Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-22

What the Railroads are Doing for Balm
bridge.

What the Railroads are Doing for Balm
bridge.
Editor Morning NelcS. Bainbridge ought
to be happy. In long editorial the Demo
crdt Dives a glowing description of the
prosperity of the town. and pictures IN
bright colOrs the improved business cut
look ofthat section. Itdeclares that Balm
bridge will handle at least 5000 bales Of
cotton more this season than in ten years
before, and that prices for transportation
have been so reduced that cambridge
merchants will be able to offer the
cheapest goods in that region and
still pocket handsome profits. Situated
on the Flint, only is miles above its juno
ton with the Chattahoochee, cambridge
now enjoys the competing rates of the
lines of steamers on both streams, and
when it is considered that these lines are
owned by great competing railroad COM
panies. crossing both rivers above and
below her. and that each is fairly ''spread-
ing" itself to control the trade. the re-
mark of the Democrat, 'Snothing like living
at competitive point,'' can
be appreciated. Four great rail-
way lines are competing for the trade
of the lower Flint and ChattahOochee,
and three of them at the very wharves OF
Bainbridgt. The Georgia Central crosses
at Columbus and Eufaula, but sends
steamers all down the ChattahOOchee to
bid for the produce, and branch of the
Savannah, Florida and Western cuts it
of from the Flint at Albany. only to re-
new the contest at the head waters of the
Apalachicola. The three great COM
pettors south of cambridge are
the Savannah. Florida and Western. the
Florida Central and the Pensacola and
Atlantic, all crossing the Alphabetical
| at ChattahOOcbee, 20 miles south of Balm
bridge. Over these routes Jacksonville
and Savannah have to compete with each
other and against the Pensacola and At
lantic, representing the Western cities,
and against a still more danger
Gus rival IN line of steamers
placed on those rivers to turn the trade
| upon New Orleans. Such competition
| must necessarily abandon all idea of
| profit. and be regarded only as ''war OF
rates" to determine who shall enjoy the
| trade of that section in the future. This
makes it solely a question of ability to
| carry on the war, and the longest pole
must knock down the persimmOn.
The Florida Central and Western Rail-
road. says the Democrat, shave redu ced
/ all freights from Bainbridge to New York,
and to Savannah and vice versa 1875 per
cent. below all other lines" This would
seem to be a settler not easy to recover
| from, but the New Orleans steamers are
| backed by the New Orleans merchants,
| and the hint ought to be taken by the Sa-
vannah, Charleston and Jackson
| vile merchants. These three cities
| should cOunterbalance the enterprising
| Crescent Of the Mississippi, especially
/ since they have the advantage of nearly
| 1000 miles the start on the water line for
| the great Eastern markets. The railroads
| do splendid work in bringing the trade OF
| far of countries to our doors, but they
should not be obliged 10 do it all, and
/ make all the sacrifice imposed by losing
competition. There should be a CO.
| operation of all the trades interested, and
! the losses as vel. as the profits should be
/ equitably distributed. OF what avail will
! be cheap railroad rates from the Apalachi-
| cola to Savannah, if the original cost is
| restored by mercantile rules and regula-
| tions in this harbOr? The gain made must
| be maintained throughout the transit
/ if the line is 10 be established, and it
must show conspicuOusly in the final foot
| ing of the bills. That the trade of those
/ rivers must finally fall to the Atlantic
cities under the Improvement Of railroad
/ facilities is only question Of enterprise
| and public spirit on the part of those
| cities. 1t is unreasonable that New Or
I leans should be able to draw cotton from
within 200 miles OF the Atlantic, and then
| double the cape of Florida. with heavy in
| surance, and deliver it in the English
markets as cheap as Savannah
or Charleston. If our people were as
/ wideawake she would not get a wisp of
the fleecy staple east of Mobile and her
! central rivers, or north of the railway
| line between this city and Vicksburg.
| The grades of our cotton ought to be as
| good as those Of New Orleans. We ought
| to be able 10 handle 1t as cheap, and
water transportation and insurance be-
/ tween Savannah and Liverpool ought to
! be a great deal lower than between Liver
| pool and New Orleans. ATLANTIC.