The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-26
How savanpah Could Be helped.

Savannah could be helped greatly By a
committee OF merchants, appointed 20
look after her business interests. The
committee should be composed Of business
men thoroughly interested in promoting
her welfare in every possible way. There
are many things they could do that would
help 70 increase her business. For in
stance, wheH the, freight rate on any par
ticuIar article OF merchandise is against
her. they could find out the cause Of the
discrimination and take steps to have the
discrimination removed.
II very often happens that cotton goes
70 other ports that ought to come here be
cause this is its natural outlet. There is
3 reason, Of course. why it goes elsewhere.
The freight rates are in favor Of other
ports There is nobody here, whose duty
II is to take hold Of the matter in behalf
Of the city and try. by appeals TO the rail
road commission or the transportation
agents, TO protect Savaunah's interests.
There are towns in the state where there
is no such indifference. Here the matter
is discussed. There something is done at
once 10 check the uufavorabIe movement.
The reason nothing is done here is that
there is no Organization whose business
II is to look after such matters. II those
towns TO which attention is directed there
are committees to which complaint is
made whenever ground for complaint
exists. and they take hold of the subject
at once, and nothing is left Undone 20
place their towns oo a business footing as
satisfactory as that enjoyed by any other
town with which they are in competition.
There are many ways in which such a
committee as is suggested could be use
ful. II could interest itself in suggesting
ways for reducing the cost of handling
products received at this port, and it
could make efforts 10 get freight rates
that would permit the bringing of freights
here that are now shipped from other
ports.
Ten tmes as much phosphate rock, for
instance, ought TO be shipped from this
port as there is, and there would be if an
organized and vigorous fight was made
for lower rates for transporting it and
better facilities for handling it.
a great deal of cotton from this state
goes TO Virginia ports that ought TO come
here. Surely cotton can be sent from At
lanta, Rome and Athens to European ports
by wayo Of Savannah cheaper than by way
Of Norfolk
The Commercial club that is being or
gained may be Of assistance to Savannah
in her battles with competing ports That
organization, if it fills the void it is ex-
pected to, viii infuse new life into Sa-
vannahs business men. Its aim ought to
be to inspire them with determination
10 spare no effort to control all the busi-
ness that rightfully belongs TO Savannah
and to make Savannah's influence felt
beyond the limits il now reaches. 1t
should work to build up Savannah in
every possible way by urging the con
struction OF railroads and the establish
ment of factories, by advocating lower
freight rates from inland points and to
foreign ports and by protesting against
determinations by transportation lines
that make fair competition impossible.
The business situation throughout the
country is improving all the time Within
a few months the fact that there was
money panic VIII be almost forgotten
Savannah should prepare to make the
most Of the better times that are coming