The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-23
WAITING FOR SPARKS.
THE CITY's GATES OPEN TO THE
MACON AND ATLANTIC.

The Council Ready to Encourage All
Railroads Coming TO Savannah
Plenty of Terminals and the Talk
About High Prices Groundless-The
Macon and Atlantic SapeIo Terminal
Scheme Not Understood.
The fact that President Sparks of the pro-
jected Macon and Atlantic railroad has not
been in Savannah since the inception of
his enterprise. and that the Macon papers
have been saying that the road cannot come
to Savannah because the price for terminal
properties has been put too high, has caused
great deal of comment in this city.
1t is pretty generally believed in Sa-
vannah that no effort has been made
by the Macon and Atlantic pro-
jectors to secure water front terminals.
There have been hints that Hutch
inson's Island would be desirable site
for terminal facilities, and that the Macon
and Atlantic would not be averse to accept
ing a slice of it, but no formal or informal
application has been made to the city
council.
THE CITY READY TO DO ITS PART.
Interviews with some of the aldermen
drew from them the opinion that the city
should not take the first step. They are
not pleased with the rumors that Savannah
is not inclined to encourage railroads to
come here, and discourages them by holding
terminal property at high figures. when
they say that as matter of fact the Macon
and Atlantic has not obtained figures either
from the city or from private parties. The
city council, it is understood, will, as far as
lies in its power, encourage the Macon and
Atlantic, the Middle Georgia and Atlantic,
and any other lines projected this way,
and they point to the action of council in
the franchises and terminals extended the
South Bound as evidence that the gates of
the city will be thrown vide open to rail-
roads looking for an outlet to the sea.
WILLING TO FIX PRICE.
The idea, it seems, has been conveyed
that terminal property cannot be had at
Deptford adjacent to the Savannah, Florida
and Western wharves, because an extrava-
giant price has been set. Capt. ID. G.. Purse
says that this is not warranted by the
facts. On the contrary, he says that neither
himself nor Mr. Rowland, who are Joint
owners of Deptford, have ever been ap-
preached to know what they will sell ter
minal property for.
Capt. Purse says that when the Macon
and Atlantic road was projected he wrote
to one Of its officials at Macon, stating that
II 1t was the intention to bring the road this
way Vne deep waters or Deptford frontage
and Its proximity to the city made it de-
slrable point for railroad terminal property
and he would be pleased to name a figure
and give them an option. The reply was
sent back that Mr.. Sparks was then in New
York, but that upon his return to Macon
the matter would be brought to his atten-
ton.
NO OFFERS MADE so FAR.
"That," said Capt Purse, twas the last
we ever heard from them, so that they have
not yet had figures, because they have not
asked for them" He went on to say that
the owners of Deptford, instead of being
disposed to brighten railroads away, are
willing to deal literally with them, and, as
amatter of fact, had given the South Bound
an option, short time back, at as reasona-
be price as the Savannah, Florida and
Western paid six years ago, when Savannah
was not on such boom as she is at present.
1t is understood that other property desir-
able for terminal facilities can be had and
at such prices that nobody would
seriously entertain notion to take a
railroad to place where there are no bust
ness railroads, steamship lines, or even a
town, such as Sapelo.