The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-17
rne Duty of savannah's Merchants.

The Duty of Savannah's Merchants.
Iu commenting upon some statements
which recently appeared in the MORNING
| NEWS showing that railroads which were
being built by other Georgia cities threat
eped to take from Savannah some OF her
trade, the Constitution of Atlanta, saws:
"In the old days Savannah has made a
| good deal Of fun Of Atlanta and Atlanta
methods, but Savannah viii have to come
down to business if she proposes TO hold her
own. Atlanta has had to fight for all she
Las, and she is prepared to fight for all she
expects to have, aud Savannah will have to
buckle down to business at last. Tho
| hurry -burlv will involve the Forest City in
the end, jus, as it involved the Gate City at
tho beginning. There is no eTading its de-
mands; there is no escaping the environ
ment. II he business men of Savannah
will resent a united front they can get any
concession from TIE railroad combination,
but if they proceed on the old lines they
viii get nothing. A word to the wise is
| sufficient"
| The MORNING news has presented the
danger fully and clearly by which Savannah
is threatened IL mas pointed out that the
| two railroads she has are not particularly
| lnterC sted in promoting her interests.
| N ither Of them is owned by those who are
| especially anxious to promote Ler welfare.
While they want Savanna to prosper be-
| cause her pres Gritty would contribute to
| their prospeliti, they do not propose TO
make aly sacrifices for her. They are not
conte uplating the building of railroads to
count eract the effec of the railroads now
being constructed which threaten to injure
her trade. Indeed, they have not hesitsted
| 10 do things which have hurt her. II 1t
had nor been for an agreement between
them, much of tho cotton which has gone
to Bruniwick this season by way of the
Savannah, Amaricus and Montgomery
| road would have come to her.
OF course these railroads are not to be
blamed for doing what they think is for
their Test interests. They are doing just
what every business man aud corporation
in Savannah is doing. Tie fact that they
| are looking aft=r their own Interests, re-
| gardless Of Savannan's, is moatio led sim
ply to impress upon SaVannah's business
men ami real estate owners that hey have
| got to help themselves. If they wait for
! others to do what they ought to do them
| selves, they win wait long time without
| having their condi lea bettered.
The men who have stake in Savannah
| are doing u good deal of talking. They
| rec guizs the existence of the danger which
| threatens them, bu. they don't seem to be
willing to take the necessary steps to aver
| it. They viii have 10 do something in the
| near future if they want to protect what
| they have. Why not begin 10 act ut oncel
| Why wait until the condition OF affairs be-
comes worse} Is there anything to be
gained by delayl
The building Of one or more railroads
will not require any sacrifices on the part
Of those who assist in the work The his
tory of the road that is now being built
from Macon to PalatSa justiies the state
tuent That q railroad can be built from Sa.
| vannah to McR1e to connect with the Sa.
vannah, Americas AID Mon gomery rail
road, or to Columbia, s. c., with profit to
those who invest i'll it. Tie bui ding Of
either one f these railroads, therefore, or
both Of them, simply means the putting of
money into a good Investment and at the
sdIue blu4c OESIlLk tuo way LOT savannah
to new fields of { ade.
Some Of orr merchants who are deeply
interested in having these railroads should
exert themselves actively in behalf of them
at once. There is no occasion for mass
meeting or anything of that kind. Let
half a d. zen energetic men get together
and organize company, and then set to
work TO interest other merchants and the
real estate owners in it. They will be able
to get subscriptions sufficient for their pur-
pose. When they have secure financial
basis let them organize a construction com
pany and begin opei ations. The railroad
from Macon to Palatla is being constructed
in that way, and every man who has in
vested in it is better Off financially for
having done 50.
Savannah has the men and the money to
build the railroads she needs Her leading
men, however, seem to be wanting In a
spirit of enterprise. 1t requires great
deal of urging to get them TO take an active
part in new undertakings. They must
shake of the lethargy which seems to para
lie their energies. The present condition
of Savannah's affairs, from trade stand
point. calls for united, energetic aud intell-
gent action from them. Are they not ready
TO prove themselves equal to the demands
upon themi