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IflB SOUTHERN WORLD, JANUARY 15,18*5.
Editorial Correspondence Southern World. J
Another UkIiIuIiik Trip tlirouKta
Southern, Southeastern and
Eastern Georgia-B. it XV. R. R—
S. W. & P. R. R.— Savannah-
Central R. R. and Occam S. S.
Co. Wharves, C. R. R. statistics—
AuKusta—Weather, Crops, etc.
Having bo often sketched the inter
vening country between Atlanta and
Albany, the writer proposes to make a
new departure from the “Artesian city ’*
over the Brunswick and Western Rail
road to Waycross and points below.
This highway runs through what is fa
miliarly known as Mr. R. R. Cuyler’s
“ Pine Barren," a region that astute
railroad magnate thought neither could
or ever would be developed into any
significance or importance.
True, when the locomotive with its
shrill whistle first broke the stillness of
the scene, the trees in those primeval
forests stood in serried ranks towering
heavenward, and no undergrowth im
peded the vision as it glanced from trunk
to trunk far into the recesses of the
wildernesj. The rude habitations, “few
and far between," were perched upon
rising places in the broad savannahs,and
the people for the most part stock rais
ers, cultivated seldom more than a few
acres around their cabins, enriching
them by the “cuppening" (cow-pen
ning) process. Schools and churches
were rarely to be seen, and but for the
sturdy hard shell Baptist, uncouth, but
always honest, and the itinerant Meth
odist parson with his saddle-bags and
resounding amens, civilization would
have been at its lowest ehb. Even now
one of the most prosperous citizens of
Pearson assured your correspondent,
that there were some who still ignored
all innovation and improvement, and
clung with singular tenacity to the old
ways and methods, just as the Portu
guese husbandman persists in using bis
ancestral wooden plow in preference to
the modern implement. Theso are but
exceptions, however, and in no part of
the commonwealth haB the material and
moral progress of the people been more
signal and apparent than is this piny
woods country. In proof of this, wit
ness the numerous smiling villages that
have sprung into existence almost at
every railroad station, the neat churches
and school houses, the busy stores and
piles of luuttyy and turpentine and rosin,
which are visible to the traveler on every
side, and the rapid appreciation in real
estate. Not less than fifty turpentine
distilleries between Albany ana Way
cross can be counted on the railroad,
and many saw mills, among them sev
eral that are immense establishments.
To show the rapid increase in the pro
duction and manufacture of naval stores,
it is only necessary to say that the Cen
tral railroad alone moved 17,452 barrels
of turpentine and 74,827 barrels of rosin
in the last twelve months againBt 14,608
and 50,734 respectively, for the preced
ing year. Of lumber, sawed and other
wise. 24,130,000 feet were transported
by this artery of commerce in 1883-84
showing an increase for the year, of 5,
380,000 feet. And this too in the face of
hard times and exceptionally low
prices.
From Mr. Dunham, one of the most
extensive turpentine makers in the State
the writer gleaned many interesting
facts relating to thiB industry.
Ten thousand boxes can be tended by
one hand, which will hold on an average
one quart of gum each. The trees
should be chipped once every week.
That is, a small portion of new bark is
cut away above the box to keep the gum
running. One box will yield several
gallons of resin in a single season.
“Dipping” begins in the early sprin;:
and is repeated once every month unti
cold weather.
The gum drawn from newly boxed
trees known as “ virgin dip,” is two or
three times more valuable than the pro
duct of the trees which have been tap
ped for several years. Every year the
resin becomes darker and less valuable,
until at length it payn but little more
than the cost of marketing.
Mr. Dunham was en route to Nojth
Carolina in quest of more laborers. The
hire and transportation of his “ hands ”
last year cost him over 111,000. He says
he has proven by experiment that rob
bing the trees of their turpentine does
not in the least degree impoverish the
soil. Nor does he Delieve that the lum
ber from an exhausted pine tree is any
less valuable for having been deprived
of its gum. Lots of lumber sawed from
boxed and unboxed trees have been
privately marked and subjected to in
spection by northern dealers, and they
were unable to discriminate between
the two. To prevent the ravages of fire,
every pine must be cleaned around with
the hoe at least once a year.
The Brunswick and Western is in ex
cellent condition and has been an incal
culable blessing to that long neglected
region. Sheep husbandry is an import
ant factor in the revenues of this por
tion of Georgia. Hundreds may be seen
cropping the wire grass and tender buds
on the edges of tne swamps and bogs.
A dog tax would be a boon indeed to the
inhabitants.
At Waycross we struck the Savannah
Florida and Western Railroad boarding
the fast train, which only stops at tele
graph stations. The dining house here
which is owned and run by the manage-
of the road is the best in the South.
Regular meals and tempting lunches are
furnished from all the delicacies the
market affords, and the passenger can
but note the perfect cleanliness and
good order that prevails.
Here the several streams of travel
southward unite and take the famous
“ Short Line " to Jacksonville. Up to
this time the influx of tourists and in
valids has been small, and the outlook
is not promising to the numerous mam
moth hotels of Florida. The New Or
leans Exposition doubtless will divert
many in that direction. It is said, how
ever, there is always a lull in travel
about Christmas and New Year, and the
tide may set in a little later.
This railroad iB doing an immense
business, which inures largely to the
benefit of the people, but unfortunately,
owing to the tariff of rates imposed by
the Commission, dividends are out of
the question. It is to be hoped that
some satisfactory solution of the diffi
culty may be reached ere long. To the
E raise of the managers of the road,
owever, the track, engines and rolling
stock are in first-class condition
It was after night when the train ar
rived at Savannah and as usual the
writer sought quarters in the Marshall
House, which the veteran Bresnan and
his courtious assistants, S. A. Upson,
chief clerk, and W. A. Davison, night
clerk in the office, have made so de
servedly popular. It was never better
kept or patronized than at present.
This is the height of the cotton season
here, and long processions of drays
laden with the fleecy staple are met on
every side, and the bales in the ware
houses may be counted by the acre.
The city is increasing aiso in size and
population, but the many queer old
shanties that disfigure many of the prin
cipal streets are still standing ana be
coming more rickety and unsightly every
ear. Some of them look like they baa
eon there ever since the days ot Toma-
chichi. The value of the improvements
bear a ridiculous proportion to that of
the land on which they are located,
but the owners get high rents and are
generally unable to tear down and build
up anew. Some of the old stores rent
for double their actual value. Now and
then a conflagration wipes out not a few
of these uncouth structures, and then
the fire limits ordinance necessitates the
erection of more permanent brick im
provements. It is in thiB way that Sa
vannah is becoming gradually modern'
ized.
STATISTICS OF SAVANNAH.
A learned gentleman for many years
a resident, thus classifies the population
(36,000 by the last census, but now prob'
ably fully 40,000); Catholics, 8,000
Jews, 2,000; foreigners, 3 000; Protest
ant whites, 6,000; negroes, 17,000; total
36,000.
This shows the various constituents
that usually make up a maratime town
Society in the higher circles of Savannah
is noted for its refinement, simplicity of
dress and great culture. A royal hospi
tality obtains, and many patncian fain
ilies of the “ bluest blood ” have resided
here for generations. The noble churches
are truly grand in their austere simplic
ity, ana the place wears that unmistak
able look of antiquity so seldom wit
nessed in this country.
The recent untimely death of Dr. J
G. Thomas, while on a brief visit to
Washington City, was unusually lament
ed by the community. Like your own
Calhoun he was endowed with splendid
abilities which had received the highest
cultivation, and a big heart and noble
nature that always responded to the call
of the sick and unfortunate. One who
witnessed his funeral obsequies, said:
“in a long procession of ladies on Lib
erty street returning from the funeral
not a dry eye was visible." They could
not be comforted for the loss of their
family physician, who was both friend
and counsellor. Such a tribute to de
parted excellence is worth more than
“ storied urn " or “ monumental mar
ble."
THI CENTRAL RAILROAD.
Your correspondent paid a visit to his
old friend William Rogers, Esq., the able
and indefatigable Superintendent of the
Central railroad, and found him immers
ed in business, but ever ready to bestow
a courteous greeting and grant an inter
view to all who wish to seehim. Few men
to the most enlightened supervision
o( the vast interests committed to his
keeping, are able to devote so much at
tention to the minute details of his bu
siness. Our object was to obtain the
necessary facilties for a visit and explo
ration of the wharves, ships, and ware
houses of the Ocean Steamship Co.,
and these were promptly afforded. Ar
riving upon the scene we were politely
received by one of the officials who im
mediately telephone Mr. B. J. Cubbedge
the Forwarding Agent, and received for
answer that he would put in an appear
ance within “ten minutes." True to time
ity and bon \omie to furnish all the de
sired information.
The property of the Central Railroad
lying adjacent to its magnificent wharves
embraces three hundred and thirty acres,
which, when a mere unreclaimed and
undrained marsh, was purchased at a
cost of $105,000. Since then the com'
pany have expended for improvements
one million of dollars in the construe
tion of wharves and warehouses, a com
modious elevator, dredging for greater
depth of water, railroad extension to
wharves, piling, etc.
The fleet of steamships numbers seven
magnificent vessels, to-wit, five plying
between Savannah and New York, and
two between Savannah and Philadel
phia. The aggregate of their cost is
$1,500,000.
The Baltimore and Boston lines of
steamships also receive and discharge
their cargoes at the wharves of the com
pany, making four distinct lines carry
ing millions of pounds of freight which
enter and depart from their docks.
The arrivals embrace every variety of
merchandise for several States in the in
terior, besides guano and other fertili
zers, while the exports are made up
chiefly of cotton, syrup, tobacco, rice
hides, grain, pig iron and naval stores.
The waterfront of the company mess
ures 6,000 feet, or over one mile, of
which no less than 5,000 feet are occu
pied by costly and substantial wharves,
to Hhich a iarge number of steamers
and sailing vessels are constantly moor
ed, either receiving or discharging their
cargoes. The depth of water at low
tide at the wharves is fifteen feet, while
at high tide ships drawing twenty-one
feet may come and depart at pleasure.
The immense area around and about
the wharves is all planked over and
built up with offices, warehouses and
cotton presses. The latter are construct
ed at heavy outlay and upon a vast scale
No less than 250,000 bales of cotton are
compressed here annually, and then
hoiBted on board and packed by steam
into the capacious holds of the ocean
steamers and other vessels. The price
for compressing is from 50 to 60 cents
per bale. For the packet lines special
rates are made. Over these wharves
three hundred thousand bales of cotton
are exported annually to all parts of the
world.
To man the floating palaces of the
company a battalion of sailors and em
ployeea numbering 250 are requisite,
and the several Captains are men of
tried nautical skill and sober and relia
ble gentlemen. The same is true also
of their subalterns.
The capacity of the guano warehouse
is one hundred thousand tons, and the
present supply on hand of this loud
Bmelling article foots up sixty thousand
tonB, which will soon be disseminated
throughout the Gulf States. It is hard
even to conceive of so big a pile.
The ships of the company have made
two hundred and thirty round trip voy
ages during the past year, carrying many
thousands of passengers and an immense
volume of freight, consisting in part of
fruits, vegetables, melons, cotton, lum
ber, naval stores, merchandise, rice,
wool, syrup and other productions ol:
less importance. President Raoul puts
down the net receipts from the same at
the splendid figure of $353,876.61. With
the receipts from the Gordon cotton
press and the Vale Royal property in
cluded, the total income derived from
the Ocean Steamship Company would
amount to $486,989.21. It should be re
membered that this is entirely separate
and distinct from the earnings of the
Central Railroad proper. What grand
er testimony could be had to the sagaci
ty of the deceased Wadley, who inaugu
rated this great enterprise as a feeder
to his far reaching interior arteries of
commerce? The railroad leases ware
houses to outside parties with a capaci
ty for storing 30,000 bales of cotton.
These are aside from its own enclosures
which are of vast extent.
Indeed every Georgian should be
proud of this great highway of commerce
which has done so much to reclaim the
Commonwealth from the wilderness,
and civilize and enrich its inhabitants.
Albeit the short cotton crop and the
low rate of freights allowed by the
“ commission " have reduced by $375,-
864.09 the net earnings of the road dur
ing the past year, still fair dividends
have been declared, and the gross earn
ings foot up the magnificent sum of $4,-
659,082 66. Expenses off, there remain
ed a net balance of $1,807,627 50. To
give some idea of the magnitude of the
concern, it may be stated that the num
ber of miles of railroad operated and
controlled by the company is 1,814; the
number of passengers carried in the
last fiscal year, 184,085; the number of
bales of cotton transported, 495,236; the
number of bushels of rice, 11,686; bush
els of corn, 372,471; pounds of flour,
713,442; the number of pounds of pig
and bar iron, 7,164,178; the number of
packages of vegetables, 7,959; the num
ber of pounds of wax and tallow, 659,-
450, with other products and merchan
dise in proportion. Among the expen
ditures may be mentioned the item of
$14,802.05 paid for “ stock killed." But
it would consume too much time and
space to enter into any further enume
ration of the various statistics of this
great corporation. Suffice it to say they
cover a large portion of the material
wealth of the State, and upon the con
tinued existence and prosperity of the
Central and other railroads in our midst,
the future welfare of the Commonwealth
largely depends.
Let any unjust opposition to these
useful institutions cease incontinently,
and tie people and railroad commission
act on tne principle of “live and let
live."
After a brief sojourn in the “Forest
City,” during which the writer paid his
respects to his brother journalists of the
Morning News and Times, and rejoiced
at the evidences of their continued suc
cess, we left for Augusta by rail via Mil-
len and Waynesboro. It was a stormy,
terrible day, with constant rain and
sleet by turns. All nature seemed in
tears, but within the cars it was as warm
and comfortable as one’s dwelling, and
there was not the smallest detention to
the smooth going train.
The clouds ceased dripping as we en
tered the ancient and opulent city of
Augusta and sought accommodations at
her best hotel, the “ Planters’." Since
our last visit the genial Dub has changed
hiB base to the Screven House, Savan
nah, where, as usual, he entertains like
a Prince. He has been succeeded by
Messrs. C. E. Smedes & Co., assietea
by R. C. Rogers, chief clerk, and W. F.
Passmore, night clerk.
Under the new management, the
Planters’" has been refurnished and
painted throughout from garret to cel
lar. Every carpet, bedstead and piece
of furniture is “epic and span" new
and of elegant material. The table and
staff of servants are admirable, and Mr.
Smedes spares no pains in the enter
tainment of his guests. The menu lor
New Years day was in part as follows:
Music, clam chowder and baked sheep-
head au gratin, barbecued beef, shoat
and mutton, roast turkey, roast English
mallard duck, escalloped oysters in
shell, a long list of vegetables, including
cauliflower and green peas, mince pie
and other paBtry, LaFayette cake, ice
cream, a variety of fruits, nuts, tea,
coffee, etc., etc. The establishment, al
beit built on the old style, is certainly
elegant and recherche.
AUGUSTA
is one of the solid towns of Georgia,
and constantly increasing in wealth and
population. Her capacious canal,fringed
with ousy cotton mills, extensive guano
manufactory and many reliable business
houses leave her second to no city in
the Southern Atlantic States. She can
also boast of the oldest and one of the
best newspapers in Georgia, the Chroni
cle and Constitutionalist. Friend Pat
rick Walsh, the senior editor and pro-
irietor, is making grand preparations
or the celebration of the one hundredth
anniversary of his invaluable journal.
May it continue to roll on from century
to century, always, as in the past, im
proving with each succeeding year. The
Evening News too, under the genius and
bonhomie of its sprightly editor, Bill
Moore, has risen to a proud eminence
in journalism and justly takes rank with
the best publications in the State.
The writer had the pleasure of greet
ing Rev, Dr. Adams, Mr. Fleming Law,
Gen. Stovall and J. W. Green, Esq., the
able general manager of the Georgia
Railroad. Mr. Green is a native of Mc
Intosh county, residing originally only
a few miles from the early home of the
writer, and by the force of his industry,
genius and unswerving integrity, has
worked himself up to his present com
manding position. This is a meet les
son for the youth of the country.
Our visit to Augusta was limited to a
single day, and the limits of this already
overgrown communication will sdinit of
no further elaboration of the pleasant
experiences of the writer in that beau
tiful and hospitable city.
THE GRAIN CROPS.
All along the jaunt from Atlanta,
through Middle, Southern, Southeastern