The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-23
TOURIST RATES WANTED.
TIE PASSENGER ASSOCIATION TO
BE APPEALED TO.

Savernsh Wants 70 &c Put on an
Tqral Footing With brownsville,
Jacksonville and st. Augustine.
Tourists Anxious 70 Come Here, but
Can't Buy Tickets in the North-A
Citizens' Movement to Present Se-
vanueh's Claims suggested.
The next meeting of the general paSsen-
ger agents Of the Southern Railway and
Steamship Association will be held in Flor
ida in December. alta time and date yet to
he decided upon.
The subject of tourist rates for Savannah
from the north aad east will be
brought Lefore the meeting. and an
endeavor will be made to secure
the rates This question was agitated
before the association at it's meeting in
Jacksonville last March. but so much oppo-
sition was made 10 the change by the repre-
seutatives of the Coast Line system that
Savannah failed to secure the rates. There
is a feeling among the business men of the
oity, and all who desire its welfare and
prosperity, that every inducement should
be offered to bring visitors to Savannah
from the north and east. aud let their stay
In the city be as long as possible not only
A'b bhe teupOTdIy pEOHI Ouey may bS W tne
hotels and railroads, but to permanently
benefit the city by giving the moneyed men
OF other sections chance to become &C
quainted with its advantages.
WHAT TOURIST RATES MEAN.
Tourist rates for Savannah mean that
Savannah would be placed upon the same
footing as jacksonville, st. Augustine and
toe Florida resorts, bonneville, Ga, and
Anderson, S. Z. The public may not be
aware of the fact that during the season Of
southern travel a ticket can
be purchased from New York
or almost any large northern city
to Jacksonville or st. Augustine for several
dollars less than a ticket can be purchased
TO Savannah, some hundreds of miles
nearer. but such is the case. A ticket
from New York to Savannah and back to
New York costs more than ticket to jack
sonville. The great injustice to Savannah
is that tine railroads advertise these rates to
Florida and their agents push them, while
nothing Is said of Savannah, and persons
desiring to come here are urged to buy
tickets to Florida points. In This way
people who had intended stopping at
Savannah spend only a few days at
most, and then 60 on to Florida. This
shows very plainly how the rates operate
against Savannah.
SAVANNAH Disseminated AGAINST.
The people of Savannah believe that they
have as attractive a city, as fine climate
and equal hotel accommodations as any
Florida CITY. They have the vanity 20 be-
lieve that the people Of the north would like
to visit Savannah, and they are confident
that they could please them here, but these
discriminating rates prevent.
The chief idea il the building Of the De
Soto was the attraction OF winter trade, and
it was expected that eheB the hotel was built
the most favorable ratas would be given to
Savannah. and that the railroads would do
everything in their power for the encour-
agement of the cityis enterprise. The
Central railroad, which has its southern
but the Atlantic Coast Line system, which
carries the bulk of northern travel, does
not.
Savannah occupies the same position TO-
day in regard 10 rates that it did two years
ago, The Atlantic Coast Line, which brings
the great portion Of the northern travel
south, is giving cheaper rates to points be-
yoDd Savannah than TO Savannah, thus, in
effect, carrying away the travel from the
city. 1t has been urged to make The same
rates to Savannah as to points beyond.
WHY THE RAILROADS OBJECT.
The grounds for refusal are that Savan-
nah Is a commercial center, and that tour
ist rates given to Savannah would interfere
with the regular passenger rates, and that
the points to which tourists rates are given
are not commercial centers. II Savannah
were given tourist rates, Charleston would
demand them. and so would Augusta, and
then Atlanta and Columbus, and every
point reached by their systems would fol-
low suit. Ths Coast Lines representa-
tives say that they favor Sa-
vannah now largely by allowing pas
sengers holding excursion tickets TO stop
over for fifteen days, ana even longer, il
desired, and that Savannah should be salts
fled with this concession. Experience
proves, however, that a man who has
bought a ticket to Florida usually prefers
to 60 there first and stop in Savannah on
his return, and the result is that he stops
only day or two in Savannah, if at ALL
The railroads do not advertise that thi:
ssOp-over in Savannah is allowed, and pur-
chasers of tickets are not in
formed of it unless they specially
inquire if a stoD-over is allowed II
Savannah. Hence great many people buy
tickets through Savannah without knowing
that they have the privilege Of stopping
over here. Any one inquiring for ticket
to Savannah is informed that n cheaper
ticket can be bought to st. Augustine OIL
Jacksonville, with stop-over at Savannah
and the cheaper Florida ticket is purchased
THE HOTEL MEN ANXIOUS
The hotel men are veay anxiou!
that Savannah shall secure the tour
ist rates, as it would be a great
thing for them. They say: 1--WE
have beautiful city, lovely climate, first
class hotel accommodations. and yet we are
shut out froa. large class Of travel tina
would naturally come to US. We dom
| like TO fall GUS with our friends, the rail.
| road men, but it isn't right"
The Central railroad gives tourist rate
| to Savannah from all northern ana western
points connecting with the system. The
| Central secures a large amount of travel in
this way and is we'll satisfied with the work
ing Of the touri1t rates. 1t rests with tn,
Atlantic Coast Line people to give Sa-
vannah the rates which will plac
| it on an equal footing witt
other winter resorts and give it its prope
| share of the winter trade. 1t has beer
| suggested that a meeting of citizens b
| called to discuss the matter, and TO TAX
steps to urge the question before tn
Southern Passenger Association.