The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-11
savannah's Trade and Business.


business men and huanciers were in doubt
whether the business depression would
be only temporary or long continued. The
belief Of those who were in a position to
get the best and broadest views of the
situation was that there would be no i'm
provement until congress acted upon the
purchasing clause Of the sherman silver
/ law and the tariff question, and that
/ even after congress had acted upon these
matters the return of normal bust
ness conditions would be slow. They were
right 1t is only within the last few
weeks that there have been signs Of bust
ness revival, but these signs are Of such
hopeful character that there is good
reason to predict that before another year
has passed there VIII be such activity in
every branch Of industry and business
that there will be little to recall the
money panic or the business stagnation.
1t is gratifying that the south suffered
less than other sections Of the country
from the paralyzing effects of the panic
and the depression. Her financial insti-
tutions and her business men met the ad-
verse conditions bravely. and her business
record shows very few disasters. This is
regarded as satisfactory evidence that
her resources are great and her business
methods sound. .-
Savannah's financial institutions and
business firms stood the strain of the de-
preston remarkably well--so well, in
| deed, that her business men felt they had
reason to congratulate themselves when
the evidences of a change for the better
began to appear. In comparing Savan-
pah's record for the hard times with that
of other cities they found they had ex-
cellent reasons to be proud of it-reasons
which left no doubt of the solid and
| permanent character of Savannah's trade
and business.
! Savannah's trade for the last CONNER
cial year must, of course, be compared
with that of the previous year. Both
years were bad for business, and the vol
ume of the business of neither year was
/ as great as that of lSS9-90 or lS9O-91
! The increase of that of last year over
that of the previous year, however, was
| s., 5OO,OOO There was an increase in
about every line of business except
! 1r,v, l.,
/ crease in the cotton receipts was, of
course, a very large item in the total in
crease, but, in view of the hard times
that prevailed throughout the whole
year, the fact that nearly every kind of
| business made a better showing than il
did the previous year is reason for
satisfaction, especially because it justifies
the hope of very great business prosperity
/ in proportion as business conditions be-
come better The total trade and bust
ness of the city for the last year was
| S123, 6O0,O0 1t is safe to say that no
other city of Savannahs class can make
so good a showing.
Naturally the competition with which
Savannah has to contend is becoming
greater all the time. Every other South
Atlantic port is making extraordinary
efforts to increase its business, and Sa-
vannah, Notwithstanding her advantages
in many respects, is compelled to fight for
what legitimately belongs to her Her
merchants thus far have shown them.
selves equal TO the demands upon them
and it goes without saying that they will
not permit any of the trade of Savannah's
territory to be wrested from them.
Savannah's advantages for controlling
trade are steadily increasing The i'm
provement of her harbor has advanced
so far that vessels drawing twenty-thret
feet can go from her wharves to sea. The
promise is made that within compare
lively few months her harbor will accom-
modate vessels drawing twenty-six feet
When that promise is fulfilled she will
have advantages over every other South
Atlantic and Gulf port.
There has not been a great deal of rail
road building anywhere in this countr!
during the two last years. Il
the last year, however, Savannah
has become a shipping point for
new railroad to Florida, and there is ar
excellent prospect that she will have an
other line to Macon within the next year
just now there is a deep interest felt il
the south. There is growing belle
that the southern states are to receive al
/ immense immigration and great iutiov
of capital with the return of prosperou.
times. Movements TO bring this condi
tion of affairs about have been inaugu
! rated. AS the great port of the Soutl
Atlantic, Savannah will be benefited b,
> whatever efforts are made for the south
prosperity. Let her people work ear
nestly and harmonionsly for her interest
and her prosperity will be so great tina
, she viii repay them generously for thei
efforts in her behalf