The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-03
work of the IndustrIaI Committee.

work Of the Industrial committee.
As pointed out yesterday in an interest
ing articlein our local columns. Savannah
has many advantages for the manufacture
Of barrels. crates. baskets and numerous
other articles Of wOOdenware. The raw
material can be had in any quantity that
Is desired. and at a remarkably low cost.
We have no doubt. however. that the in
dustrlal committee viii give attention 10
this branch of manufacturing. if. in fact,
il is not already doing so. The commit
tee appreciates to the fullest extent the
importance Of the task it has undertaken.
and. there-are reasons for thinking. will
not be found wanting in any respect.
Ii has been criticised TO some extent for
giving attention TO such questions as
drainage. roads and the no fence law.
The wisdom Of its course, however. must
Zee apparent 10 those who take a broad
view OF existing conditions. In order to
make Savannah inviting 20 those who are
seeking locations for manufacturing es-
adjustments. she must promise good
health, cheap living and the best Of facili-
ties for reaching the city from different
parts Of the county. 1t is proposed to Sc
cure the best health conditions by a thor
ough system Of drainage When all the
swamps ina the vicinity of the city are made
dry. and brought into use. either for farm
ing purposes or for pasture lands, there
win be no apprehension Of sickness of
any sort. however unfavorable to health
a summer or fall season. may
be. 1t would be just as safe to locate a
factory two or three miles from the city
limits as in the heart of the city. There
would never be a question as to the
healthfulness of a location in any portion
of the county within easy reach of the
city.
Cheap living has much to do with the
success OF manufacturing plants because
wages must necessarily be higher where
the cost of living is high than where it is
low. If the available farming lands of
Chatham county were brought under cul-
tivation the cost of living anywhere in the
county would be much reduced. 1t has
been stated that vegetables and fruits are
cheaper in Savannah markets this year
than at any previous time. This is doubt
less due to the abundance of the supply.
Last spring about $500 worth of seed was
distributed among colored people of the
county who own or rent little patches of
land. The increase Ia. the humber of gar
dens and truck patches, in consequence of
the free distribution Of seed. accounts for
the lower prices of vegetables in Savan-
nah markets this year. When the mo
fence" law goes into effect, and the county
is well drained all the lands fit for culti-
walton viii be planted, and the cost of liv-
ing in Savannah will be as low as in any
other city in the country.
Good roads win also be an important
factor. They WIN not only be source of
pleasure TO those who can afford to own
or hire teams, but they will lessen the
cost Of getting all sorts of food products
to market.
1t is apparent. therefore, that the in
dustrial committee is showing good judg-
nfent in giving so much attention to mat
tiers that would make Chatham county
and Savannah even more desirable
places of residence than they are.
With the Improvements for which
the committee is striving It would be much
easier to secure manufacturing plants,
and the chances for their success would
be much greater than without them.
But while the foundation for successful
manufacturing is being laid no oppor-
tunity for bringing MANUFACTURES to Sa-
vannah should be missed. We take 1t for
granted that the committee is missing no
opportunities