SAVANNAH 



5224 



SAVANNAH 



the homes of immense numbers of large ani- 

 mals, the "biggest game" of the world, and the 

 prairies of America are rich agricultural regions. 



SAVANNAH, GA., the greatest seaport on 

 the Atlantic coast cf the United States south 

 of Baltimore, and, next to Atlanta, the largest 

 city of the state in population. Historically it 

 is one cf the most interesting cities of the South. 

 It ia the county seat of Chatham County, and 

 is situated eighteen miles from the sea on the 

 Savannah River, which here separates Georgia 

 from South Carolina. Atlanta is 263 miles 

 northwest, and Jacksonville, Fla., is 172 miles 

 south. Railroad transportation is provided by 

 the Southern, the Central of Georgia, the At- 

 lantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line. 

 There is water transportation by river boats 

 to Augusta and by steamers to other Atlantic 

 ports and to Europe. The population increased 

 from G5,C6i in 1910 to 68 835 (Federal estimate) 

 in 1916; negroes comprise about one-half of 

 this number, and about 3,500 are foreign born. 

 The area of the city is nearly seven square 

 miles. 



Description. The city is built on a plateau 

 about fifty feet above sea level, and has a mild 

 climate, due in part to the influence of the 

 Gulf Stream. The wide streets, which cross 

 each other at right angles, are so abundantly 

 shaded with magnificent moss-hung oaks and 

 with magnolia and palmetto trees that the city 

 is popularly known as the Forest City. To- 

 ward its center is Forsyth Park, whose tropical 

 vegetation makes it one of the most attractive 

 parks in the South. Its extension, called the 

 "Parade Ground," a military plaza owned by 

 the militia companies of Savannah, contains 

 a magnificent monument to the Confederate 

 dead. 



The park reservations cover about 180 acres, 

 including about thirty squares, which contrib- 

 ute greatly to the beauty and charm of the 

 city. In some of these squares monuments 

 have been erected to General Oslethorpe, who 

 founded the city, General Nathanael Greene, 

 William Washington Gordon, Count Pulaski 

 and William Jasper. Colonial, Oglethorpe Ave- 

 nue and Damn are the most noted of the larger 

 parks. Estill Avenue, Gaston, Bull and Aber- 

 corn streets, with their stately mansions, foun- 

 tains and sunken gardens, are among the most 

 beautiful boulevards in the residential district. 

 Near the city are several islands, frequented in 

 winter and in summer for their fine beaches. 



Buildings and Institutions. The principal 

 commercial thoroughfare, Bay Street, contains 



the city hall, built in 1906 on the site of the old 

 one erected in 1779, the Cotton Exchange and 

 the customhouse. A Federal building, county 

 courthouse, Masonic Temple, Union Station, 

 Knights of Columbus and Knight Templar 

 buildings, three armories, the Telfair Academy 

 of Arts and Sciences, the ""city auditorium, Sa- 

 vannah and Hicks hotels and some handsome 

 modern bank buildings are among the most 

 notable structures of the city. For advanced 

 education there are the Benedictine College, 

 Chatham Academy, Georgia State Industrial 

 College (for colored students), and the public 

 libraries. The benevolent institutions include 

 Savannah and Saint Joseph's hospitals, Ogle- 

 thorpe Sanitarium, Georgia Infirmary for col- 

 ored people, and homes for the orphaned, the 

 aged and the friendless. Christ Church, erected 

 in 1838, replaces the old one built in 1740. On 

 this site John Wesley, the founder of Method- 

 ism, first preached in America. 



Commerce and Industry. The steamship com- 

 panies and railroad terminals, which occupy 

 four miles of wharves, provide modern facili- 

 ties for shipping freight. Savannah is one of 

 the largest naval-stores ports and one of the 

 largest export ports for sea island cotton in the 

 world. It also ships great quantities of rice, 

 lumber, sugar cane, fruits and vegetables, the 

 products of a large fertile surrounding territory, 

 cotton goods, cottonseed products, turpentine, 

 rosin, fertilizer and phosphate. Although Sa- 

 vannah is primarily a shipping center, its manu- 

 factures are of considerable importance. Besides 

 the manufactures listed among its exports, it 

 makes foundry, machine-shop and lumber-mill 

 products. There are also large railroad car and 

 repair shops here. The rice mills and cotton 

 compresses are features of special interest to 

 tourists. 



History. The settlement made at Savannah 

 in 1733 under James Edward Oglethorpe was 

 the first European colony in Georgia; a granite 

 seat in Bay Street marks the spot where the 

 first tent was pitched (see illustration, page 

 4345). Among later arrivals were John and 

 Charles Wesley, who came in 1735 but two 

 years afterward returned to England. The city 

 was the seat of government for Georgia until 

 it was taken by the British under Colonel 

 Campbell in 1778. The first legislature met 

 in Savannah in January, 1755, and in 1775 the 

 first Provincial Congress was convened there. 

 In 1779 the city was unsuccessfully attacked by 

 a French fleet under D'Estaing and an army 

 under General Benjamin Lincoln. At this time 



