The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-26
From savannah TO Columbia.

The time has come for the business men
and property holders of this city to show
the extent of their sincerity in saying tnat
they want more railroads. They know now
that if Savannah is to have more railroads
they must help build them. Are t,Ay ready
to helpl That is the question that will be
put TO them to-day and on several sub
sequent days. Their swer must be in the
shape of a liberal subscriptions subscrip-
ton that win not be a gift, but a good,
solid investment.
The South Bound railroad, or at least
that portion of it between Savannah and
Columbia, s. c., is in such shape that its
projectors feel justified in saying that il
will be built if Savannah responds to the
demands upon her In its behalf. A commit
tee has been appointed to solicit subscrip-
tions, and it will begin calling upon the
business men and property owners of the
city to-day. 1t ought to meet with success
OF the most gratifying kind. 1t Is not q
committee to solicit favors, but one to
offer q chance to assist in averting a COM
mon danger.
The people along the line Of the projected
road recognize its Importance to them, and
are ready 10 do what they can for it. Be-
tween Savannah and Barnwell Court House,
S. c., $50, 900 has been subscribed, and there
is a reasonable certainty that as much
more can be obtained in the same territory
provided Savannah shows by her subscrip-
lions that she intends that the road shall be
built SavaDnah's responsibility in the
matter. therefore, is very great. 1t depends
largely upon her whether or not the pro-
jected enterprise shall be q success
The projected road is one that will be of
vast benefit to Savannah. The line of it is
through well-settled and prosperous sec
ton Of South Carolina, the people eff which
now do their trading with Charleston. If
they are brought into direct railrosd com
munication with Savannah, however, they
will make her their trading point, because
they will be nearer to her than to any other
important city. They produce many thou
sands Of bales of cotton annually, and their
wants in the way of supplies of one kind
and another are great. Their contribution
to Savannah's trade, therefore, would be
very large.
The projectors of the road have already
subscribed to it literally They are not
more interested in 1t, however, tina are
their fellow citizens. They want the road
for the good it will do Savannah. Savan-
nah's prosperity means their prosperity,
and the prosperity of every one doing bust
ness or owning property within her limits
The enterprise is not one of few men to
make money. 1t is one that is needed to
meet the city's present trade emergency
Savannah is bound to seek trade in new
fields, and what more inviting field is there
than that which is tributary to this pro-
Jected railroad?
Savannah has watched other cities build
railroads to draw trade away from her
without doing anything to protect herself.
The time has come when she must act She
must use portion of her accumulated
wealth to defend herself against the en-
croachments Of her sister cities. If she does
not she will nnd herself bottled up, as it
| were, and all her natural adva ltages will
| not be sufficient to command a trade for
her that will insure her a continued pros
peritv.
All the facts about the South Bound road
are known. What is expected from it has
been fully explained frequently. The need
OF Savannah for more railroads has been
pointed out. When the subscription COM
mittee, therefore, calls upon citizens for as
sistance let there be a prompt and liberal
response.