Note: The following is part of a series of columns exploring use of rivers in the early history of Georgia and Bulloch County. Samuel Howard put ads in the Savannah Republican newspapers in 1818 seeking men to cut wood for his steamboats that would be going up the Altamaha River and establish stocks of cut wood at various landings along the way. The Aug. 11, 1818, issue told its readers that Howard was "desirous of contracting for regular supplies of WOOD. ... Must be pitch pine ... well-seasoned. ... Send their proposals ... specifying the rate per cord."