1 F [S2C3 HVHNNHH, %^R. Class ^^^^ Book O 2- Osi* ts::k! oiT'y OF SAVANNAH. GEORGIA ITS ADVANTAGES, RESOURCES, AND BUSINESS FACILITIES, Si^AT^ztTisr^^H:, nvcT^i^oii isss SAVANNAH- THE MORNING NEWS PRINT 1895. f nf\' 'h 'V o N? o Page. Savannah o The Hakbor 8 Shipping 11 Transportation 12 Cotton 14 Naval Stores 17 Timber and Lumber 18 Truck Farming 21 Rice ....27 Manufactures 28 Banking and Finance 30 Real Estate 32 Jobbing Trade 34 SAVANNAH. SaA'annah has a population of about 55,000. It covers an area of 4,000 acres, and has a property valuation of $40,000,000, and a com- merce of $120,000,000. The city has 110 miles of streets, 65 acres of public parks, 30 miles of street railvv^ay, and 5 miles of wharves. Geographically it is at the head of ship navigation on the Savannah river, 18 miles from the ocean, on a plateau 50 feet above the level of the sea. It is in 32 degrees and some minutes North latitude and is near the isothermal line of 70 degrees temperature which marks the northern limit of the tropics. The average temperature is 66 de- grees, approximating that of Bermuda, Gibraltar, Spain; Palermo, Sicily; Shanghai, China, and Sydney, Australia. It has held a prominent place among the seaport cities of America on account of its commercial importance, because of its being the chief naval stores port of the world, and the third largest cotton port of America. It is the headquarters of five lines of ocean steam- ships, four lines of river steamers, and of the two great railway systems of the South— the Central and Plant systems— and is on two trunk lines North and South. It is delightfully situated as a resi- y dence town. No other American city has such wealth of foliage, such charming seclusion and such sylvan perfection, so united with all the convenience and compactness of a great commercial city. Its parks and squares are adorned with statues, fountains and mounds, gigantic oaks and magnolias, with here and there catalpas and banana trees. Among the flowers the most beautiful are the rose and the camelia japonica, which bloom luxuriantly in mid- winter in the open air. But its natural beauty is not all that Savannah boasts. Its archi- tecture is varied and striking; much of it in the quaint fashion of by- gone days, but with those characteristics that the art of the present (lay is eager to counterfeit. It is rich in historic memories; its schools are unsurpassed; its society is cultured; art is patronized, and all the influences exist which make a city attractive. All classes of society are found as in other States, and the question of nativity, antecedents and political or religious views create as few distinctions as can probably be found in any community in the world. The stranger is welcomed and the new-comer finds friendly neighbors around him. SCHOOL SYSTEM. Every man who has a proper regard for the welfare of his poster- ity in selecting a home for himself and family will be influenced, in 6 \ City of Savannah. a large measure, by the facilities which it offers for the education of his children. In this respect Savannah and the surrounding coun- try present peculiai" advantages, superior in all respects to those of the other localities in the South. The common schools of Georgia form, by far, the most interesting feature of her educational system. The State appropriates liberally for the support of her free schools, and the amount is supplemented each year by local, city and county appropriations to between $150,000 and $175,000. The common school organization extends to every county in the State and includes every district where the pop- ulation is sufficient to admit of a school. Chatham county appro- priates, in addition to the State appropriation, from $70,000 to $80,000 for the support of its schools. THE CLIMATE OF SAVANNAH. The average annual temperature of Savannah is 66 degrees; ap- proximating the temperature of Bermuda, which is 68 degrees; Gi- braltar, Spain, 64 degrees; Palermo, Sicily, 66 degrees; Shanghai, China, 66 degrees; Montevideo, South America, 66 degrees; Cape Town, Africa, 66 degrees, and Sydney, Australia, 65 degrees. It is sel- dom that the temperature exceeds 85 degrees in May, 90 degrees in June and 92 degrees in August, although on rare occasions the mer- cury has gone higher. The highest temperature on record for Savan- nah is 105 degrees. The lowest temperature known is 12 degrees. The weather is usually clear, the average number of cloudy days during the year being 99. The Summer comprehends more than one-half of the year; it begins in May and may be said not to end before No- vember. A remarkable feature of the climate of Savannah, how- ever, is the cool nights, produced by the ocean breezes, which arise in the late afternoon. It is seldom that a hot night is experienced. The temperature is equable; from Febiniary to December it ranges from 70 degrees to 92 degrees, and this variation of 22 degrees is sel- dom sudden, but rather easy and gradual. The following table of the highest, lowest and average tempera- ture, and the rainfall of Savannah is compiled from the records of the U. S. Weather Bureau and covers a period of twenty-three years : Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Ave. Tem...5P 54° 59° 66° 74° 80° 81° 80° 76° 67° 58° 52° Hg'st Tem..80° 81° 87° 89° 98° J 00'^ 105° 100° 96° 92° 83° 80° Lw'tTem...12° 19° 27° 33° 48° 50° 65° 63° 48° 37° 22° 15° Rain (in.). ..3.75 3.13 3.97 4.27 2.91 7.16 5.2i S.04 5.42 8.54 2.31 3.34 Average Rain Temperature, (in inches.) (December ) January \ 52° 10.22 February J (March ) April }■ 66° 11.15 May ) City of Savannah. 7 Average Rain Temperature, (in inches.) (June ) Summer -^ July ^ 81° 20.43 (August J (September ) Autumn ] October \ 67° 11.27 (November ) Annual 66° 53.07 HEALTH AND SANITATION. The health record of the city of Savannah for the past ten years is a part of the history of the city, and shows to advantage. The au- thorities have each year made liberal appropriations for preserving the city's health, and Savannah to-day is in the front rank of the sea-coast towns, from a sanitary standpoint. With hundreds of ves- sels coming annually from West India and South American ports, her quarantine system has enforced their being put in a good sani- tary condition before they are admitted to the city, and, by fhis method, a commercial intercourse with those countries has been fos- tered, and, at the same time, the city has protected itself against epidemic diseases. The plant for disinfecting purposes is the latest improvement in Maritime Sanitation. Savannah's supply of water is entirely from artesian wells, and it may be interesting to know that Cholera, which has threatened this country for two years, could not have gained ground in Savannah, as it would have been impos- sible to have contaminated the water supply. Garbage is disposed of by cremation, the proper disposition of waste matter, and an inspec- tion of the city will show that there is constant care in sanitary affairs. The safe-guards the city authorities put around their people are worthy of attention. In 1877, by a special bill, the Legislature of the State appropriated a part of the county taxes for the drainage of the low lands around the city. In one year $38,000 was expended for this purpose, and since then the County Commissioners have continued the work, and reclaimed thousands of acres, thereby ac- complishing a double benefit— wonderfully improving the health of the city and opening up the richest kind of land for truck farms. The various types of fever, which used to be the dread of the inhabitants, has been reduced to a minimum. The comparative death rate of the city will show just how much improvement has been made in its health: Total Population. Deaths. Annual ratio Total. per 1,000. Whites. Colored. 1,176 32. 59. 1,147 27. 43. 1,200 17. 32. 1,179 14.75 31.91 / A f \ Whites. Colored. Whites. Co'ored. 1873.. . 15,000 13,000 505 771 1883.. . 18,000 15,000 488 659 1893.. . 27,000 23,000 450 750 1894.. . 28,000 24,000 413 766 City of Savannah. THE HARBOR. It was not until 1873 that the United States resumed work upon the improvement of Savannah Harbor, and since that time, up to 1890, the work progressed in a desultory and unsatisfactory manner, in consequence of irregular and inadequate appropriations. In the latter yeai* Congress showed some appreciation of the value of the work to the country at large by appropriating $350,000, and in 1892 authorized the work to be carried on under the continuous contract system. This action has made it possible to look forw'ard with cer- tainty to the early completion of the work and the attainment of a draft of 2G feet of water — the depth aimed at in the project of Capt. O. M. Carter, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, the officer who has been in charge during the past ten years. Since this project was adopted the following appropriations have been made for the work: By act of Congress of— August 11, 1888 (unexpended balance) $ 4,035.05 September 19, 1890 350,000.00 July 13, 1892 318,750.00 March 3, 1893 1,000,000.00 August 18, 1894 975,000.00 March 2, 1895 856,250.00 Total .$3,504,035.05 All of the above amount has been expended or is covered by ex- isting contracts. The jetty work is practically completed, and the dredging is being pushed as rapidly as possible. There is now a depth of mean high water of 24 feet, and the desired depth of 20 feet will shortly be obtained. In 1872 the exports and imports of Savannah by water amounted to $72,358,000, and in 1892 to more than $150,000,000, this great in- crease being wholly attributable to the increasing depths obtained by the harbor improvement work. In 1874, when the United States Engineer Department resumed charge of the improvement, after an interruption of many years, the usual high-water draft of vessels to and from the city Avas about 141/4 feet. The improvements up to <'[TY OF Savannah. 9 date have resulted in securing a navigable channel of full 23 feet deep at mean high tide from the city to the sea. In October, 1893, the water-logged schooner Martha A. Holmes, drawing fully 23 feet, was picked up at sea a derelict, and was towed from the mouth of the river to the city wharves on a single tide. The following is a partial list of vessels arriving at and clearing from Savannah during the past few months, di-awing 21 feet or more: — Name. Draft. Name. Ss. Broomhaugh.. {Ship Ida Barlv Aljaca Ss. Drefiiekl Ship Thos. Perry Bark Maria 22 Feet. 21 21 22 22 22 Inches 6 |Ss. Wastwater 8 jBark B. D. Metcalf. ... Bark Caroline ... [Ship Palmas 5 iSs. Darwin ... Ss. Boston City Draft. ^eet. Inches 21 6 22 22 21 10 22 2 21 9 The harbor of Savannah affords at present an anchorage of nearly 1,900 acres, which will be increased to about 2,350 acres when the improvements now being carried on are completed. But what is demanded of a commercial port is not a large area for anchorage alone, but abundant dock facilities with convenient approaches. These Savannah possesses in au eminent degree, and the construc- tion of docks at private and corporate expense will keep pace with the increasing demands of commerce. Savannah has now more than five miles of wharves, with more than twice that length of water front available, which will be largely developed when the 26 feet of water aimed at in the present project of improvement is obtained. During 1894 there were regular packet steamers, ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 tons register each, plying between Savannah and northern coastwise ports. These steamers make 36 arrivals and the same number of departures each month, and every foot of increased depth in the river will allow each one of these vessels to carry on an average 200 tons more freight on each trip, allowing the freight rate to be gradually decreased, the money thus expended by the Government finding its way into the pockets of the producers and the consumers, who are to be found in every state and territory in the Union. The engineer in charge of the harbor work estimates that such increased facilities for navigation as have been offered by the improvements already executed have resulted in an annual sav- ing of freights alone, of more than the total amount of money ex- pended by the United Stiites upon the harbor. Every dollar ex- pended in the further improvement of the harbor will yield a stiU more valuable return 10 City of Savannah. VOYAGES OF STEAMSHIP LINES. 1892. Lines. Oceau Steamship Co New England & Savan- nah Steamship Co Merchants' & INIiners Transportation Co Ocean Steamship Co...., Total Savannah to New York. Boston. Baltimore. Philadelphia. steamers. 7 2 4 2 15 Serv ice. 4 times per week. REPORT OF ARRIVALS AND CLEARANCES AT THE PORT OF SAVANNAH, 1873 to 1894. Year. 1873. 1877. 1882. 1887. 1892. 1893. Arrived. Tonnage. 710 674 606 669 813 782 517,051 589,021 666,374 676,096 955,208 926,240 Cleared lOO 626 582 653 813 758 Tonnage. 557,316 587,541 650,743 683,364 950,552 909,120 Total Tonnage. 1,074,367 1,276,562 1,317,117 1,359,460 1,905,760 1,835,360 The foregoing table shows the increase in tonnage from 1873 to 1898. As the depth of water in the river continued to increase, the small sailing vessels of limited draught and capacity gave way to vessels of larger cari-ying capacity and greater draught, thus afford- ing cheaper rates of freight. Twenty years ago the vessels frequent- ing this part drew about 14 feet of water; to-day steamships of ca- pacities vaiTing from 2,000 to 5,000 tons, and drawing from 18 to 22 feet of watei", carry most of the commei-ce of this port. The completion of the plans of the United States Engineer De- partment will take from one to two years more. Tbe benefit of the work is becoming daily more and more apparent, as the obstruc- tions impeding navigation are being removed. Already the effect of the work is seen in the rapid building up of the immense commer- cial interests of tbe city and the further expansion of its influence, wealth and population. City of Savannah. 1 1 SHIPPING. A report of the tonnage cleared from this port for the past six years, shows that the increase has been a fraction over 20 per cent, in that period, the total tonnage for 1889 being 857,278, and flor 1894 1,038,615. In 1883 the total tonnage from this port was 550 vessels aggregating 559,366 tons, which is practicalJy an increase in eleven years of 100 per cent. 1889. NO. SHIPS. TONNAGE American Hteamships 3401 ciioot Sailers.... 77 } ''^^'-^^ Foreign Steamships 95 \ o/i'j ni^- " Sailers 214] ^4d,Ub< Totals 726 857,278 1890. American Steamships 375) nro ^ha Sailers 132 j ro..,iU4 Foreif?n Steamships 107) on cci " Sailers....^ 212 j ^^^^'^^^ Totals 828 1,003,955 1891. American Stemships 4171 ono coyi Sailers.. f. 360/ «08,584 Foreign Steamships 117) ,-,q^ noo " Sailers.... 245/ "^^'"^^ Totals 1,139 1,093,067 1892. American Steamships 4161 "9(5 146, " Sailers 298/ ' ' Foreign Steamships 94) •?64 062 " Sailers 251/ " ' Totals 1,059 1,060,208 1893. American Steamships 371) 7jc qo-t Sailers 307/ '^^^^^' Foreign Steamships 1071 282,681 " Sailers 231/ ' Totals 1,016 1,031,668 1894. American Steamships 388) 748 733 " Sailers 203 j ' Foreign Steamships 105 \ .,gg ggo " Sailers 206] " ' Totals 902 1,038,615 12 City ok Savannah. TRANSPORTATION. The facilities for tiaiisportatioii of passengers and freight, both by rail ami water, are superior to those enjoyed by any of the South Atlantic ports. Reference to the railroad map will disclose the ex- tensive territory in the north, west and south-west reached through the several rail systems. The railroads which enter and terminate at Savannah are as follows: 1st. The Flant system, which is composed of the Savannah, Flor- ida and Western Railway, the Charleston and Savannah, the Ala- bama Midland and the Brunswick and AVestern Railroads. The rails of this system begin at Savannah and terminate at Charleston, S. 0., where it connects with the Atlantic Coast Line, in connection with which both fast and continuous schedules are run between Sa- vannah and New York. Going west its rails and schedules are con- tinuous to Montgomery, Ala., connecting at that point with the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, reaching through that road all points west, northwest and southwest. It also extends to Albany. Ga., connecting at Jesup with the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway for all points northwest and west; with the Geor- gia, Southern and Florida Railroad at Tifton, and with the Central Railroad of Georgia at Albany for all points west and northwest. It also extends to Jacksonville, Gainesville and Tampa, Fla., mak- ing close connections with the roads in Florida at all important junction points, and steamshii) lines for West Inciia Ports, etc. 2d. The Central Railroad of Georgia: This is one of the most important systems in the state. It controls 1,575 miles of rail, ex- tending from Savannah to Augusta, Macon, Atlanta, Alban3^ Eu- faula, Columbus, Montgomery, Rome, Chattanooga and Birming- ham, making connection with the roads leading from those points; affording through its connections every advantage for prompt move- ment of both freight and passengers. 3d. The South Bound Railroad: This road extends from Savan- nah to Columbia. S. C, at which point it connects with the Rich- mond and Danville System for all points north and northwest. It also intersects the Port Royal Railroad, which affords it the oppor- tunity to reach Augusta, Port Royal and Beaufort, S. C, and the South Carolina Railroad, which gives it a connection also for Charles- ton and Augusta. 4th. The Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad: This road has T)ut recently been completed from Hart's Road, Fla., to Savannah, City of Savannah. 13 at whicli point it connects witli the Soutli Bound, ■v\liich is, in fact, a part of its sj-steui. Tlie latter road tlierefore should be included in the F. C. & P. System. When opened for business its rails will extend from Tampa, Cedar Keys, and Orlando, I-'la., to Columbia, S. C, passing through Ocala. Gainesville, Fernandina, again begin- ning at the Chattahoochee River, it will pass through Tallahassee, Madison and other towns. A glance at the map will show that the rails of the lines here re- ferred to ramify and reach every section of this great countiy; their management is good, which fact furnishes a guarantee that the pub- lic will be properly and promptly served. The water service is furnished, 1st. Between New York and Sa- vannah by the Ocean Steamship Company. The ships of this line are not surpassed by any engaged in the coastwise service, in any particular, whether it be speed, comfort or management. They make four sailings per week between Savannah and New York. 2d. The New England Steamship Company: These ships are owned and managed by the Ocean Steamship Company and its officials, and make a weekly trip between Boston, and Savannah. The ships are of the same character as those of the Ocean Steamship Company, and being managed by the same officers, furnish guar- antee that the satisfaction which has always been given by the Ocean Steamship Company attend this line. 3d. The Philadelphia Steamship Line: The sailings by this line are once a weelv. It is also under the control and management of the Ocean Steamship Company, and further remark with respect to it would be superfluous. 4th. The Merchants and Miners Transportation Company: This line plies between Savannah and Baltimore, Md., extending from that city to Providence, R. I., and Boston, Mass. It also connects with the Ericson Line, which runs between Baltimore and Phila- delphia. Three ships each week leave Savannah and Baltimore. It will be seen, therefore, that we have three sailings per week be- tween Boston and Savannah, two to Providence, as well as a more frequent service to Philadelphia. In addition to the opportunities which these ships and the various railway lines indicated offer to reach England and Continental Ports by way of Northern Ports, it may be interesting to know that the freighting business from the port of Savannah demands direct movement. As a result there will be found at the wharves, nearly eveiy month in the year, ships be- ing laden for ports in the Baltic, England, France, Spain and Ger- many. Reference to our customs records will show the variety of the cargoes which they convey. 14 City of Savannah. COTTON. Limited space makes it impossible to give more tlian a brief slietcli of tlae development of tlie Cotton business of the port during the past twenty-tliree years. From tlie season 1868-69, in wliich Savannali received only 363,000 bales, tlie annual receipts have been increasing, varying from year to year, according to the extent of the crop, until the season of 1890-91, when they passed the 1,000,000 bale mark. While the receipts for the past two seasons have shown a falling off, due in 1891-92 to a short crop in this section, and in 1892-93, to a crop of 2,322,000 bales less than the previous year, the city has more than held its position in proportion of receipts to the total crop. The "net" receipts at Savannah for the year ending August 31st, 1894, were 969,430 bales, with an approximate value of $38,929,631, in comparison with 791,211 bales and a value of .$34,598,595 in 1893, an increase of 178,219 bales, or 22.52 per cent. The total cotton crop of the United States for the year ending August 31st, 1894, amounted to 7,527,211 bales, an increase of 810,- 069 bales as compared with the previous year. Of this Savannah received 12.88 per cent., as compared with 11.78 per cent, in 1892-93. SEA ISLAND COTTON CROP. The total Sea Island crop during the past season Avas 61,052 bags, against 45,422 bags the previous year; an increase of 15,630 bags. Of this amount Savannah received 54,259 bags, or 88.87 per cent., as compared with 78.08 per cent, in 1892-93; making her still rank first a,s a Sea Island Cotton market. Of the 54,259 bags. Savannah's receipts in the season of 1893-94, Georgia furnished 72.23 per cent., Florida 27.65 per cent, and South Carolina 00.12 per cent., as compared with Georgia 76.93 per cent., Florida 19.23 per cent, and South Carolina 3.84 per cent, in 1892-93. City of Savannah. 15 EXPORXS IPJ OEXAII^. 1893-'94. 1892 -'93. 1891-'92. SEASON. 5 •a M c ■a CI 'i ft t) 47,270 118,837 235,196 1,917 8,986 . a is C'liarleston 67,088 92,079 ]9.i,785 57.731 10.510 J, 303 17,133 96,423 190,029 83,946 7,l'i5 160 59 i'22" 23,874 5,835 28 Baltimore 3,016 21,006 5,496 851 22,304 2,249. Boston Brunswick New Orleans 48 495,254 424,496 29,518 394,856 29,831 25,432 Reshippedto Interior 3.30 2,378 2 68 1 i 205 1,916 192 2,317 Local consumption and burnt.. 24 10 Cork for orders— Total Channel. Liverpool— Total Great Britain. 88,859 22,932 55,931 5,780 159,770 15,837 31,101 1,546 24,200 527 29,316 881 Dunkirk Rouen Total France 31,101 1,546 24,200 527 29,316 Norrkoping 1,700 50,9(19 131,389 1,700 11,3.-0 94,683 1,900 57,189 89,208 2,650 8,440 22,300 118,073 6,062 28,179 86,600 5,900 2,750 1,800 Reval 280 Bremen Amsterdam Genoa 65,767 82,632 3,350 Barcelona Gothenberg Malmo Oporto 1,300 3,097 1,000 4,100 1,400 ""2,100 4,800 Warberg Ny poking Hango 1800 7,100 1,650 1,700 St. Petersburg 27,210 500 Trieste Stockholm ""i',200 3,100 600 1,500 1,800 Geffle Salerno Coruna 200 1,510 2,100 5,075 Lisbon Passages Ghent 2,750 Total Continent 371,104 780 279,280 301,239 36,162 Grand Total 918,268 54,846 756,388 988,088 42,160 16 City of Savannah. Record of ]Vet Receipts and Exports at Savannali, Ga., for Years Pi(amed Hndingf August 31st. Yeae. Receipts. Upland. I Sea Island. Exports. Upland. Sea Island. 1894 j 915,171 1893 755,724 1892 1 984,604 1891 1 1,093,930 1890. 1889. 1888. 1887. 1886. 1885. 1S84. 1888. 188li. 1881. 1880. 1879. 1878. 1877. 1876. 1875. 924,282 798,177 869,413 777,671 780,291 708,730 646,445 805,711 719,827 874,301 729,485 685,484 586,138 471,699 516,072 598,602 54,259 35,487 42,019 45,630 32,235 29,991 22,975 26,741 23,068 19,357 9,301 11,959 17,229 15,082 11,633 8,280 11,311 5,736 7,172 7,817 918,268 756,388 988,088 1,095,296 921,467 797,146 874,669 778,555 785,045 708,344 658,836 815,143 733,656 879,201 728,231 693,122 610,496 484 434 536,826 610,749 846 162 160 782 881 382 033 939 790 083 255 055 511 201 526 286 396 S71 033 922 City of Savannah. 17 NAVAL STORES. The receipts of Naval Stores at Savannah during the last season amount to 208,000 casks Spirits Turpentine and 1,025,000 barrels Rosin— a total of 1,293,000 Packages handled in Savannah in one year. The aggregate "weight" of these articles is over Five Hun- dred Million pounds, and the aggregate value amounts to between Six and Seven Million Dollars. These enormous receipts easily make Savannah the "First Mar- ket and the Great Distributing Center of the World for Naval Stores." Four States contribute to this result, viz: Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Alabama. Savannah exports heavily to the great Supply Ports of Europe- London, Bristol and Cork for the United Kingdom— Antwerp, Ham- burg, Rotterdam, Genoa and Trieste for the Continent. Besides this shipments are made direct to every Nation in Europe— Spain, Portu- gal, Italy, Austria and Turkey in the South— Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Russia in the North. Ships under every flag carry these products of Georgia Pine trees from Savannah to every market on the coasts of Africa, Asia, Aus- tralia and South America, whilst coastwise steamships and trans- continental^ Railroads supply New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Montreal and the enterprising cities of the interior- Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver and the hosts of smaller but no less energetic manufactur- ing points in the Great West. In fact, wherever Soap is manufac- tured or Paint is used, or Naval Stores are needed for any purpose whatever. Savannah supplies that need. She invites all the World to trade with her. 18 City of Savannah. TIMBER AND LUMBER. The lumber trade of Savannah has grown within the last ten years to be one of the most important of its business interests, and one in which millions of capital are invested. Its quality is not excelled by that shipped from any other Southern port. Georgia has for years been cutting her timber and shipping logs and lumber, yet she has left untouched immense areas of the very best woods of all kinds. Along the railways and rivers leading to the sea large quantities of timber have been cut, but away from transportation, and tributary to newly built and projected roads, vast bodies of virgin forests and choicest woods invite investment. From the coast comes the best and largest live oalc; from the inland country are furnished beautiful cedar and tall cypress, and the mountain region yields vast untouched forests of the finest hard- woods known to commerce, or employed in arts or manufactures. In a report to the special agent on forestry, W. G. Norwood, of Blackshear, estimates for the census that the uncut yellow pine forests will yield over 16,700,000,000 feet of lumber, and that the millions of feet daily sawed will not exhaust the supply in a cent- ury. Mixed with this pine are large tracts ofl timbered lands cov- ering hundreds of square miles of the best cypress, oak, hickory, ash, cedar, maple, dogwood, beech, poplar, chestnut and other woods. All of these vast resources are tributary to Savannah, and a large percentage of all the lumber cut in this State is handled by Savannah dealers. In 1877 Savannah's lumber business amounted to only 47,807,201 feet of $500,000.00 in value. It has risen to $1,532,000.00 in 1892. The growth in three years was as follows: 1889-90 107,371,082 feet. 1890-91 125,920,322 " 1891-92 1-40,243,003 " Of the 140,243,603 feet in 1891-92 there were 126,215,442 feet shipped coastwise and 14,028,161 feet foreign; and of the coast- wise shipments 109,523,472 feet were shipped by sailing vessels, and 16,691,971 feet by steamers. The coastwise shipments grew from 105.360.438 feet in 1890-91 to 126,215,442 feet in 1891-92. The coastwise shipments were to twenty-two ports, priucipally— City of Savannah. 19 1890-91 1891-92 Feet. Feet. New York 34,063,276 37,616,958 Baltimore 30,869,769 34,180,727 Philadelphia 16,606,890 28,422,112 Boston 9,775,029 4,613,043 Portland 2,040,894 3,748,611 Newport News 1,459,092 3,068,996 Wilmington 2,373,534 2,590,386 Perth Amboy 1,811,500 2,039,142 The foreign shipments were to twenty-three ports, mainly, in the following order as to magnitude: 1890-91— Feet. 1891-92-Feet Buenos Ay res 1,660,195 3,054,981 Santiago de Cuba 2,835,912 1,163,028 Valencia 1,362,510 1,531,577 Oporto, 2,327,323 1,441,036 Spain and the Argentine Confederation take the largest ship- ments. In the last six months of 1891-92 Baltimore took more lumber than any other port, getting about a third of Savannah's coastwise shipments, Baltimore and New York exporting 60 per cent. In addition to shipments of lumber there were shipped large quantities of shingles, cedar logs, cross ties, staves and laths; the cross ties alone amounting to 5,000,000 feet. For the year 1893 it is estimated that this item will be nearly doubled. The superior commercial facilities and banking advantages of Sa- vannah, strengthened by her many railroad lines, and by the cer- tainty of her deep water of twenty-sis feet to the sea, with the advantage of lower freights on ships of large tonnage over smaller vessels, due to deep water, make her supremacy in the lumber trade inevitable, and insure the steady growth of this vast business. The pine forests of the Northern States have been removed with such rapidity as to cause many capitalists to make investments in Southern pine lands, realizing that, in the near future, yellow pine would be called in to take the place in the market now supplied by white pine. These investments have increased rapidly in value each year, and now that Southern pine is used in so many of the large factories in place of ash and other hard woods, the inroads being made on the Southern forests to supply them, and the export demand, will cause Southern timber lands to enhance in value more rapidly than at any former period. The South has the reserve timber supply of the United States, and Georgia's share is a large percentage of the same. If settlers will acquaint themselves with the economic management of mills and timber properties, our section offers to them a luci-ative field for capital and energy. 20 City of Savannah. During the past two years the shipments of lumber, owing to the depression in business of this special commodity, have decreased somewliat in volume, but during the present year they are again as- suming large proportions, and bid fair to equal previous years. ( iTV OF Savannah. 21 TRUCK FARMING. AREA. The County of CUathajii, in wliicli the City of Savannah is situ- ated, lias a total area of about 500 square miles, of which about 30,000 acres are uncultivatable salt marshes. It has, therefore, a total acreage of 292,000 acres of arable land, inclusive of six larger and several smaller Sea Islands. For several years the low-lands of the county have been under- going a thorough system of drainage, which, when completed, will open up to cultivation the most fertile lands in the State (full of vegetable matter), for some of the most valuable crops of the truck farmer. The fertile bottom lands of the Savannah and the two Ogeechee rivers, have been in Rice culture, but, after undergoing dry culture, may be made suitable to such articles as Cabbage, Pota- toes, Celery, Strawberries, etc. These are the only lauds in the low country of Georgia upon which Wheat has been grown successfully. They are susceptible of the most thorough system of drainage and irrigation by the rise and fall of the tides . The Sea Islands, the homes of Sea Island Cotton planters of former days, have a higher altitude than the Islands of South Caro- lina, and life, upon them, therefore, has never been lost by inunda- tion from storms. They have a healthy climate under the cooling sea breezes, enjoy the facilities of cheap water transportation to shipping centres and the advantages of a food supply from the waters, such as fish, shrimp, crabs and oysters. CLIMATE. The last frosts of the opening spring, of which there are any available record, have been as follows: 1835 — March 30th, with a cold wave at night from the northwest. 183G— March 23d. 1837— April 10th. 1838— March 19th. 1839— March 31st, sleet and rain. 1840— March 27th. 1841— March 20th, April 14th, frost light. 1842— Feb. 24th, March 23d, Pride of India (Melia Azedarach) in bloom; April 7th, blackberries I'ipe. 1843— March 29th, ice and frost. 22 (Jirv OF S V-VANNAH. 1844— March 22cl, frost, 1845 — April 10th, thermouieter 43 decrees at sunrise. 1846 — March 17th, thermometer 38 degrees at sunrise. 1847 — Mai'ch 28th, thermometer 35 degrees at sunrise. 1848 — March 16th, thermometer 31 degrees at sunrise. 1849— Mai-ch 20th. 1850— March 29th. 1851— March 20th, thermometer 37 degrees; March 28th, first Wlaippoorwill. 1852— March 20th. thenuometer .32 degrees; March 25th. first Whip- poorwill. 1853— Marcli 7th, tlaermometer 34 degrees; March 21st, first Whip- poorwill. 1854 — April 4th. thermometer 40 degrees; April (ith. first Whip- poorwill. 1855— March 29tli, ice, thermometer 30 degrees; April 14th, first Whippoorwill. 1856— March 28th, ice: April 7th, first ^Vhippoorwill. 1857 — April 7th, thermometer 40 degrees; March 29th. first "Whip- poorwill. 18.58— March .5th, thermometer 37 degrees; April Sth, first Whip- poorwill. 1859— March 20th; April 4th. first Whippoorwill. 18G0— March 29th; April Sth. first Whippoor« ill. 1861— March 20th, thermometer 39 degrees; April 10th, first Whip- poorwill. The climate is so favorable that as many as three crops of dif- ferent articles may be realized in one season from the same land. Thus, Potatoes planted in February and dug in May, can be fol- lowed by Corn, to be gathered in August, allowing Cabbages to be transplanted upon the same land, which will be ready to, be cut in February. After gathering the various crops for shipment to the Northern and Northwestern markets, it is the usual custom with truck farm- ers to put in one-third of the land in Coi*n, to allow one-third to grow up in Crabgrass for hay, and to sow one-third in Cow Peas, to be plowed under as feitilizer; or to plant crops of Cabbage, Turnips, Beets late, or second-crop Irish Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes for the local or interior markets. The second-crop Irish Potatoes produce the most valuable seed for the spring crop. The yield of Hay is about from two to three tons per acre, and of Corn after Cabbage, or Irish Potatoes, from 20 to 30 bushels ]ier acre. VARIETY OF CROPS GROWN FOR SHIPMENT. The articles planted by the tinick farmers are Asparagus, Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Cucumbers, Lettuce. Peas, Potatoes, Okra, To- matoes, Melons, Pears and Strawberries. City of Savannah. 23 TRANSPORTATION. Savauuah eujoys the advantage of the finest fleet of coasting- steamers in the United States. The Ocean Steamship Company has a tri-weekly line to New Yorli, and a line to Philadelphia and Bos- ton.; and the "Merchants' & Miners' Transportation Co." has a .semi-weekly line to Baltimore of fine steamships. Besides this un- excelled Avater transportation we have three several railroads to the Northern and Northwestern markets, each competing for this freight. The yield per acre, gross average market prices, and date of har- vest of the common crops. Beans— 200 crates $1 50 per crate. May 1st. Cabbage— 250 barrels or barrel crates |2 50@3 00 April 1st. Cucumbers— 400 crates $1 50@3 00 May 15th. Pea-i— 75 crates $2 00 April 1st. Potatoes— 6) barrels $4 00 May 1st. The above are average crops. Mucli larger yields have been produced by truck farmers; thus, 140 barrels of potatoes have been made per acre LABOR. As the result of emancipation, the colored people have gathered around the larger cities, and labor in the vicinity of Savannah is, therefore, plentiful. The usual rates paid by truck farmers is as follows, without board: For Men For Women... 60c. 50c. _ ^ . a 2 a ■ri 2 '" • 0) tH r,7 brf 'C.'^'^ « C I. Sues ,00i) 00 Citizens 500,000 25,000 35,000 00 550,000 900,000 00 Oglethorpe Savings 125,000 35,000 2'0,000 400,000 00. Title Guarantee 149,400 12,000 00 60,000 220,000 00 Savannah Savings 35,000 1,500 700 00 53,359,400 3926,500 $301,776 18 $5,ii9i,000 $7,398,352 42 Clearings for year ending December 1, 1893, $94,920,330.73. Clearings for year ending December 1, 1894, $108,566,177.79. 32 City of Savannah. REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. The history of real estate in Chatham County in the last ten years presents an interesting study. In 1SS4 the Avhole value of real estate assessed for taxes in the County, outside of the City, was $1,353,G93, and in the City, $12,510,202. In 1894 the assessed value of real estate outside of the City was $3,801,599, and in the City, $23,272,594. The amount for the present year, notwithstand- ing the great shrinkage in the value of stocks and bonds, is not only undiminished, but is a little in excess of the above figures; showing a healthy growth, a sound basis resting upon intrinsic value and not upon speculative influences. The following tabulated statement is made from the Tax Digest of the City and County: Real Kstate Real Estate Personal P. Outside City. Inside City. and Stock luv. Total. 1884 1,353,093 12,516,202 7,14.5,112 21,015,007 1885 1,600,998 13,055,969 8,112,997 22,775,904 1880 1,800,120 13,343,032 9,107,811 24,317,563 1887 2,060,975 13,641,933 8,958,904 24,007,872 1888 2,368,545 14,704,075 8,002,317 25,794,937 1889 2,851,740 14,990,990 9,112,782 26,955,512 1890 3,899,325 18,580,334 13,399,519 35,879,178 1891 3,942,488 19,913,000 12,717,508 30,573,002 1892 3,042,488 20,318,137 12,480,259 30.440,884 1893 3,708,9.50 21,200,788 12,038,195 37,007,933 1894 3,801,599 23,273,594 11,024,478 38,099,071 It will be safe to add to the above figures at least 25 per cent, in order to arrive at the actual market value of real estate in the City and County; for however faithful and honest the efforts of the Receiver of Tax Returns and City Treasurer may be, and however conscientious the owners of property, returns and assessments are rarely ever made at full market value. It will be seen by the above statement that the increase in value of property outside of the city has greatly advanced since the year 1888. This is due largely to the system of drainage Avhich has ren- dered tillable much of the soil previously unfit for cultivation, be- sides adding greatly to the general health of the county. These values have also been further increased by the extension of certain lines of Electric Railways, rendering the sections through which City of Savannah. 33 they pass more couvenieut for reaching the city and hence more sought after for homes by people of moderate means. But, per- liaps, no influence has controlled in the advance of prices so much as the faith which is felt by the people of Savannah in the future of their city, having every possible advantage for advancement in its important railway connections, its shipping, its health, its enor- mous business — largely in excess of its population — its beauty and attractiveness for visitors, and everything else necessary to make it a place of great consequence in the near future. This is shown by the fact that the greatest rise in values has been in suburban lands immediately adjoining the city limits, rather than lands more dis- tantly located. Our space is too limited to go into details as to all improvements in the city and county in the last ten years. In less time there have been erected such buildings as the DeSoto Hotel, Guards Armory, Provident Assurance Building, Cotton Exchange, Board of Trade, Southern Bank, Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, Independent Presbyterian Church, Odd Fellows Hall, etc., at a cost of over a million and a half dollars. In the early part of 1889 a disastrous fire destroyed a great many valuable buildings on Broughtou, Whitaker, Barnard, State, York and South Broad Streets, and also the Independent Presbyterian Church and Guards Armory on Bull Street. Nearly of this property has been rebuilt, and it is safe to say that more money has been invested in improve- ments of this high character in the last decade than was ever done in thrice the time in the previous history of the city. It is dif- ficult, if not impossible, to ascertain the value of improvements of a smaller character erected in the same time, but it is estimated that they will more than equal those in the business portion of the city. An approximate idea of this may be had by a careful examination and comparison of the above tabulated statement of property as- sessed for taxes. 34 ( iTY OF Savannah. THE WHOLESALE JOBBING TRADE. This branch of Savannah's business interests continues to in- crease yearly, for the merchants engaged in it are pushing and wide awalie, and never lose an opportunity to enter into the new fields that have from time to time been opened to them by new rail- road enterprises. There is every reason to believe that the build- ing' of the Florida Central & Peninsular extension, Avill afford our merchants another opportimity of an increase in their territory, of which they Avill quickly take advantage. Savannah's jobbing trade is now selling its goods in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Alabama, and some lines go as far as North Carolina and Tennes- see. In the provision line there has been started an export business to Havana, with profitable results, and it is believed before very long this business will be greatly enlarged. The following is a fair estimate of Savannah Jobbing Trade for the past year, beginning November 1st. 1893, and ending October 31st, 1894: G-roceries !fl5.000,000 00 Liquors and Tobaccos 4,300,000 00 Provisions 6,000,000 00 Dry Goods and Notions 4,400,000 00 Clothing 900.000 00 Boots, Shoes and Hats 1,450,000 00 Hardware 1,500,000 00 Furniture 500,000 00 $34,050,000 00 City of Savannah. 35 FACTS ABOUT SAVANNAH. Savannah was founded in 1733— one hundred and sixty-two years ago— by Gen. James Oglethorpe. The first steamship to cross the Atlantic sailed from Savannah in 1819. The first cotton grown in Georgia was shipped from Savannah in 1788. Savannah has annual shipments of over 1,100,000 packages of oranges and other fruits, of 500,000 packages of vegetables, and over 1,000,000 wateniielons. Savannah has an ocean commerce of over $150,000,000. Savannah has never had a bank failure. Savannah has more miles of electric railway than any city of its size in the world. Savannah is the healthiest city in the South and surpassed by few in the world. Savannah has an annual retail trade of $35,000,000. 36 City of Savannah. Savannah has the finest hotel in the South outside of St. Augus- tine and Tampa. Savannah has the tlTaest artesian water supply in the South— a daily supply of 12,000,000 gallons, or nearly 200 gallons to every man, woman and child. ■^ni LIBRARY OF CONGRESS