Variation in the Price and Siipphj of TVhcat. 
261 
It is not reasonable to institute any comparison of the activity of 18GG with 
that displayed iu 18G5, the first moiety of which was passed with the port 
closed to all foreign relations, when military occni)ation dominated in the 
State, and when no amalgamation had taken place between the white and 
coloured classes to work together again. It is better, perhaps, to judge the 
commerce of the past year in juxtaposition, wherever practicable, with such 
data as have been preserved, and reler to the period immediately preceding the 
war, when peace was flowing on iu uninterrupted current, and when the resources 
of the State were in a high degree of development. 
Such a comjiarison will aid in demonstrating how far from a position of 
total inactivity recovery has taken place towards former prosperity during the 
first clear twelve months of relegation to those agricultural pursuits which were 
so rudely interrupted by civil warfare. 
Imports. — Under the head of importation, it is to be noted that almost all 
agricultural and domestic implements, and wants of every description, have 
been supi)lied coastwise from the Northern States, and the activity of this 
portion of the commerce, which centralizes at Savannah, may be judged by the 
number of vessels (steam ships fully 150, besides over 300 sailing ships) which 
arrived during 1866 from Northern ports, and which, as a rule, brought full 
cargoes of goods and provisions for the consumption of this city, and for the 
up-counties and towns of Georgia, 
Exports. — Cotton and timber continued to be the principal exports. Eice 
was cultivated to a small extent, but had not figured as an article for 
shipment. 
With respect to the supply of cotton for exportation, the Table below 
demonstrates the quantities which reached this port during the respective years 
ISGO and 1866 :— 
1860. 
1866. 
Decrease. 
Approximate quantity of Cotton re-j 
ceived at Savannah January 1 to> 
Bales. 
540,000 
Bales. 
273,000 
Bales. 
267,000 
This shows a decrease of 267,000 bales ; but it is to be borne in mind that 
the crop of 1860 was the largest ever known to have been made in Georgia, 
amounting over the whole State to 750,000 bales, the ordinary crop usually 
going not far beyond 400,000 bales. 
Tlie labour market, at the commencement of the year, was not on a firm 
basis; and many planters, after preparing their land and sowing seed, found 
that their field hands deserted them at critical times, and that their labour 
was doomed to be fruitless. In the second place, some planters found that the 
inferior seed which they sowed at the beginning of 1866 failed to spring up or 
"stand," thus necessitating a second or renewed application of seed, the plants 
from which, owing to the lateness of the season when it was placed in the 
ground, became eventually seriously affected belore reaching maturity, by 
the long drought which prevailed. 
Bailroads. — Two termini of the railways which intersect Georgia are 
situated at Savannah. These railroads brought in cotton and other products, 
and disseminated through the country the goods which arrived from the North, 
a large amount of trafBc having thus been carried on. 
The lines which start from Savannah are the Central Railroad and the 
Atlantic and Gulf Railroad. The former connects the seaboard with the middle 
