The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-02
sEADOARD AND SAVANNAH.
President Williams Points to snvan-
mains Future.

mains Future.
Calls for President Williams were vocif-
erous as the Mayor concluded his address
Ct welcome. During his remarks, Mr.
Williams referred in glowing terms to the
work accomplished by Mr.. Mackall, pres
ident of the Georgia Construction Com
pany, on Hutchnson's Island, calling him
the ancestor of all the island improve
ments." The mention of Mr.. Mackalls
name, and also those of Vice President
and General Manager Cecil Gabbett and
General Freight ana Passenger Agent A.
Pope, also in a complimentary connec-
lion, was received with applause. A toast
to these three was dunk.
Gentlemen" said the President, "ac-.
tions strike deeper than words, and money
talks far better than l can ever hope TO-
Therefore, there is no need for me to say
anything to you of the faith or interest
the Seaboard Air Line has in Savannah's
future. We have put money here to speak
for US; we have done so confidently, and
we hope to create here a terminal system
equal to the best in the world. Why? In
the answer you will find the reason you
have in believing in Savannah's future.
Railroad systems are operated for
business purposes by business men, who
look to the future rather than the past
who direct their investments by facts and
figures ana probabilities-rarely by caprice
or sentiment The Seaboard Air Line has
put you nearer the wide grain fields of
the West than any other Atlantic port;
it has put you closer to the inexhausti-
BILE iron and coal supplies of Alabama than
any other port. We intend to do all we
can (and we represent very considerable
power and have some advantages of posi-
tion) to make the hungry world draw its
food supply through Savannah; to have
the nations of the earth send their ships
here to crowd your harbor demanding
iron; to have the thousands of miners dig
ging coal in Alabama to send here. The
United States produced, in 1880, 2,741 900
tons of pig iron; this year the South alone
will produce nearly 100000 tons-more
than the product of the entire country
twenty years ago. In 1880 the South pro-
duced 100000 tons Of coal; in 1899 42009
900 tons, a gainaof 200 per cent. in twenty
years. tzt
II give you these few figures of startling
growth, gentlemen, to illustrate to you
that we are not dreaming or working on
wild or vague hopes, when we look for an
enormous increase of Southern commerce
and prepare to handle part of it, And we
look further. We look to the not distant
future when the canal will be dug through
the isthmus, and 10 miles of land will be
crossed by water, avoiding a journey of
10000 miles around Cape Horn. We look
to the time when from these terminals
of ours here ships will be loaded hour af-
ter hour not only for Europe, but for the
Central and South American territory,
virtually untouched now, for the distant
Orient and will return full freighted.
81 congratulate the people of Savannah
on the brilliant future which appears to
us, reasoning, as I have said, from hard,
cold facts and the figures representing
them, to lie fair and sure before your city.
We believe in it. We have made here
large investments of our own, and have
recommended to our friends TO do the
same 1t will be our interest to help you
in fulfilling your highest hopes, to estab-
fish securely the position of Savannah as
one of the great ports of the world. You
may lose cotton for shipment, as the sta
Pile is absorbed by the mills going up 50
fast in the interior; 1t will be our task TO
bring you, compensation and increase by
manifold in grain and iron and manufac-
tured goods We hope to do it; We in
| tend to do 1t; our hope and purpose and
| confidence are proved by our works"
| Mr. Mackall was called upon to respond
| to the glowing praise that had been be-
slowed upon him by Mr.. Williams. He
| said: "He is'a wise man who knows what
| he cannot do and l am wise man in
| that I know that / cannot make post
| prandia speech. Yet l would be poor in
| words, indeed could / not find suitable
ones to express my thanks for the COM
menda lion that have been lavished upon
me. Assurances of success are gratifying,
and there is satisfaction, indeed, in being
| told of 1t by the genius that conceived the
greet plan of consolida ton and railroad
development. If have been Instrumental
in working for the good of this grand old
| city, 1 am to-day a happy man."
In concluding his speech, Mr.. Mackall
proposed toast to the press of the coun-
! try. and called upon Mr.. p. A. Stoval TO
respond Mr. Stovall made happy re-
sponse and said some very pleasant things
| about the Seaboard and Savannah.