Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-11
D,ra0t Trade with Europe.

Inc suDleSt VI unCSe eA"S
Europe and Southern ports has for years
past been question of spasmodlc dis
cussion. The advantages to be confer
red by such trade, if 1t could once be
established, are conceded, but it seems a
matter of impossibility to get capital
lists and transportation lines up to the
point of putting the idea into practical
operation. Some years ago it seemed as
if the dream of direct trade between
Savannah and Liverpool was about to be
realized, but from some cause or other
the steps necessary to secure its fulfill
ment were not taken, and, in conse-
ouence, whatever advantages might have
been reaped to the commerce and trade
of our city have been lost.
We believe, however, the time will
come, and at no very distant period, too,
when our growing commerce will de-
mand the establishment of a line of
steamers between this and foreign ports.
Not only has the business of Savannah
increased hundred fold since this sub,
iect was first discussed, but the indica-
tions are that in the years to come the
trade, and the consequent commercial
importance of our port, will be in
creased yet many hundred fold more.
Even now no city on the Southern sea-
board enjoys such advantages for
rising to high commercial rank as Savan-
nah. Her excellent facilities for water
transportation-each year being i'm
proved and rendered more excellent
combined with her railroads which
place her in ready reach of the great cot
ton and naval stores producing regions
of the South, and the grazing and grain
growing areas of the West, have already
made her the first cotton port of the
South, and she is rapidly striding to the
same position in the naval stores trade.
Her rice and lumber interests are also
exceedingly important, and it is no idle
dream of the visionary to expect that she
will speedily become also the great South
Atlantic entrepOt for Western produce.
These are the present advantages she
enjoys, and her future prospects are even
more gratifying. The completion of the
Macon and Brunswick Railroad exten
sion through to the West will practically
furnish her with another trunk line con-
nection with that region, while the pro-
posed extension of the Savannah, Flor
ida and Western Railway, via Climax
and Chattahoochee, to connection with
the railways running to Mobile and New
Orleans, will make of that line link OF
the Southern Pacific system with Savan-
nah as the first Atlantic port to be reach
ed by that system. In other words, Sa-
Vannah will become the Eastern ter
minus of the Southern Pacific Railroad,
whose Western terminus will be Los
Angeles, or San Diego, on the Pacific.
This must make of our city one of the
first commercial ports of the country,
and it is not outside the limits of reason
to anticipate for her the proud distinc
ton of eventually becoming the New
York of the South.
In view of these prospects of our city,
it is evident that the time must not be
far distant when she will need a direct
line of steamers to Europe, and it may
be that the proposed plan of the Central
Railroad Company to arrange with
foreign steamship company to bring
immigrants to our port for Transports
ton to the Southwest over our railways
will prove the nucleus for such line.
There is no reason why that venture
should not prove a success. Our sunny
land offers a most cOngenial home for
foreigners seeking their fortunes IN this
free country, and should many such
take advantage of the opportunities thus
to be afforded them, and the line
transporting them can secure profitable
return cargoes from our wharves, there
is nothing that we can see to prevent
the arrangement from being made per-
manent At any rate it will be start
in the right direction, and as great en-
terprises have, in large majority of
instances, to start from small begin
nings, this may prove the beginning of
an enterprise which is destined to be-
come a powerful factor in the problem
of Savannah's future Importance in the
commercial world. 1t is to be hoped
therefore the arrangement may be car
ried on to consummation, and that it
may succeed beyond the most sanguine
anticipations of its promoters.