Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-01
Sayannah's Manufacturing Pros
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For several years there has been a
! great deal said in the South about the
advantages which the Southern States
offer to manufactures of one kind and
another. At the present time the South
ern press and people are thinking more
about the establishment of manufactures
than at any previous time. In almost
every Southern city there is movement
Of greater or less magnitude, which has
for its object the encouragement OF manu-
featuring.
There is, perhaps, less being done In
Savannah towards the establishment OF
manufactures than in almost any other
Southern city. The reason, however, is
plain. Savanna abs capital and popula-
ton are wholly employed In the various
kinds of profitable business. She has
few manufacturing interests, but they are
dwarfed almost into insignifcance by her
other interests. The time ID not very dis
tant, perhaps, when she will have surplus
capital seeking investment, and, also, a
greater population than her present busi-
ness interests will support. She is grow
ing quite rapidly, and in few years her
population, from present indications, will
be very much greater than 1t Is now. She
will then doubtless think about establish
ing manufactures.
The success OF manufactures depends
largely upon the opportunities af-
forded the operatives for living chea ply.
House rent must be very reasonable and
food supplies must be cheap. 1t must be
admitted that now neither food supplies
nor house rents are cheap in this city.
House rents, however, are getting to be
very reasonable, ON account Of the large
number OF houses being built, and with
plenty OF competition food supplies doubt
less will cost no more than they do else-
where. BY the time the city is ready to
give special encouragement to the build
ing of manufactures the conditions re-
quired to conduct them successfully will
have been secured.
There is one thing that is being done
for this city which does not appear to be
very generally appreciated and under
stood. 1t relates to the city's health.
There is no use to attempt to build up
manufactures in place where there is
liable to be great deal OF sickness.
There was time in Savannah's history
when levers were quite prevalent at GER
tain seasons of the year. Those who have
studied the health reports for the last two
years, however, are surprised at the de-
cressing number Of climatic fever cases.
The increasing healthfulness OF the city
Is due largely, If not wholly, to the city's
improved and increased drainage. The
pools and stagnant ponds which were so
noticeable throughout the city a few
years ago are seen no more. They have
disappeared, and with them the chills
and fevers have, to a great extent, disap-
peared.
AS soon as the work Of draining the city
is completed the work of draining the
county will be resumed. Chatham coun-
ty has enough good land to sustain thou
sands of farmers. If the county were
properly drained the land would soon be
occupied and good roads built. Instead
OF being surrounded by swamps and bar
rem lands Savannah would have back of
her a we'll cultivated and a thickly popu-
lated country, and that is the sort OF a
country that is necessary to a manufac-
turing town, because it supplies abund-
antly and cheaply the wants OF a factory
population.
Whether Savannah becomes manu-
featuring city or not the drainage of the
county will be followed by very good
results. Not only will there be greater
healtnfulness, but the lands will be
brought under cultivation. There is not
much doubt, however, that before many
years Savaunah's growing population
will demand manufactures, and that she
will afford a market for pretty much all
that the country Immediately about her
produces.
The Cotton Situation.