The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-15
arteries OF COMMERCE.
Slvlnnah'S Unsurpassed TranSpOta-
ton Facilities.

nv Any City in the SOuth-The Pro-
ducts of Four States Find a Direct
outlet Here New Lines Being Built
20 Handle the Growing Traffic.
In the point of transportation Savannah
In, the advantage of any city in the
sogtheast With her great fresh water
bqrhor affording accommodations to hun
dra5s of steamships and smaller vessels
and with regular lines of steamers to New
York. Boston, Philadelphia and Balti-
more her position on this line is abso-
lgtely unapproachable
The commerce of the port is fed by
nearly 5000 miles of railroad directly
csnterfng here, which have direct con
nection with as many miles more, bound
n them by close traffic arrangements and
mutual interests.
It's by reason of her unequaled railroad
and steamship facilities that Savannah
enjoys such favorable rates of transporta
tion which open the markets of the sur
rounding country for hundreds of miles to
her merchants and make her the envy of
all her neighbOrs.
NEW FACILITIES ADDED.
The city will shortly have added to its
two great railroad systems, the Central
and the Plant system, which have main
tanned the commerce of the port for so
many Years. a third great system, the
Florida Central and Peninsular, which has
nearly completed It's connecting line from
jacksonville to Savannah, to join the
South Bound railroad, which it acquired
by lease a year ago. Arrangements are
now being made to complete the cOnsOG-
dation of the South Bound with the
Florida Central and Peninsular, which
will probably be cOnsummated this
month.
Savannah will then be the heart of
three great systems, each averaging
nearly 800 miles Of line, penetrating the
richest sections of Georgia, Florida,
South Carolina and Alabama.
With the completion of the Florida Cen
trial and Peninsular railroad to Savannah
the whole Of Florida will be at Savan-
nah S door, so TO speak. There is hardly
any portion Of Florida that is not reached
by the lines of either the Plant system or
the Florida Central and Peninsular, and
the richest sections of the state are pene-
trated by both systems
Another advantage that will shortly
accrue to Savannah by the junction of the
South Bound railrond and the Florida
Central and Peninsular is a closer cOnnec-
tiDn with the Atlantic Coast Line system.
AN IMMENSE SYSTEM.
The latter system comprises about 800
miles of railroad in the states of Virginia,
North Carolina and South Carolina, with
close connection with the Pennsylvania
railroad and other great northern sys-
tens Savannah has for a number of
years enjoyed the benefits of the traffic
arrangement between the Atlantic Coast
Line and the Plant system, which short
ened the trip to New York to less
than twenty-four hours and enabled
the vegetable and fruit growers to place
their products in the northern markets
almost as fresh as when they left Savah-
nah. The Atlantic Coast Line is seeking
still closer connection with Savannah,
and for that purpose is now building a
line from Rumini, S. c., on the Manches-
Ter and Augusta railway, TO Denmark, on
the South Bound railway, a distance of
only thirty-fve miles This route will
enable the Atlantic Coast line to take full
advantage of its Weldon and Florence
short cut and to run through trains from
New York 10 Savannah without LAYING
over at any point. The result is likely to
make reduction in time from New York
OF nearly two hours. Savannah already
has the quickest time from New York of
any city IN the state, the northern mails
Tor Atlanta being brought first to Savan-
nah and taken to Atlanta by the Central
railroad. The Atlantic Coast Line is also
surveying a route from Denmark to Mil
len on the Central railroad, its object be-
ing TO make a connection tor western
traffic via the Central railroad.
GREAT ARTERY OF COMMERCE.
In spite of its financial troubles the
Central railroad continues to be the chief
artery of Savannah's commerce, as it has
Deen for nearly half a century. It's l 800
miles Of railroad reach the whole middle,
northern, eastern and western sections of
Ihe state and large portion of Alabama
and South Carolina. With its connections
with the Louisville and Nashville railway
al Chattanooga and the Kansas City,
memphis and Birmingham railroad at
birmingham, 1T is enabled to do an immense
BUSINESS in western products Hundreds
Vi thousands of dollars worth of goods
ana machinery destined for points in the
lar west pass through Savannah every
year brought here from the northern
markets by the Ocean Steamship Com
n Id1I. Every well-wisher of Savannah
ana the whole state as we'll reiOices at
Il tne prospect that the old Central railroad
Is not to be dismembered, but will con
ua1e as united property.
Inc stockholders of the Southwestern
IdIGoad and the Mobile and Girard rail
tod1 TWO important branches of the sys-
CClA nave elected to remain with the
Ctn.faI after being given the option of
tttleI'lng back their properties. This &C
10; ion Is significant. The Carolina roads, it
- ule, have been placed under separate
t.,yeN ershlpS, but there is little disadvan-
ross IN this, as these lines have never
applu expenses since they were taken
o"aIge OF by the Central railroad.
THE PLANT SYSTEM.
Inc Plant system continues to grow
r u'o In rease in spite of hard times and
4soueA Slringency This system becomes
ol SIealtr importance to Savannah S trade
tneiy year, as the large section of coun-
u ~ In Georgia, Florida and Alabama
H i;nelfated by its lines con
r'uss to develop and increase
of wealth and Importance. The control
s the Alabama Midland by the Plant
Sem mas proved of great advantage to
,,Gi,'Iauildh's merchants and their trade
Ai,II lhe rich counties of Southwestern
1,l,iiHd Is increasing every year. An
JTG,y"aIpn of the Savannah, Florida and
'9.efh railway through the phosphate
abu.Ih on the west coast of Florida is
fbo 0t completed and will add largely to
a rJ,. .Iamc OF the road. The amount of
ssat mate brought to Savannah from this
y ui,l lou is already large and will increase
falH;.g. we Improvement Of the railroad
,rt; '-IJIes. The South Florida railroad,
tr1IIIA covers the heart of the fruit and
Cra. lA growing section Of Florida, in