Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-23
CENTENNTAL COTTON EXPOSITION
Savannah's Grand Opportunity-A Prac-
teal Suggestion.

/ Editor HOrpjng NelrS: In the life of
cities, as of men, there comes a time
which, taken at the flood, will lead on to
! fortune. In Sayannah's case | believe
that a chance is now before her of which
if she be wise enough to avail herself, she
will achieve more growth and prosperity
during the next two years than in many
years without it. All that is required is a
/ liberal amount of pluck, perseverance and
! vim to inaugurate a ''bo0m" whose re-
suits will be more far-reaching than we
can now conceive.
The Cotton Planters Association have
decided to hold a Worlds Centennial
Cotton Exposition" in 1884, which is in
tended to surpass in magnitude and i'm
pOrtance everything of the kind that
America has yet seen. 1t is to be held in
/ some one of the principal Southern cities,
and Savannah, among others, has been
invited to compete for the prize of being
selected as the location.
/ The association expect to raise, without
difficulty, in the South, two millions of
dollars for the enterprise; of this sum the
! city selected is expected to head the list
with at least One-fOurth of that amount, or
/ 100000.
will not enter into the details and ar
/ guments by which it is shown that the
D
/ splendid success, financial and otherwise.
l will only urge the necessity of prompt
and resOlute action on the part of our city
/ to secure this distinguished consideration
for herself We possess advantages and
facilities for the occasion which, taken
together. are superior to those of any
other Southern city. / think the prefer
ence should be between Savannah and
New Orleans. with our advantage of being
more centrally located in the cotton belt
savannah is the second Southern cotton
market. and with our uneXcelled railroad
and steamship facilities, has every neces-
saTy requirement. In point of situation
and facilities for accessibility and trans
pOrtatiOn we are more favored than any
other city, and a strong, vigorous and
resolute effort ought to secure for her the
prize.
As to the apparently formidable amount
of subscriptions required. there is little
reason to fear that it will not be all re-
turned from the direct profits of the enter
prise. At any rate, the deficit, iffrOm any
cause there should be one, will be small,
and many times cOunterbalanced by the
benefits which must necessarily accrue,
directly and indirectly to the business and
building up of the city. That these Will
be incalculable, no sane man Will doubt
for a moment. The long talked of new
hotel would of course at once become
prime necessity, and the project receive
the immediate and decisive attention
which it deserves. Two years of activity
and hustle would at once ensue, and our
present prosperity would be enormously
enhanced.
Let as decide that the great Exposition
shall be held in Savannah, and then i'm
mediately 90 to work to effect our de-
termination. Let not the seeming expense
be too fearfully regarded: the harvest
cannot fail to abundantly repay the
greatest outlay we may be called upon to
make. Let the committee of the assecia-
ton be made to understand our unequaled
claims and advantages, and our readiness
to meet all requirements.
suggest that the Mayor without delay
(Which is dangerous call meeting of the
City Council to consider the subject and
invite the President and directors of the
Cotton Exchange, the prominent railroad
officials, and other leading citizens and
business men TO participate. ". T. W,