The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-19
A MECCA OF EXCURSI0NISTS.
SUMNER TINE BRINGS CROWDS OF
THEM FROM ALL OVER STATE.

The Past Few Weeks south and Mid
die Georgia Have Sent More People
to savannah Than Ever Before.
They Bring Money and Buy Goods,
Take in the Sights and Enjoy
ThemseIves-The Georgia and Ala
bnma's Excursion Policy.
During the summer Savannah is the OBJ
jectIve point for hundreds Of pleasure seek
ers throughout the state by reason of its
attractive resorts. This season shows
more than ever the city's popularity in this
respect. A constant flow of travel has
been on the move for the past few weeks,
of which the railroads are no more the
benehciaries than retail business in all its
branches.
The railroads have not run the usual
number of excursions this season, much 10
The regret of the business men, who ind
trade gets a healthy stimulus every time
a crowd of any proportions comes TO Sa-
vannah. 1t makes no difference if the
eXcursionists are bound for Tybee or some
other resort, they make it convenient to
stop in the city long enough TO relieve
themselves of a few sheckels. When peo-
pie travel for pleasure they set aside a
certain amount to spend, and this must be
turned loose as a part of their enjoyment
even though it be against Barnum's max
i'm that anything not needed comes dear
at any price. That the people want to
embrace every opportunity to enjoy them
selves this season is evidenced by the lib
eral way they patronize the excursions the
railroads run from time TO time.
Railroad men know their business bet
ter than outsiders know IT," said one man
yesterday, land for that reason it is not
proper to offer any suggestions in the
spirit Of criticism. From the advantages
Savannah affords for the entertainment
of eXcursionists, though, it looks like
there is room for superior traffic man
agement on all the lines centering here
Frequent excursions at low rates would
certainly be embraced by thousands in
the country penetrated by the different
lines. With energetic advertising there
seems no doubt the business could be OBJ
tanned. When this is Done, there is no
need of providing expensive means of en-
tertainmeut, such as trades displays and
other drawing cards, as the visitors would
be able to entertain themselves.
Thousands Of persons living inland
the delights days stay there would give
them and their families. Cheap excur-
sions would result in thousands of people
coming to Savannah for recreation.
"A large element of the class to be
reached by cheap excursions have not
made it a habit to set aside 4 week, or
even a day, to visit nearby cities for a
brief sojourn," he continued 1T would
therefore be necessary to stir up interest
i'm the territory from which the patronage
is to come and make known to the people
the attractions offered by a trip of this
kind"
Heretofore the business men have shown
a disposition TO cooperate with the roads
in excursion business by Offering their
goods at reduced prices. 1t is said the
proposition was made in a bona fide way,
and not with the intention of running
prices up when the crowds came Every
assurance would be given the roads that
their crowds would not be gouged, but
that an understanding as to the reduction
would be faithfully followed. If country
men desire to visit the city to lay in sup
plies, instead of seeking pleasure, The MGR
chants could easily arrange matters by
distributing tickets on the cars good for
the stipulated discount The ticket would
show the visitor to be passenger on such
a train, which would project the mer-
chants against a general allowance what
ever discount they might offer.
The possibility of bringing large crowds
to Savannah from the tributary country is
shown by the constant flow of travel
without any special inducement TO bring
it here. A railroad man remarked that
every day during the present season has
been an excursion day in one sense of the
word. The people have been coming be-
cause they want an outing, a spirit it is
believed the railroads should be quick 10
nurse The Georgia and Alabama road
has found the people along its line will
ling to visit Savannah, and
have, therefore, put on excur-
sions enough to bring them
here. The crowd that visited the city
Monday, coming over the Georgia and Al
| ALBANIA. was of proportions that pleased the
traffic officials of the road and will prob
ably lead to other excursions before the
season ends. Those who discuss summer
travel do not criticize what the roads are
doing, but che opinion prevails that they
| could largely increase their business and
| at the same time help Savannah by Of
| fering facilities which would encourage
this movement Savannah being the near
est seaport of Importance to Southwest
! Georgia. the people are compelled to give
| IL the advantage if they embrace the en-
| ioyments the seaside offers
I