produces and the connections which are the consequence, will make it difficult to turn the channel of trade to another port. This river and its tributary streams are of more consequence than is generally known, rising near the mountain's brow, and flowing in majestic streams to the Ocean, through the most fertile Country that nature ever formed. In a situation which, when our territory is enlarged by a purchase of the land towards our southern boundary will be near the middle of the state, from North to South. The State University fixed near one of its streams; the opening a road from the head of those streams to the state of Tenessee; the immense increase of population and of wealth, which is flowing in upon its adjacent land, promise this river and its towns an uncalculable degree of commercial importance. Appalachee River, the Southern Stream of the Oconee river, and the present temporary boundary of the State, falls into the main Oconee river a few miles below the line of Greene and Jackson Counties. There are several branches of the Oconee, called the North Fork, Middle Fork, and Mulberry Fork, all of which unite and empty into the Oconee river in Jackson County. Ohoopee River: This river rises in Washington County, and runs through that and Montgomery County, and empties into the Alatamaha river above Beard's Bluff, eighty miles above Darien. It is navigable for Boats and Rafts as high as the Mills built by Zachariah Cox, Esq. which are situated twenty miles from its mouth. It runs through a great extent of country, has many fine Mill-Seats on it and its tributary Streams, the principal of which are Pendleton's, Swift and Tiger Creeks, which rise in Montgomery County, and the Little Ohoopee river, which rises in Washington County. Turtle River is a noble river, and capable of navigation for vessels of any burthen, to the town of Brunswick, and should the projected Canal be cut from the Altamaha to this river, it will The Rivers, Great and Little Satilla, are navigable for many miles from the Ocean. St. Mary's River, so important from being our Southern boundary, beyond which we cannot look for an acquisition of territory, is a noble river, navigable to the town of St. Mary's for vessels of any burthen, and for some distance above it. It empties into Amelia Sound in latitude 30:44. Islands. From St. Mary's river to the river Savannah there is a chain of Islands, which seem as if placed there by nature as a protection to our coast; they form a number of safe and commodious harbours, with good anchorage and have an inland navigation between them and the main. The principal are Cumberland. a large Island, which forms one part of the entrance into St. Mary's river, and Amelia Island, belonging to Spain, the other, through Prince William Sound; Jekyls, St. Simon's, Sapello, St. Catharine's, Ossabaw, Warsaw, Skidaway, Wilmington, Tybee and White Marsh. Those Islands produce immense quantities of black-seed Cotton, called Sea Island; were originally covered with live Oak. From them the timber for building our navy is procured. Savannah, which may be considered as our commercial Capital, is situated upon the south bank of Savannah river, in latitude 32:5, seventeen miles from its mouth. It stands on a high sandy Bluff, which is elevated fifty feet above the water, is regularly built. The public buildings are an elegant Exchange, Court-House, Gaol, a Filature originally built for a silk manufactory, now used as an Academy, a Jews' Synagogue, a Roman Catholic chapel, one Episcopal church, one Lutheran meeting-house, two Presbyterian meeting-houses, a Baptist meeting-house, two market-houses, a Tobacco Inspection, &c. The City was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, 1789, and is under the direction of a Mayor and Aldermen, with extensive powers. It is rising into commercial consequence; is the grand Emporium of the state, through which the principal riches are shipped, and at which all our imports are landed. Its commercial consequence is greatly increased from its situation, having a safe and convenient harbour, with an entrance equal to any in America; near the West-Indies, and having an abundance of articles of the first necessity to the Islands always at command; its navigation never interrupted by ice, point it out as the most convenient port to the Southward where vessels which are prevented returning home in the winter, from their rivers being blocked up with ice, can go for a cargo, in the time which would otherwise be lost, by laying in the West-Indies, where their vesels' bottoms are not unfrequently injured by the worm, or if they attempt returning are frequently driven off the coast, and obliged to seek shelter in our ports. The water is fresh at the City of Savannah, and possesses all the good qualities of the Delaware and Thames. The following articles of the first necessity to the West-India Islands, may always be obtained in abundance, to wit, Indian Corn, Flour, Butter, Bacon, Hams, Ranging Timber, Plank, Boards, Shingles, Staves and Heading, Tar, Pitch, Turpentine, Live stock, to wit, Cattle, Hogs, Sheep, Goats, Poultry, &c. &c. For the European markets, Sea Island and upland Cotton, Tobacco, Rice, Ranging timber, Pipe, Hogshead and Barrel staves, Beeswax, Peltry, Ginsang, and Snake root, Live Oak, Red Cedar timber for ship building, Masts, Spars, &c. &c. Augusta is situated upon the South-western bank of Savannah river, Latitude 33:40, on a beautiful and extensive plain. It is one hundred and twenty miles North-west of Savannah. The town is regularly laid out in streets, crossing at right angles. The principal street called Broad street, running nearly East and West, is a handsome, well built street, one hundred and sixty-five feet wide, has a row of trees for nearly a mile on each side. On this street sary manufactures of the Northern states, of Europe, the East and West-Indies. This City in point of riches is equal to any of the same size in the United States. The other streets are sixtysix feet wide, except Greene street, which is one hundred feet wide. There are many handsome well-built houses on them. In the rear of the Town a street has been laid out three hundred feet wide, in the middle of which an Academy containing a center building forty-five by thirty-six feet, and wings thirty-three by one hundred feet is now building. This building is ornamented with a Cupola and may be said to be the most elegant building of the kind in the Southern States; it is intended to accommodate one hundred and fifty Students. Upon a line with it, fronting another square, a Brick Building is now erecting for a Court House, upon a handsome and convenient plan. This street is intended to be ornamented with trees for a Public Walk. There are also a Church, Methodist Meeting-House, a large Stone Gaol, a Market-House and two Warehouses for the Inspection of Tobacco. No Town ever rose into importance, with such rapidity as this Town has. In the year 1785, on the spot where the Town stands, there were only ten houses-there are now three hundred and four houses, and it is fast encreasing in buildings, commerce, and every kind of improvement. It has the advantage of a most beautiful situation and enjoys a good climate, good water and is surrounded by fertile land. It will one day rise to a great degree of importance. It was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, January 31st, 1798. Harrisburg, a Town about two miles above Augusta, has a Warehouse for the Inspection of Tobacco, is opposite to the town of Campbellton, in South Carolina, and will probably at some short period be connected with it by a bridge across Savannah river. The banks on both sides are high. Louisville, the temporary seat of government, is situated upon an eminence near Ogeechee river, is a regular well planned town, forty miles S. S. W. from Augusta, has a number of good houses, and being near the center of the present boundaries of the state enjoys a considerable trade, mostly in Cotton. The public builings, are a handsome, well built State-house of brick, built in the middle of a square, which is tastely enclosed with pailing, has four entrances, one fronting each street, and is intended to be ornamented with trees, &c. The other buildings are a neat brick Academy, a Gaol, &c. It is the seat of Justice of Jefferson county. Federalton, a town on the Oconee river, near the line of Washington and Hancock, below Rock Landing, has a Tobacco Inspection, and from its being situated near the head of navigation for boats of sixty to one hundred hogsheads burthen, surrounded by a highly cultivated country, it is probable it may become the grand Warehouse for the riches of the Western Frontiers, and that the trade of Tennessee will pass to the Atlantic by the boats from that town, which now navigate the river. The river above, and many of its streams, may with a trifling expense be made navigable for Boats of ten to twelve hogsheads for many miles. Montpellier, a Town three miles above Federalton: the Rock Landing lies between those Towns-It enjoys the same advantages with Federalton and has a Tobacco Inspection. Waynesborough. The County Town of Burke County, has a Court-House, Gaol and Academy, is rising into consequence as a Commercial Town, being situated in a very rich neighbourhood. Warrenton. The County Town of Warren County. George-Town, situated at the Falls or what are commonly called the Shoals of Ogechee, in Warren County. Sandersville. The Seat of Justice of Washington County. |