The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-03
WANT PLANT SYSTEM SHOPS.
.vcRoss PREPARING TO MAKE A
MIG BID FOR THEM.

r,o Uideawake City of the Wire
rrass Is willing to Pay All the
,r.s on the Plant for Ten Years
=, order to Secure the ShOps-Bus-
.ss Wen of WaycrOss Have Al
roodv subscribed $4,000 for This
Purpose-A Chamber of commerce
4o Re Organized to Take the Matter
in Hand.
Tho citizens of Waycross have begun
,erv earnest and determined effort to Sc
- the removal of the Plant System
ez,,s from Savannah 10 Waycross, or
rstber the location of the principal shops
there.
t7forts on this line have been made be
TORE hut this time it seems that the Way
cross people are very much in earnest and
IN order to secure the object of their de
sfres they are willing to offer liberal in
ducements.
The movement has been on foot for some
time and some 80 or more business men OF
the wiregrass city, it is understood, have
agreed to subscribe $500 each to fund to
he used as an argument with the Plant
system. The inducements which the Way
cross business men viii offer to the Plant
people for the removal of its shops to
Waycross is to guarantee it against all
taxes on the shop plant for ten years. This
docs not merely mean exemption from city
taxes. but state and county taxes as well,
the idea being TO use the fund DOW being
raised by subscription to pay the state and
county taxes. The matter was or ought 10
the attention of the Morning News by
gentleman who is more interested in the
welfare and prosperity of Savannah than
Of any place with the suggestion that it
would be we'll to call the attention of che
citizens of Savannah to this effort to de-
prive them of an important industry.
There were reveral citizens of Waycross
In Savannah yesterday, among them be-
ing Mr.. Leon A. Wilson, a prominent at
torney. His business here was in connec-
ton with the land deal between j. Il. and
T. Bum and the Southern Pine Company
which was effected. he was asked about
the movement to secure the location of the
Plant System shops at WaycIoss, and said
that it was true that there was such a
movement on foot
"A very decided movement Is on foot
among the business men of Waycross,"
said Mr.. Wilson, ito secure the increase
shop facilities at Waycross. Some $4,000
has already been subscribed for this
purpose and if necessary the amount Will
be increased. A number of business men
have agreed together to subscribe $500
each, payable in payments of $50 annually
for the succeeding ten years, the money
10 be used in paying whatever taxes may
be assessed against the shop plant. The
idea is to offer the inducement TO the
Plant EVcfepn If on
on its plant for ten years and we think
this should prove a pretty strong argu-
ment"
'Waycross is more centrally located 10
the whole system than Savannah. We
have the Plant System hospital and the
headquarters Of the first division. The
Plant System has considerable shop ia
chltes there now and owns a large body
OF iand In the vicinity of the shops and
well located for this purpose. We hold thai
IL can extend its shopping facilities at
"aycross more cheaply than at any other
point especially when freedom from tax
auon IS considered. We would not expect
u course that the entire shop plant at
savannah would be removed to Waycross.
OUT we think we can show good reasons
there"
MI Wilson said that the matter has not
-. Deen brought officially to the atten-
uoh Oh the Plant System officials, but
Va va meeting of the business men of
"eyoross would be held tonight for the
pui pose OF organizing a chamber of COM
h"5'- and upon the organization of this
10y 10y committee will be appointed 10 take
SI ie matter an hand of securing the Plant
~ SHOPS Tor Waycross.
Inc gentleman who first brought the
~ TO the attention of the Morning
- -oe"s said that there are between 400 and
sh men employed at the Plant system
tboin III savannah, at good wages With
80, 4'nlIles they number 200 to 400
Soop'e. IN wages the shops turn loose in
ia ,y'rnah several hundred thousand dol
, ,ais annually. The removal of such an
poltaht industry, carrying with II such
oir iaiEe number of people and putting in
u.a CI5aI'oh such large amount of money
onS ~. oe quite a serious blow to the citv
az asu ,ne effects would be felt in MANY lines
So .Iade The loss could i'll be AFFORDED
ro.s aiiIah mas all the advantages of big
~ 9a, tosether with the fact that She Is
oil important seaport but it would he inst
as wen 1or the business men of the civ
70 keep both eyes on their neiobho,. =,
foot. Tins movement is on