The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-10
In AND ABOUT THE CITY
a rRrP rHRoUGH THp sourH.
A Kansas City Man on the Future Of
| Savannah.

1
Kansas City Man on the Future o.
Savannah.
NJ L. Sergeant. traffic manager of the
Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf railroad
accompanied by his wife. who has been in
the CITY day or two. leaves this morning
for Charleston. Mr.. Sergeant was seen by
a MORNING NEWS reporter last night at the
Pulaski house. His visit 10 Savannah is
not in any manner connected with railroad
affairs. He is on ask weeks' vacation, and
/ 10 being too late in the season to 20
north he decided TO make a tour of
the south. Mr.. Sergeant and his wife are
charmed with Savannah, and after a few
days 10 Charleston they will return here
and spend the balance Of their vacation
at the De Soto.
In speaking Of the grain trade of the
west, Mr.. Sergeant said that the bulk OF
the movement Is toward the eastern sea-
board. The corn crop Of the Missouri
river territory is unusually light this year.
In answer to a QUESTION as to what he
thought OF Savannah's future as q grain
port, he said. THAT depends on whether
Savannah will have direct ocean transpor-
ia ion to European ports, and can make
relative rates with Baltimore, which does a
tig export trade in grain at present. New
Orleans also does considerable business,
having two direct lines to
Europe. and Galveston has recently
entered the field. One or two cargoes have
been shipped from there, but how il will
turn out remains to be seen by future de-
velopments. II Savannah had means of
exporting grain 1t would get all our trade,
the bulk OF which now goes to Baltimore,
New York and Boston, as the Kansas
City, Fort Scott and Gulf is interested in
this section Of the country. and it would
pay us to send everything this way"
The Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf
connects at Birmingham with four southern
roads-the Central Railroad of Georgia,
Georgia Pacific, Queen and Crescent and
the Louisville and Nashville. Its business,
however, with this section of the south is
done through the Central.
Mr. Sergeant said that at present fret ght
business through their territory is movi ng
rather slowly. A large proportion of the
grain for domestic use Is shipped by the
lakes and canal routes to Chicago and other
points, and from there distributed by rail.
MIR. Sergeant said the Kansas City. Fort
Scott and Gulf is in very healthy condi-
uon. 1t is improving its property and Is
paying small dividends The road has
LOO miles Of track-739 on the main line
from Kansas City to Birmingham and the
balance in Kansas and Missouri.
Mar. Sergeant is enthusiastic on the future
"a AAohoos SAb1. w ullo Tie Guy IL NOT
growing now as rapidly as it did in the ten
years from 1878 to 1885" he said, "still its
present growth is steady and healthy, and
In the course Of years it will be a great
place. 1t has the finest system of cable
cars in America to-day. Taxes have
been very low, and the city is burdened
with little debt 1t is built on the bluffs of
the Missouri river, and little attention has
been given heretofore to identifying the
place. The cost Of grading aud paving the
streets has been enormous. A new charter
has been obtained, however, by which the
city is allowed to bond itself for public i'm
provements, and in the near future we will
have public parks and boulevards, things
that have been long needed, and which will
add much 20 the city,
Savannah, Mr.. Sergeant thinks, is
destined to be great commercial city. "l
was here some years ago on business he
said, land was favorably impressed with
the place then, but see wonderful improve
ments since that time. | have visited the
wharves, and am surprised to see the inn
mense amount of business that is carried
on. The business houses, too, seem to be in
a very fiourishing condition, and taken
altogether, see no reason why Savannah
has not great future"