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The United States Government has spent to date $10,699,
364.91 on the improvement of the Savannah Harbor. These
expenditures for construction and maintenance when read in
their totalities seem large but the gratifying increase in com
merce with the improvements, gives at once a justification for
past work and future growth of the port.
From 1884 to 1914, inclusive, a period of thirty years,
Savannah has shown an increase in Foreign Exports of 454%%
New York " " " "
Boston " " " "
Baltimore " . " " "
Philadelphia " " " " 78%%
Bank of principal ports of the United States, namely New
York, Savannah, Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, Galveston,
New Orleans and San Francisco, in foreign exports of domestic
and foreign merchandise;
In 1910 Savannah ranked 7th in position in the United
States and 5th in position on the Atlantic Coast.
In 1912 Savannah ranked 4th in position in the United
States and 2nd in position on the Atlantic Coast.
In 1914 (Revised customs of districts) Savannah ranked 4th
in position in the United States and 2nd in position on the
Atlantic Coast.
Cotton is the chief product of Georgia and of other Southern
States. Savannah is the second largest cotton port of the world.
being exceeded only by Galveston, which is the outlet for the
enormous cotton crop of Texas. Savannah receives cotton not only from Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama, North Carolina and South Carolina, but from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee,
and even as far west as Texas.
Savannah is the leading port of the world for naval stores (turpentine and rosin).
Through this port also passes large and valuable cargoes of lumber, steel products from the
Birmingham region, and miscellaneous products of the factories, fields and mines of the entire
southeast. The inbound cargoes include a great variety of manufactured products which the
people of the southeast are accustomed to buy from points in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Dela
ware, New York, Connecticut, Ehode Island, Massachusetts, Ohio and in many cases from as far
west as Chicago. These products move by rail from the interior to the northern ports, Boston,
New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, thence by steamer lines to Savannah and thence by
rail lines to the interior of Georgia and other States as far west as the Mississippi Eiver and
in some cases even beyond.
Savannah is the principal port of the Southeast for through shipments by rail and water.
The Savannah Eiver is fresh water, and has a depth of 32 feet, 6 inches at mean high water.
Savannah has the largest cotton seed oil refinery in the world.
Savannah is one of the leading cities of the world in the manufacture- and shipments of com
mercial fertilizer.
Savannah's marine commerce averages over $400,000,000 annually.
Savannah is the largest cotton port on the South Atlantic and second largest in the world,
averaging approximately 2,000,000 bales annually.
Savannah is the largest sea island cotton market of the world, handling over 60% of the
entire crop.
The steady growth in the handling of cotton through the port of Savannah has necessitated
the erection of a cotton warehouse and comprese of approximately 150,000 bales capacity in addi
tion to the commodious warehouses and compresses on the several terminals.
The only Sugar Befinery between Philadelphia and New Orleans is located at Savannah. The
capacity of the plant is approximately 1,500,00 pounds of refined sugar per day.
Savannah as a seaport enjoys advantages as a manufacturing, jobbing and distributing
center which few cities excel, and as a manufacturing city offers greater inducements than any
city in the Southeast.
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