, and en-
ploying thousands of men, have erect
ed. For several years prior to the
war and particularly for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1914, the value
of exports from Savannah exceeded
the total combined value of all ex-
ports from all other Atlantic ports
and but for the abnormal war con-
ditions which vastly increased ship
ments through middle Atlantic ports,
such as Norfolk and Baltimore, and
decreased them in all South Atlantic
ports this would doubtless still be
true today
The above facts have no direct bear
ing on why Savannah is an ideal site
Cor a shipbuilding giant, but are stated
to give some idea of sa7annah's rela-
tive importance as seaport
Savannah is the ideal location for
large ship plant because
1. Savannah possesses the only
fresh water harbor on the South At
tantic. This fact is of vital irnpor-
lance. In salt water harbors tore
does or worms barnacles and other
growths attack and destroy the bot
tom of vessels. Vessels built in Sa-
vannah can float for an indefinite
time at the docks here for rigging
cut, installation of engines, etc. A
striking instance of the dangers of
building ships in salt water ports is
the fact that during the past few
months a vessel was built at a salt
water port near Savannah, launched
and then rugged out with the masts
pnd sails. While being rugged her
bottom was attacked with toredoes,
barnacles, etc. and she was SO badly
damaged after her maiden voyage to
New York she had to be taken out OF
the water and an entire new bottom
put on. Savannah has long been fam
Gus because of the water at her docks
and vessels come in here to tie up
and have their bottoms scraped and
cleaned. The river water is m fat a
preservative of wood Capt Frank
W. Spencer, master pilot of the harbor
OF Savannah, stated that there are
wooden bullheads ana pilings which
have been submerged in the Savannah
river harbor for 80 years and which
are absolutely sound today.
g. Savannah is served by seven
large railway systems-three If which
possess terminal facilities sufficient to
handle more traffic than any port
south Of Baltimore-one of these being
the most modern and finest set Of
terminals in America This fact
means materials necessary for build
ing ships can be brought into savan-
nah easily and in large quantities.
8. Savannah is the largest port
situated within close distance of the
steel and coal mines of Alabama. The
railroads facilities above referred to
give quick and ample access to ma
terias from these mines; also If wood
is needed Savannah is situated in the
heart of the southern pine belt and
adjacent to this city can also be OBJ
tanned quantities of oak timber neces-
sary for the construction of knees in
vessels.
l. Savannah is situated 22.2 miles
from the mouth of the Savannah river
and this river althoug 80 feet deep and
amply broad takes a somewhat twist
cd course from the mouth tn the CITY