The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-13
Savannah and Railroads.

1t IS admitted that say AMMAN needs more
railroads, She got along very well with
those she has until her sister cities began to
build railroads and take from her portion
Of her trade. Her business men understand
thar she is losing some Of her trade, but
somehow or other they do not seem to have
the energy and courage TO do what is neces-
sary to be done TO save her from further
loss, and to open new fields Of trade for her.
There are several roads that could be
built with profit to the builders and benefi t
10 Savannah. One of them is the Savannah,
Americas and Montgomery railroad. 1t is
now built from Americas to Abbeville, and
will soon be finished to McRAe. Those who
are building it will not bring it farther in
this direction than the latter place, because
at that point they will connect with the
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia, and
can reach the sea- GARD at both Savannah
and Brunswick. The trade which they will
control, however, will go, in all probability,
to Brunswick, because the distance to that
city is shorter than to Savannah. They
will, within year, however, build their
road westward TO Montgomery to get pos
session of part Of the western trade.
What is to hinder a company from build
ing a road from Savannah to McRae, thus
giving this city a short and direct route to
Southwest Georgia and to the west! Does
any one doubt that such a road would pay
handsome interest on the money invested
in itl II the building of It were placed in
the hands Of competent and honest men it
would not cost a very large sum. 1t is
quite safe to say that it could be built for
100000 The cost OF rolling stock and
terminal facilities is included in this esti-
mate. The amount Of cash needed to begin
this enterprise would not be more than
100000. The credit of the rosd would be
sufficient to build it after the first ten miles
were completed.
Cannot 500, 900 be obtained in this city
for building this roadl This sum would
not be gift. 1t would be an investment,
and good one' If some of the leading
business men were to take hold Of the mat
ter in an energetic and determined way,
they could raise all the money needed in less
than a week
The Savannah, Americas and Montgom-
cry railroad would bring Savannah into
communication with an immense extent of
country. 1t would cross the East Tennessee.
Virginia and Georgia, the Georgia South
ern and Florida and the Atlanta and Florida
railroads. The country tributary to all of
these roads is improving rapidly and its
trade is increasing every year.
The other roads which Savannah needs
and which she ought to help build, have
hpAn f1OjufpH nut aauAral fir1os nf
| them would connect her with Columbia, S.
| c., another with Fernandina. and still an
other with Macon. Doubtless all of these
roads will be built in time, but if Savannah
were to give them encouragement of the
right kind they would be built very soon.
The advantages which Savannah offers
for additional railroads is attracting atten-
| ton outside of her limits. A railroad con-
tractor, who is known for his connection
| with large enterprises, wrote to gentle
man of this city a day or two ago that
| Savannah was looked upon as a long way
the most important of the South Atlantic
| seaboard cities, and that among those who
discussed such matters it was thought the
| part she was destined to play in the
development of the trade of the south
could hardly be over-estimated. He ex-
pressed his intention of visiting Savannah
at an early day to look into her railroad adj
vantages, and said that he thought there
would be no difficulty in getting all the
| money needed for the building of the pro-
| Jected roads If outsiders talk like this, Sa-
vannah's business men ought to show more
| activity in advancing her interests