The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-20
MAYORS REVIEW OF 1899.
sAVANNAH's COMMERCIAL POSITION
ASSURED, HE SAYS.

teresting Review of the City's
Work During the Last Yenr-A
Large Commerce and Extensive
Railroad Facilities y Guarantee OF
Savannnh's POsitiOn-Time Has
Passed When There Could BE Any
Doubt as to It's Future-The Move
for 3O-FOOt Channel to the Sea
should Begin at Once, However.
Mayor and Aldermen Should he
Elected for Four Years, the Mayor
Says.
At the adjourned meeting of Council
yesterday afternoon Mayor Myers sub
mitted his report for the year 1899. The
report was read by Clerk Bailey, and was
received with approval by the members.
The report is one of the best of its kind
ever submitted by the official head of the
city, and is well worth reading. The pros
perity of the city during the year, and
the bright prospects for the future are
briefly reviewed The need of pressing Sa-
vannah's claims for a further depth of
the harbor is urged, and a recommends
ton is made for the appointment of a
committee of aldermen and citizens to
take this work in hand.
The Mayor comments upon the satisfac-
tory results of turning the quarantine
station over to the Marine Hospital Ser
vice and recommends the permanent
transfer of the station to the government
at the price agreed upon at the time of
the temporary transfer, $4,000 Attention
is called to the need of securing a new
cemetery site The progress of the house
drainage work and other public matters
are discussed. In concluding his report
the Mayor makes a recommendation once
before made by him during his former
term of office. that the terms of the May
or and aldermen should be four years, in
stead of two, the Mayor to be ineligible
for reelection, and the aldermen to be
elected bi-ennialy, six each year. The
report is follows:
The year ending Dec 81, 1899, was one
of the most progressive in the history of
Savannah. Business enjoyed a twelve
months of uninterrupted prosperity and de-
Veiopment. In both wholesale and retail
trade the results were more than ordinar-
lily satisfactory. Th& advances in the
values of the great staples Of this sec
ton, cotton, naval stores and lumber, re-
suited in a corresponding improvement in
the financial condition of the people
throughout the territory tributary to Sa-
vaunah. and the effect was speedily APP
parent here The heavy expenditures of
money in the latter part of the previous
year, during the presence of the soldiers,
also aided materially in making 1899 a good
year for The business man, the mechanic
and all other labor One result was seen
in the extensive building operations, which
gave employment to many and put into
general circulation a 1arpa of
THE vast Improvements on Hutchinson's
Island by the Georgia and Alabama Rail-
way Terminal Company, which will con-
vert a hitherto almost valueless and COM
paratively useless property into magnifl-
cent terminals, adding greatly to the COM
mercial advantages of Savannah, also as
sisted many laborers in making a living
and the number of unemployed has prob
ably been less than for some years This
Improvement has not been completed and
will employ a large force during the COM
ing year, the expenditures for 1900 being
estimated a $4,000.
Another railroad event of the year which
demonstrated the growing importance OF
Savannah as trade center has been the
entrance into the city of the Southern
| Railroad, giving additional direct commu-
nication with the North. 1t is also pleas
ure 10 note that for the better accommo-
dalton of the increasing passenger traf-
fc of the city a fine union depot is to be
Duilt on West Broad street. to be used
by the Plant, Georgia and Alabama. Flor
ida Central and Peninsular and Southern
systems. This is an Improvement the
want OF which has been acknowledged for
years.
During the year our commerce has. held
its own In every respect. AS will be seen
from the accompanying statements of for
| eign and domestic exports, the total value
OF shipments through this port was $7O,-
oO'0oO The total tonnage of shipping en-
| tered here was 1882, 72S. The bank clear
ances a reliable gauge of the business of
a city, were $lSS, 514,714. an increase over
the previous years of $9,265,S60
Savannah's Position Assured.
There is every reason to believe that
! with the increasing railroad facilities Sa-
| Nannah enjoys, the superior advantages it
| offers to shipping, and the progressive
! character of its citizens employed in trade
| and commerce, its position as the greatest
| port on the South Atlantic will be easily
retained with expanding business and
| higher prestige each year. The time has
| passed when there could be any doubt as
| to the future of Savannah. Its continued
| growth and prosperity are guaranteed.
| and with all of its citizens manifesting n
| renewed interest in its welfare and adj
vancement the early years of the coming
century must be full of promise Intellj-
| gent steps are being taken to promote in
dustriaf development. Varied industries
are recognized as essential and there is
reason to believe, from the activity shown.
| that Savannah viii soon include among its
! sources of wealth and growth number
| of manufacturing establishments While
conditions at the present time may not be
eminenty favorable, Savannah should
seize che first opportunity to press its
claim for a deepening of its harbor. and
| should not rest satisfied until there is a
thirty-foot channel from the city to the
! sea. The commerce Of the port justifies
| the granting of such request by the ma
| tiOnal government. l would recommend
that provision be made for the appoint
| ment of a special committee of aldermen
and citizens TO begin efforts at an early
date to secure the necessary appropriation
| from Congress.
The municipal government derived bene-
| fits from the general improved business
| conditions in better collection of its rev
| Qnues Taxes on real estate and Yar.o,, n