Augusta, Georgia, USA
1854 - Augusta

Augusta, a handsome city of Georgia, and capital of Richmond county, on the Savannah river, 231 miles from its mouth, 120 miles N. N. W. from Savannah, and 136 miles N. W. from Charleston. It is the second city of the state in population and importance. The Georgia railroad, of which Augusta is the eastern terminus, extends to Atlanta, and the South Carolina railroad connects it with Charleston. The following extract from a letter received from a highly intelligent gentleman of this place, will be interesting, as explaining the causes of its former and present prosperity: — " Situated at the head of navigation on Savannah river, it was for many years the chief and indeed only inland town of the state of any commercial importance, and so continued until that spirit of internal improvement was aroused in the people of Georgia which has acquired for our state the enviable fame of the empire state of the South. For some years after the construction of the Georgia railroad Augusta visibly declined, as was manifested , by the tenantless houses, empty streets, and decrease in population. This decline was owing to the fact that the peculiar kind of trade (the wagon trade) on which the prosperity of the city had depended, was entirely taken away from her. This blight, how ever, was not of long duration. The character of our business has altogether changed. The upper country of Georgia has been densely settled, the advance in improvement and civilization has created new wants where none before existed ; villages have sprung mushroom-like into life, and the merchants of these country villages have become to those of Augusta what the merchants of Augusta were to those of Charleston, New York, and Philadelphia. In a word, our merchants have established a wholesale business, and now sell tens of thousands where before they sold but thousands. Another cause of prosperity is the Augusta canal, which was constructed in 1845. It is nine miles in length, and brings the waters of the Savannah river some 36 or 40 feet above the level of the city. By the water-power thus furnished, factories, machine shops, and other such establishments have been erected and are now in successful operation. Now there are no houses tenantless, and none to be procured at any rent. New buildings are going up every day for the accommodation of our increased population. Augusta has increased in population wonderfully in the last 6 or 6 years, and who now number, by a recent city census, over 12,000." The streets are wide, straight, and lighted with gas. Among the remarkable public buildings are the city hall, which cost $100,000, the Richmond Academy, a Masonic hall, and a Medical college. Augusta also contains about 14 churches, a hospital, arsenal, 6 banks, (including a branch of the state bank,) and 4 or 5 newspaper offices. A line of steamboats communicates with Savannah. A bridge crossing the river connects the city with Hamburg in South Carolina.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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