The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-06
The BUSINESS Year of 1ee7'ee.

The business Year OF 1907 90.
We present this morning statement of
Savannah's business for the year ending
Aug. 81. ard n very satisfactory statement
it is. 1t is a statement which ought to make
the heart of every Savannahian glad, be-
/ cause il shows that the city Is growing
rapidly, and that her prosperity is steadily
increasing.
The increase in Savannahs business Tor
the wear lSs7-SS was more than $4,000,
900. aud her entire business for the
wear was more than $lO4,0OO'OOo
Tie increase in her cotton receipts
WAS 30, 900 bales and the increase In her
holesaIe grocery business was more than
100000 The figures show little falling
off in the wholesale dry goods business and
in the retail business, but it is claimed that
as a matter of fact there was no decline IN
either but that there was an overeStmate
in each last year There was a little falling
off in the volume of the naval stores bust
moss, but that was owing to the efforts to
reduce production in the interest OF better
prices.
A year ago it was thought by many
that the demand for real estate could not
possibly become more active, and that there
would soon be decline in prices of lots and
in building. They were, however, mis-
taken. There was more activity in the
real estate market than in any previous
year, and the building boom, instead OF de-
! chniug, continued to increase. great
many fine residences were built, and some
verv solid business houses were erected
Indeed, throughout the entire year Savan-
nah continued TO grow right along, and the
faster she grew the more vigor she seemed
to have for further growth.
There was during the year very notice
able increase in enterprises calculated TO
help the cty's business. Fertilizer facto-
ries were built, and our two great railroad
stems, The Central and the Savannah,
Florida and Western, ran branches into
new territory which began to pour its
wealth into the citys lap in a constantly in
creasing volume. Owing to the growing
business of the Central, the Ocean Steamship
Company added a new steamer TO its already
large feet, and other additions are expected
to be made in the near future. Already
there is talk Of sending grain from the west
to Europe throug this port, and the great
grain elevator, which has stood idle on the
Ceutrals wbarves for so many years, may
soon be in active operation.
The city's health throughout the year was
remarkably good. With good water, good
drainage. and good sanitation, it could
hardly help being good. There is ground
for saying that it is possible to make this
about the healthiest city in the whole coun-
try. There is almost an entire absence of
some of the most fatal diseases which pre-
vail in other cities, and if it were not for
the high death rate among her colored pop
ulation, Savannah's death rate would be re-
markablv low. A marvellous change has
taken place in the city's health within the
last few years, and this change is due to the
greater attention that has been given to
sanitary matters.
Savanuah's future is certainly bright
one When it was predicted five years ago
at she would have population of $1,000
before 1892 the croakers laughed at the
pre- diction, and were inclined to doubt
whether her population would ever reach
that number 1t has already been reached
however, and it is quite safe to say that
before 1890 she will have within her limits
between $4,000 and 10000 people. The
MORNING NEWS makes the prediction that
before this century closes she will have a
population of 100000 The prediction is
not a rash one, because every year the sec
ton of country that is tributary to her is
enlarged, thus increasing her business and
making her capable of supporting a greater
population.
Savannah is already the greatest seaport
on the South Atlantic, the second cotton
port in the country, and the greatest naval
stores market in the world She is advanc-
ing far more rapidly than any of the other
South Atlantic cities, and if her present
prosperity continues, 1t will not be long be-
fore she will be so far ahead of them that
they will cease to be jealous of her.
There is one thing, however, toward the
accomplishment Of which she must bend all
her energies, and that is the improvement
of her harbor She must have a 2S-foot
channel to the sea. With that, her
greatness will be assured beyond all que:-
ton. The iron and other manufactured
products of Alabama and Tennessee, and
the gram VI LIS WtsO, VIII lhoh Soch uet
wharves in amounts that will require her
harbor to be at all times crowded with ship
ping.
Savannah has more public spirit than she
had few years ago, but she is still lacking
in that respect Her rich men should in
vest their money within her limits. Some
of those who have failed to do so have had
cause to regret it. because nowhere else
could they have obtained better returns on
| their investments 1t is doubtful il there
is anywhere n more inviting field to-day,
for capitalists, than Savannah presents. A
magnificent hotel, a handsome public build
ing and fine court house will be built
within the next year, and besides these pub
| lie improvements, there will be great
number of private ones. Yes, Savannah is
going ahead, and is going SO fast that she
has no time TO listen to croakers, who were
| once numerous and influential, but who
now have almost disappeared.
The Chicago Tribune doesn't agree with
the free whisky plank of the repubica n
platform, and it doesn't agree with Mr..
| Blaine's idea Of trusts, but yet it is putting
! in the usual amount of work for the repub-
lican ticket, and manages to get up a good