Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-13
TRAVELLING SOUTHWARK.
BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR THE
WINTER RESORTS,

VITA a Prospect for an lnpreoedentet
Seasonal Heavy Tourist Travel Look
ed FOr-Whst the Railroad, steam
ship and Hotel Men SAY.
Within the past decade a wonderful
change has taken place in the passenger
traffic OF all Southern transportation COM
psnies. Florida has become as much a
winter resort as the sesshore and noun
tains are summer resorts. In July and
August sweltering humanity seeks COM
fort in cool retreats. In January and
February these same people fly before the
billiards and seek mllder climate. me
season OF the winter resort has become as
marked and fixed as the season Of the
summer hotel. or the two seasons the
latter is, perhaps, the most uncertain.
Enthusiastic Fl0ridians and Yoluble
transportation agents say that
Georgia's Southern neighoor Will
be the great winter resort Of the world.
il is pointed out how accessible the
peninsula OF Florida is 20 every point.
In time il is not two days from this cOun-
try's metropolis by rail, and only half a
day farther by water. The orange state
is lust as near st. Louis and Chicago in
time as il is TO New York. \ trip from
England takes less than 10 days, and
tourists from the other side are increas-
ing in number every year.
THE TIDE BEGINNING TO MOVE.
Representatives OF all the different
steamship and railroad companies stated
yesterday that the south-bOund travel
during the last three months has been
much heavier than during the correspond
ing months in 1884. Capt. j. b. West, Of
the Merchants and Miners line, running
between Savannah and Baltimore said
that the com pany which he represents
has carried decidedly more passengers
since Oct. than in the same period last
year. The tourist travel has scarcely be-
gun vet. Those who come South for
pleasure like to spend the holidays at
home, and the heavy passenger traffic
really does not begin until after the t1rst
week in January. October and Novem-
Der are the months in which the settlers
come South. Every incoming ship of the
Baltimore line during the autumn brought
frOm one to a dozen families who were
going TO Florida TO settle. The majority,
Of the settlers who come by way Of Bal
timore are from Maryland and Pennsyl-
Tania.
THE AUTUMN TRAVEL.
The settlers generally form colonies.
One or two farmers will visit the State
aud select a location, and then 20 back
y
ware families that moved out West during
the past few years have returned, but
none is reported to have given up the
South and gone back.
Gen. g. NJ. SOrrel, OF the Ocean Steam
ship Company, said that there had been a
marked increase in the travel from the
port Of New York TO Savannah this fall
over last. For a week or two before the
holidays there is a little lull in travel.
a n nj AZ
travel in the autumn months, and this year
ii was larger than ever before. The Ocean
Steamship Company has also brought
more settlers sOuIh this year than last.
Those who settled in South Georgia and
Florida few years back 90 North in the
spring and fall on a visit to their old
homes, and make considerable travel.
The InValids mostly start for Florida at
the approach OF frost IN the North. The
invalid travel, however, forms only
small part Of the passenger business now.
FLORIDA's VISITORS INCREASING.
Florida is not regarded any less as a
earitarium than heretofore, but it has
gained in reputation as a popular resort.
Those who 20 to that State for their
health form = very small percentage of
the total number Of visitors.
The Ocean Steamship Company
anticipates a considerable increase
OF the passenger traffic between the first
OF the new year and spring.
Mr.. +. c. Richardson, OF Richardson &
Barnard, the agents Of the Boston and
Savannah Steamship Company, stated
that the passenger business has been very
good this fall. The passenger lists show
a decided increase over 1884 and previous
years. On several trips recently passen-
gers have been turned away, the ships be-
ing full both cabin and Storage. The cap
tains report many old faces on
the steamers which indicates that
winter are coming back again.
New England has contributed good quo
ia Of settlers this year. They all bring a
snug little sum and do not start In their
homes without capital.
Mr.. Richardson has no doubt but that
the travel South after the holidays will
largely increase.
THE RAILROAD TRAVEL.
II is noticeable that the railroads are
paying more attention 10 the Southern
passenger traffic this year than hereto
fore. Particularly is this true of the lines
reaching up into the Northwest. No
matter where a traveller starts from, in
going 70 Florida the Savannah, Florida
and Western Railway Company is almost
sure TO carry him into the State. The line
is like tunnel into which is poured q
stream OF travel by the Boston, New York
and Baltimore steamships and the Coast
line, Central and East Tennessee, Nir-
ginia and Georgia railroads.
The Central road has arranged a
closer schedule and better service be.
tween the West and Northwest and Flor
ida than the public have had before. II
is now running four trains a day into the
State, direct from st. Louis, Chicago.
Louisville and Cincinnati. All of the
traffic goes either by way of Albany or
through Savannah. Maj. George A.
Whitehead, the general freight and pas
senger agent OF the Central railroad, is
advised by the company's representatives
in the West that there is an excellent
prospect Of largely increased passenger
business during the winter.
The Savannah, Florida and Western
Railway Company estimate that the in
crease Of travel will reach one-thiTd more
than last season.
AMONG THE HOTELS.
All OF the hotel proprletors say that there
have been more arrivals since Oct.
], this year, than there were
last year during the same months.
The bulk OF the travel. however.
has been among commercial people. The
settlers do not, OF course, stop over in
Savannah, and the early tourists have not
stopped very long this season. The pro-
rarfafasn Of tho Earavaft Drt1uaLF