The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-08
A Word of Warning.

waking up and taking careful survey of
tn territory which they have so long re-
garded as almost exclusively their own. IF
they do, what do they mean bv their fai ure
to make an effort to hold on 10 that which
they have so long enjoyed, and which is so
necessary TO their continued prosperity!
! Are they wholly Indifferent to business sue
: cess. or do hey lack the courage and men
/ tai grasp to graphic with the trade Difficult
/ ties which are beginning to present them
selves, and which threaten 70
| do them and their city in
calculable DAMAGE Perhaps they have
been so long in the pos ession of a profita-
| BILE trade in southwest Georgia and Florida
that they think that it cannot be wrested
from them If they do they are greatly
mistaken. New transportation lines change
the direction of the trade of the territory
tributary to them. Trade takes the line of
least resistance-that is, other things being
equal, it seeks the nearest markets, and pat
ronizes the shortest routes II other cities
build lines into territory which has hitherto
been considered as belonging TO Savannah
and bring themselves into closer commun-
cation with it than Savannah is, the prob
ability is that they will control the trade
| Of t.
Have our merchants given any thought
TO the effect the Georgia Southern and
| Florida railroad is having on Savannah's
trade and to the effect it will have when it
reaches its southern terniuus9 Some of
them undoubtedly have, because their COM
plainu3 have been heard, but those who
haven't ought to begin to study their maps
Of South Georgia and Florida at once.
They will see that their best territory is
| bei invaded, and that Macons merchants
are becoming their councillors there.
Starting from Macon the Georgia South
ern and Florida railroad strikes Triton on
the Brunswick and Western railroad, and
from there it runs to Valdosta, its southern
terminal for the present. 1t is being
rapidly graded, however, to Gainesville,
Fla, and win soon be ready for the Ties
and rails. The distance from Macon to
! Triton is 100 miles, and from Savannah TO
Triton l65 miles. From Macon to Valdosta
the distance is 1872 miles, and from Savan-
nah to Valdosta 157 miles To the territory
| west of Triton and to that sixty miles east
| of it Macon is nearer than Savannah. The
trade of the section of country indicated
is very large, too large for Savannah to
| lose without a struggle. In the territory
south of Valdosta, along the line Of the
| Savannah, Florida and Western Railway,
| MacOn's merchants have been put on an
equal footing with those of Savannah
And what about Macon's prospects in
| Foridal From Macon to GAINESVILLE the
distance Is 227, and from Savannah to
GAINESVILLE 247 These figures show an ad-
val tage for Macon in the very heart OF
Florida.
An interesting question presents itself
| 1t is this: What do Savannah'S mer-
chants propose to do! Do they intend to
sit quietly in their counting rooms. accept
ing meekly what comes to them, seeing
With indifference the trade which geograph,
ically belongs to them passing into the pos
session of the energetic and pushing mer-
chants of neighboring city and making
no effort in their own behalfl If thai is
their intention, then it is useless to disturb
them with suggestions how t. meet and
overcome the difficulties which threaten
them, but if they are ready for new enter
|
engage in a struggle for trade which they
can get, let them unite and open the way
| for reaching quickly the territory to the
north and west of Savannah. Let them
build short line railroad straight away
westward, and meet the railroad from
| Americas that is now seeking the seaboard
and is already built to Abbeville. This will
give them a splendid trade in southwest
Georgia, besides insuring to this market
many thousands of bales of cotton annually
Ii they refuse to stretch out helping hand
to this line it will probably reach the coast
at Brunswick, and the trade it controls will
go to tina city. Even now by means Of
freight arrangement the cotton it transports
is shut out of Savannah, and is forced to
| Brunswick.
The railroads upon which Savannah de-
ponds are MT working for her. They are
| working for themselves. They will send trade
to the extent they can influence it, wherever
it pays them best to send it. Savannah
must look out for herself. If she fails to
make the most Of her opportunities she will
soon be unable to take advantage Of them,
however inviting they may be.
| The merchants Of Savannah are not the
only ones of ter citizens who are interested
| in opening for her new avenues of trade
| II her trade declines, her real estate and
her securities will decline The property
of her citizens depends upon her prosperity,
and her prosperity depends upon her trade.
| 1t is nonsense to saw that Savannah can
! no build a railroad. If Macon can build
one, Savannah can build two. A short lie
TO meet the Americas railroad would pass
through fine country, aud would be
paying one 1t could be built for COM
paratively small amount Of cash. 1t would
not cost more probably than $1,000 mile,
and ten miles having been constructed, il
| would not be difficult TO get sufficient
money on bonds of the road TO complete it.
Why not build the road from Savannah
TO Columbia, 5. ca A charter has been
obtained for it and several surveys made.
II would open to Savannah a rich
and populous section If country. Let
those who are interested in Savannsh's
prosperity consider carefully the dangers
which threaten her trade, aud then let
thcm 60 to work and provide the means for
averting them. A few men of brains,
means and energy should come to the front
| at once as leaders