Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-07
Trade and Trade Pros
poets.

| morning its annual review OF the trade 81
savannah for the year ending Aug. 81.
! The earthquake which caused so much
excitement here and elsewhere, and
which wrought such destruction at
Charleston, has delal ed the publication
OF the review. However, it will answer
lis purpose as well now as il it had been
published several days ago.
The business year that closed on Aug.
81 may justly be regarded as a fairly
prosperous one In this city, especially
when the fact that trade throughout the
whole country was very much depressed.
Savannah merchants suffered as business
men did elsewn mere, but it is doubtful If
they had as much reason to complain as
the merchants in some other localities.
They have one great advantage
over many other Southern cities. 1t is
that there is something here to keep the
wheels of trade turning all the time. The
city is not wholly dependent upon its
wholesale and retail trade when the cot
ton season ia over. The naval stores
trade, which is now very large, is active
throughout the summer, and the lum Der
business also is steady and growing
one. There was a time when 1t was
thought shat everything depended upon
cotton and rice, but that time is passed.
Cotton and rice are still great factors of
Savaunah's prosperity, but they are not
the only ores.
While the money value of the city's
trade last year was not much greater than
1t was the previous year, the volume of 1t
was considerably greater. The reason of
this is that the prices were made lower
last year than the year before and, there
fore, it required heavier transactions to
produce the same results.
Savannah can now be called growing,
prosperous city, without the least exag-
geration. There is, at present, a feeling
OF greater con idsnce in the city's future
than at any previous time, and this conf
dence is manifesting itself 10 improve
ments OF very extensive and substan-
tial character. Building IS going on rap
idly and there doesn't appear to be any
immediate prospect of its stopping. This
condition Of affairs is indeed gratifying to
all who feel an interest in the city.
There is one thing that is becoming
very noticeable, and 1t is well worth men,
tIoning, 1t is that more people of means
are coming to regard the city as their
home. They do not any longer regard 1T
as mere stopping place for six or eight
months OF the year, where they can make
money enough to spend the warm mon this
at the Northern summer resorts. A great
many go away for a short time in the
summer, but 1t is more with the idea OF
getting a few weeks change of climate,
a little recreation and rest from business
than any other. The fact is being recog-
nized that during the warm weather Sa-
vannah is just about as pleasant as any
are about as favorable. An intelligent
system Of drainage has been inaugurated
for the city and county which is being
gradually perfected. Its beneficial re-
suits were apparent from the outset, and
have become more marked as the work
has progressed. With the disappearance
of the ponds and stagnant pools the chills
and fevers, which were at one time SO
noticeable in the late summer and early
fall, have also largely disappeared.
1t is fact not likely to escape obssrva-
ton that Savannah business men have a
firm confidence in the ability not only to
hold the trade they have, but to increase
it. While they do not boast of what they
have, they are never heard complaining
that their trade is slipping away from
them. This is pretty good evidence that
they are quite well satisfied, and regard
the outlook for the future as promising.
Savannah's Importance can hardly help
to grow as the country tributary to
her as a business point and seaport in.
creases in wealth and Importance, Her
railways, which are being constantly ex-
tended, reach out in nearly all directions,
gather in the productions of rapidly de-
veloping country and pour them into her
lap. Her cotton, lumber and naval stores
receipts are increasing, and the amount
of her business is steadily growing in vol
ume. If her merchants are wise and
energetic they will push her into far great.
err commercial prominence than is even
thought of at present. Anyone making O
careful study OF her situation rs a sea
port. in connection with the grain fields
Of the great West, will hardly fail tC
reach the conclusion that the time is moi
distant when she must become the sea
board outlet for a vast extent o.
country. All that is needed
is deeper water to the sea, and that will
be obtained in a very few years. The
depth of water in the harbor now meets
the requirements OF all but the largest
class of vessels. and when the contem
plated improvements are completed ever
this class will be found at Savannah's
wharves. 1t is probable thst;then the
great West will not make either New
York or New Orleans its seaboard outlet
but will seek the sea at Savannah.
There is no doubt that Savannah mer-
chants could invest money prefltably in
some Of the projected railroads which
would connect the city with new terri
tory. Even il they should never get their
money again they would be well repaid
by the rich returns they would get in the
way OF trade. II a supreme effort were
m ade it is highly probable that very
considerable amount of money could be
raised for this purpose.
There appears to be a very general feel.
ing that the present year Is going to be q
prOsDerous one. Savannah looka conf.