The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-09
WHY SAVANNAH GROWS.
a Citizen Who Knows What He is
talking about Tells Why.

talking about Tells Why.
Editor Morning NeJrs: Tie census of
1889 gave Savannah 3O,O7S population. The
city was then on the eve of its sesoui-cen-
tennlal-l5O years old. In 1889, nine years
after, its population numbered nearly. if
not quite, 10000. In the last ten years the
Guy has doubled its population. No other
cl'y the United States existing fftv wears
ago has grown SO rapidiy-that IS. has
doubled Its Re. This Is the general result;
what are some of the facts III detail!
Ten years ago The Savannah, Florida and
W estern railway began its successful ca
reer, and built WIN .rves to accommodates
commerce. Ten years ago the Cen raj
railroad spreads its tracks, warehouses, etc.
along the river bank. Tel years ago the q
was but one factory in Savannah.
and 1t was losing. Ten years ago there
were four banks now there are eight. Ten
years ago business in naval stores was small:
now savannah leads every port on the earth.
Ten years ago S tvaunah received per year
about 100000 to 100000 bales of cotton:
now nearly 100000 bales Within ten to
fifteen years, the wholesale houses have
doubled in number and business So have,
the retail houses.
Let us look at Savannah's territory. In
lo66-67, near the spot now crossed by Hab-
eISham and Bolton streets a gentleman.
one Sunday while gathering bay flo gers,
saak to his neck in mud ami would have
been sutf Gated had not some friends ne
u MS relief. Another. a pTomi lent law
yer, had the like experience near the same
SPOT. Subseqle t to that time. for years.
Springfield pla ltation was lake after
heavy rains. So was part of the Vale
Royal plantation, now network of rail
road iron.
About fifteen years ago the young men
began 10 wake up to the advantages Savan-
nan Las, and they Sc to WORK 10 lit it for a
home. lie mad lung bean a place for BUSH
ness-to make money-buU was n t believed
t. be heelChy Drainage vas entered on;
sewers were cons-ruc ed, low lands dried,
and health came. Citizens soon called
that Savannah was place for homes; that
1t was folly to leave here in summer for
comfort or health, and Savannah, for the
II st time in its history, began gro =. The
capitalist who for seventy-five years had
C me here, made a fortune. and goAe off to
enjoy it. invested in home or in houses.
Ole or two facts will illustrate the change
within ten years past.
Within the space bounded by Dravton
81, Price east, GwinneUt north, a d New
Houston sout', ten years ago LOIS sold for
from $50 to $500 each. Since then the same
lots have sold Tor s., 900 to 5000 eacn.
o. Duffy st eet, west OIL Barnard, lots
under the hammer 81, coo elch. These are
il the city; Tut the same increase i'll values
has been realized beyond the city Ii nits In
1850 LAID adj lining the Central railroad
part of Vale Royal sold for 500 an acre.
The same land cannot be bought now for
5000 an acre, aud it is not suitable for resi-
denceS.
South of and near the CT Y the increase
ha been even more wonderful. Land there
in 1SSO-S1. S2-S3 sold for $500 to $40 an
acre. Now it is worth ON 5000 10 So
700 an acre. Can as much lie said of any
other city of Sava ma IS sza? This increase
in the value of real estate has not been
forced II is not the result of speculation.
1t is the atural and necessary result of Co.
900 people requiring double the terriU) Dry
at 81, 900 people occupied ten years ago.
Some men being foresighted a I'd having
faith in Savannahs great future bought
outlying TT cts and have made money
just as many will do agaln-but their buy
6 did not add a dollar to the value of the
la d. The increase in population gave
the increase in value by increa ed de-
mand for homes. And so it will be yea
after year. As JACOB Astor made money
on the sea, he inves ed in land around and
in New York, and thus insured to himself
and descendants their enormous wealth.
property that nothing but the 81 king of
Manaat an Island can ever destroy. The
father had confidence in the advance and
he security of real estate, aud his children
are enjoying the fruits of his sound jndg-
ment Ten years ago very few people had
confidence in Savannah real estate. Those
few nave been richly rewarded. l confess,
was one of the many, a d. as the ex-
pressive slang runs, II got left"
But the question is often put, will Sa-
vannah continue to grow? l propose to
give the answer in another article next
Sunday, if not sooner. Meanwhile, any
VINO would answer "No," may fl nd it prof.
table to search for reasons to support their
answer, if they will &C on the conclusion
they must reach after reflection.
CONVERT.