Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-23
RetrosDectiye.

Retrospective
The monument, which has just been
completed in Wright square, is something
more than a memorial TO the first fresl-
dent of the Central Railroad, for IL pears
testimony to the energy ana sagdchy
which rescued Savannah from Impending
commercial decay and set her upon
the high road of progress, which she has
trayersed since with such surprising
strides. Let us 20 back twenty years
previous TO the time when Mr.. Gordon
was placed at the head of the Central
Railroad.
Savannah was then enjoying a wonder
full prosperity, evidences of which may
vet be found in the Theatre, the costly
Independent Presbyterian Church, the
massive structures now known as the
Owens house, the Habersham house, the
savage house, the Scarborough house,
NOW used as one of the free schools and
other buildings. all testifying 70 the wealth
of Savannah's merchant princes of that
period. and their confidence in her future.
Nearly all of the buildings on the
north side of Bay street
from Lincoln to Montgomery were
built during the period extending from
| 1872 to 1880. The little city was noted for
her thrift. and her merchants for their ell
terprise One of them, Scarborough,
built the first steamship that ever
crossed the Atlantic. Savannah's
stOutly built vessels could be seen in
every port. In fact, the city was
famed for her wealth. The country
along the Savannah, the Ogeechee, the st.
Mary's and the Altamaha was tributary
TO her The settlers who were retaining
the wilderness procured their supplies at
savannah and exchanged with her their
products. This was 4 brilliant era in the
history of the Forest City.
Her neighbOr. charleston, however, had
watched with lively concern her growing
trade. and seized upon the then new idea
Of railroad as means of gaining, or
| rather regaining, her lost commerce, and
| with an energy wonderful for the time It
which it was displayed built the South
| Carolina Railroad TO Augusta. The work
was done 50 rapidly and its effects were Sc
| sudden that the merchants of Savannah
| found their trade ali but vanished. Not
| only did the South Carolina Railway tap
| Augusta and the rich territory beyond
and turn the highway to the Indian cOun,
try, as North Georgia and Alabama
were then known, but steamers
were put on the Savannah river
that ran down to within a few
miles of our city and bore away the pro
ducts, of Burke. Scriyen, bingham and
other sections TO Augusta, thence to be
shipped to Charleston. Similar tactics
in late years brought about the decadence
of ApalachicOla, ireights having been
hauled up stream to points on. the rail
roads.
1t was life or death to Savannah, but
her people were equal to the emergency
and William w. Gordon, President of the
Central Railroad, amid many difficulties
had almost completed the road, wher
death cut short his labOrs
The projection and completion
Of the Central Railroad proved
the salvation of Savannah. From the
hour of its completion her progress has
been steadily maintained. Never ceasing
competition has beset her path, new rivals
for her trade have arisen, but she has gone
onward with dauntless energy and calm
confidence.
With her commerce and prosperity re-
gained, Savannah bethOught her of open
ing new avenue whereby her future
might be the better secured. This was
the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad. for the
completion of which DIR. James p. ScFeven
and his cO-laborers worked so long
| and so zealOusly. This great artery oil
trade, under its present able management.
and backed by ample capital, is extend
ing its branches wherever the interests OF
trade are to be served, and in few weeks
will place Savannah within reach of the
regions beyond the Mississippi, and
afford access TO her wharyes for the pro-
ducts of the great Southwest, Mexico and
South America, thus realizing the dreams
of the projectors of what is now known as
the Savannah, Florida and Western Rail
way.
At one time within the last decade the
close observer saw her prosperity put in
jeopardy. Combinations and absOrptions
of lines of railways threatened to divert
much Of her trade, but the far-sighted
policy of the late lamented Wadley was
interpOsed, and graSping the lines whose
| agency was relied upon to work her ill,
assured the maintenance Of her prosperity
Day by day we hear of new railway
combinations backed by fabulous capital
and prepared to build seapOrts, and there
are those who, perhaps, fear
at times that in the race with
/ future rivals Savannah may lose
much of her importance, but in the memo
rial to William W. Gordon, cOmmemOr-
ating as it does the sagacity of the man
and the energy of those who aided him,
and in the life work of William VI. Wad-
ley, there is.inspiratiOn. to nerve our people
for the trial should it come, and to con-
quer as did their predecessors.