Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-05
Savannah and Her Rivals.

Editor Morning NelrS: 1t has been ac-
cepted as a true saying that Eternal
vigilance is the price OF liberty" and it is
equally true that constant activity is the
price of commercial prosperity. To this
activity must be added good Judgment.
skill, foresight and bold execution. The
necessity for these qualities with us is the
greater. on account Of the extraordinary
enterprise exhibited at this time by the
rivals of our city. This enterprise is
especially apparent in the con-
struction and management of rail
roads to transport the products of
Georgia and neighbOring States to harbOrs
north Of and distant from Charleston and
Savannah, the nearest and most natural
ports for the shipment of all the cotton,
grain, lumber and rOsin raised in South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and
in parts of Mississippi and Tennessee.
Our rivals are far from acknowledging this
natural order of things, and are moving
with great energy to draw the products Of
the territory embraced within the limits
named to the marts of the world.
over long and unnatural lines
Of land transportation to Whining
ton, y. c., Norfolk, Richmond and
even TO Baltimore and Philadelphia.
On reference to the comparative state
ments of cotton received at the different
ports in 1882 and 1888, published in the
NEWS, it will be seen that the Virginia
receipts are greater this year, prior to
the 21th ult., than last, by 166,S12 bales,
while the increase Ofreceipts at Savannah
has been only SS,j37 bales, being only
about one half. Such results are not flat
tering or encouraging to our merchants
nor TO the stockholders in our railroad
So
and pull together" merchant, mechan-
ic, railroad manager, planter and farmer,
standing shoulder to shoulder. change
these results, and hold fast, at least, to
all that naturally belongs to us. There
Is a proud future in store for our native
South, and firm resolve to have and
70 hold our share of her prosperity is all
that's needed to secure ii.
BY casting the eye over map of rail-
roads located i'm the Southern States, and
leading to and from our territory, it will
be seen that there are at least two great
lines. which do. and will compete vigOr-
Ously with the roads leading to Charleston
and Savannah. and they are rivals not to
be dispised. We mean the Richmond and
Danville system, and the East Tennessee,
Virginia and Georgia system. Both
draw largely from the territory, which
should naturally be a tributary to
Savannah and Charleston alone, and will
be. if we take full advantage of the situa-
ton which gives shorter haul to our two
ports, as well as other facilities resulting
in cheapness of transportation and other
economics.
If we take the city of Atlanta, situate
near the centre Of-Our State, and which is
connected with both Charleston and Sat
vannah by railroads in excellent cOndi-
ton. also with Wilmington, Norfolk and
Richmond, we find the respective dis
tances TO be as follows:
Atlanta to Savannah, 296 miles.
Atlanta To Charleston, 30I miles.
Atlanta to Wilmington, 42O (abOut), by
Augusta.
Atlanta to Wilmington, 45j about, by
Charlotte.
Atlanta to Norfolk, 549 miles.
Atlanta to Richmond. 54S miles.
1t Is apparent from these figures that
Savannah has the shortest haul from the
centre of Georgia to the ocean OF any
city named in the foregoing list, being
less than that to Richmond or Norfolk by
over 30 miles. The distance to Charles
ton is less than that to the Virginia ports
bv 24l miles. Yet we find the startling
fact that cotton and other fTeights are
carried i'm large quantities to Virginia by
the Richmond and Danville line, and the
freights i'm that direction are increasing
TO an alarming extent. In cotton alone
the increased receipts this year over laSt
Mt Richmond and Norfolk have been, as
stated. 1866 Sl2 bales. \ considerable por-
tion of the freights to Virginia from GeOr-
gia goes over the East Tennessee, VIZ
ginia and Georgia system through Knox
vile. Bristol, Lynchburg and Petersburg.
known as the ''Kennesaw Route The
distance from Atlanta to Norfolk by this
route is AS miles-say 452 miles greater
than from Atlanta to Savannah, and AL
miles more than to Charleston.
It is evident from the foregoing data
that our pOrts-Savannah and Charleston
have decided, nay, immense advantages
in the land haul from the centre of our
state over that of the cities of North Caro-
lima and Virginia. These facts being
known and considered, we may rely upon
the intelligence. skill and energy of our
people. in due course of time, TO assert
and maintain their commercial rights.
Nay >, 1888. SAVANNAH