Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-16
More Railroads Wanted.


Editor Morning NelcS: So far from de-
string to oppose obstacles to the prosperi-
ty of the railroads, the cry comes up from
the people Of many sections Of Georgia,
s'Give us more railroads for the develop
ment of our resources" Although Geor-
gia has more miles Of railroad than any
other Southern State, it is fact for the
consideration of railroad men that she has
scarcely more than half what she needs
for full development, and what she will
possess in a few more years. The de-
mand keeps steadily in advance Of the
supply, and in no instance has our
capitalists promptly met the ne
cessity of the case. Capital
is proverbially ''timid." Its owners gen.
orally examine the situation long and
carefully-weigh with all the skill ana
caution of eXperience-the chances for
and against the investment, and feel war
ranted in the outlay only when the coast
is entirely clear for reasonable profit.
Meantime very many strong and lnfuen-
tlal communities, though burning with
impotence, are compelled to wait; and
many fertile sections remain isOlated-eut
off from all power of contributing to the
great volume of the country's trade, and
new commercial impulse thrilling every
section touched by railroad. More than
thirty counties In Georgia are wholly
without railroad facilities, while num-
Der of others are merely touched without
enjoying the full benefit; and the number
of new lines, short branches and cross
sections needed-many of them loudly
called for-wOuld surprise some who sup
pose the State amply provided with such
facilities.
Among those projected or under dis
cussiOn among the people may be named
a new route between Columbus and Sa-
Yannah, by way of Americas and
Hawkinsville, greatly shortening the run
between the former cities and passing
along the northern border of the great
''pine belt' OF Southern Georgia. A large
area OF country would be developed by
this road and greatly increase the trade of
Savannah. The next in rank is the pro-
jected road between Macon and the Florida
line in the direction of Madison and Dead
mans Bay on the Gulf. This road would
open up to Macon and to the Gulf coast
the very heart of Georgia's great pine
forest, and connect with the central cities
of the State, a vast area of high rolling
pine land that cannot be matched in
the South for combining salubrity
and healthfulness with the
pass through the counties of Dooly, Irwin,
Berrien and LOwndes or Brooks, in Geor-
gia, and thence into Madison and La
fayette, in Florida; and beside delivering
the pine timber of Georgia on the Gulf
coast, will supply a great interior region
now deprived of those advantages, with
the tropical fruits of the West Indies.
This road has been surveyed, part of
the line located and the work of grading
considerably advanced.
Another important enterprise, delayed
by circumstances with which the writer
is unacquainted, is the Cuthbert, Column
bus and Florida Railroad, seYenty-fVe or
eighty miles of which were graded a few
years ago, to connect Columbus through
Northwestern Georgia, with the middle
Florida system of railroads at Quincy.
This enterprise will receive new life in
the near future, and successfully open up
that great section in time to meet the
great projected railway from Memphis to
Columbus, which will give it direct con-
nection with the great Northwest.
Here are three long lines, not one cross
tie for which has yet been cut, but all
three of which are necessary and as GER
tain to be built as prosperity continues to
the country.
To these should be added another long
line from Savannah, or some point on the
Central road, to intersect the Macon and
Brunswick south of Eastman, in Dodge
county, and the projected Macon and
Florida, on the southern border Of Irwin.
Savannah cannot afford to let the wealth
of that great section drift away to build
up other cities to rival her in the trade of
the future; but it will be too late after the
channels of trade have been permanently
located and closed against her.
In reference to another enterprise, a
sprightly journal of the interior recently
said: elf Savannah had any enterprise,
if it were not one of the dead towns of
Georgia, it would see that it could add
thousands Of dollars to its trade annu-
ally by building the railroad from San
dersville to Athens via Union Point"
While Savannah is neither dead nor de-
void of enterprise, it must be confessed
that there is too much apathy among her
capitalists toward both her present and
future interests. The peoples seeking
trade connection with her should be en-
couraged, and the foundation, at least,
should be laid for future occupation of
the ground.
The railroad referred to would give Sa-
vannah large proportion of the trade of
"a very important section of North Geor-
gia, now tributary to Port Royal and
Charleston via Augusta; or to Norfolk,
Va, via the Atlanta and Charlotte Air
Line road.
The geographical position of Savannah,
the most westerly of all our Atlantic
cities, and the nearest Atlantic port to
more than three-quarters of the Union,
possesses advantages of trade, if proper
ly developed, that could not be overcome
by any future combination of cOpital.
MORE ANON.