Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-18
THE RAILROAD PROBLEM.
The Savannah, Dublin and West
ern short Line.

ern short Line.
In view OF the fact that movement is
now on foot to take from those whose in
terests and sympathies are with savan-
nah, the control of the Central railroad, is
it not well for US TO look TO the future and
prepare for such an emergency?
The decision of our courts removing the
injunction in the case of Ferguson Il Co.
VS.. the Dublin and Western Short Line
railroad practically removes all obstacles
to the early completion of this road. In
fact am reliably informed that con-
tract has already been made with con-
structiOn company ofNew York composed
of gentlemen Of large wealth and great
experience in railroad matters, which
assure their ability and purpose to carry
out their engagement to build and equip
the road from here to Macon within eight
months, and also to finish the branch
lines to Americas and HaWkinsYille
within fourteen months.
AS wholesale merchant OF over
twenty years standing in Savannah, alive
to her interests and future progress. do
not hesitate to say that this road wheD
completed to Birmingham, Ala, as it
soon will be, will nearly, if not quite,
double the commerce of our city. Now
the only condition to the immediate CON-
mencement and the rapid completion OF
this road by the COnstruc lion Company is
that the people OF Savannah, Dublin, Ma
con, Cochran, Hawkinsville, Americas
and the country along the line OF
the road shall subscribe to the
capital stock of the company, the
sum Of $300,O00, payable only when the
road is built and equipped. OF this
amount Savannah is expected to raise
1926 aud our sister cities stand ready
and willing to raise the balance, and when
we take into consideration that shrewd
and wealthy capitalists who have no inter-
est in our city are willing to risk millions
while we are only asked to risk thousands,
it seems to me that Savannah's proper
ton should be made up at once.
The amount OF subscriptions asked for
are not for road to be built, but for the
road when completed and at work and
making earnings for the investors.
But if the entire amount asked tor was
a donation | would consider it one of the
best investments the citizens ever made.
Think of the large sum expended by our
city toward the building Of the Albany
and Gulf railroad (nOw the Savannah,
Florida and Western that artery through
which the best blood Of Savannah's pros
perity flows. The amount has never been
returned TO our city treasury in actual
cash, but where is the citizen who dares
to reprimand the Council who voted the
subscription, and we all know it has been
returned to US an hundred fold in the in
crease of business, the enhancement of
values on real estate, and the building up
Of our city's commerce.
The territory through which this road
runs is SaVannah's legitimate territory,
it's development means Savannah's pros
perIty. Think of the new territory
opened to our naval stores business, to
our lumber interest. Think of the thous-
ands of acres Of virgin timber lands,
whose products must necessarily come
to our port.
Those who are keeping an eye on the
railroads OF our State, must see that lines
are being built from atlanta, Macon,
Columbus and Americas, the completion
OF which must work great injury to the
business OF Savannah, and the natural
| tendency of business is from the seaports
| to inland transportations, and it behooves
| our citizens to let no chance pass by
which we can bring trade TO our port.
Look for an example TO the thriy-
ing town of Notwithstanding
| her $4,000 bales of cotton annually.
| Formerly every bale came to Savannah,
and now largely diverted via East Tenn
essee, Virginia and Georgia railroad to
Norfolk, ana upon the completion OF the
Dublin road would be restored to our port.
| Our old Central, which has so greatly
benefited the interests of our citizens, and
for which We all have the greatest appre-
citation will, L think, find this new road
rather an ally than rival, and in the
event Of its falling into the hands of other
parties which every good citizen who
has the interest Of the city at heart
should try to prevent) it will be Il matter
of lie and death to our city to have a line
devoted to her interests as the Savannah
Dublin and W estern must be.
BAY STREET MERCHANT.