The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-19
IN FAVOR or THE TRACKS.
AID. WILLIAMS THINKS RAILROADS
SHOULD HAVE BAY STREET.

ty Owners-He Indorses Col. Mer-
GERS speech-why the Franchise
should BE Granted.
Alderman j. p williams is one member
of the Board of Aldermen who is very de-
cidedly of the opinion that Council should
not only grant the railroads the privileges
asked for on Pay street, but that the city
should offer the railroads every reasona-
BILE inducement to provide the facilities
desired by the business men and property
owners.
Alderman Williams was not present at
the meeting of the Committee of the
Whole Friday afternoon, being out of the
city, but when seen yesterday he showed
that he had read the report given by the
Morning News very carefully and he es-
pecialy endorsed the position taken by
Col. Mercer of the necessity for the city's
abandoning old ruts and preparing for
forward movement.
II am satisfied said Alderman Will
liams, that If the situation were thor
oughly understood by the people of Sa-
vannah generally that the question could
be left to a vote of the people, and that
So per cent. would declare in favor of pro-
viding railroad facilities where they are
most needed and that is where the bust
ness houses are now situated"
1t is not simply a question of bene-
filing a few business men and property
owners on Bay street." said Alderman
Williams. ut is a question of Savan-
nahs future commercial position. The
situation to-day is a strongly competitive
one. The number of interior business mar
kets which have developed have cut deep
~ into Savannah's territory. These points
by reason of advantageous through rates
from the East and West and with the
railroads at their doors are able to do
business on cheaper basis than that to
which our merchants have been accus-
toned. The consequence is that Savan-
nahs territory is being cut off. 1t is con-
tracing instead of expanding. The only
way TO offset these conditions and meet
the situation is for our business men to
place themselves upon the same basis as
their competitors by making use of every
possible facility for handling goods with
the greatest expedition and the least cost.
Even a schoolboy would be able to answer
the question as to what the first requisite
to this position, and that is to bring the
railroads and the merchants in the closest
possible touch.
1T is true that this might easily be
done by letting all the merchants remove
to the railroads. In that case what will
become of the property owners on Bay
street; what would happen to the city's
taxable values, and what would be the
result to the smaller business men whose
business could not be satisfactorily con-
Quoted from the railroad warehouses and
yet who are compelled to compete with
the larger houses. They would go to the
wall along with the property owners, and
the community generally would be the
loser.
at is all very we'll for those who are
already located at the railroads, and who
perhaps flatter themselves that they en-
Joy advantages not possessed by their
competitors, to say that the tracks are
not needed and that they would not prove
beneficiat to the people on Bay street.
They are not the ones to judge. Let them
bear in mind that the largest business
houses have not yet made this move, but
that they will do so if not provided with
the facilities which they desire and when
they do make the move the advantages
now enjoyed by the firms at the railroads
would disappear"
lone of the chief items of economy
which would result from providing these
facilities on Bay street." said Alderman
| williams, would be in the matter of
drayage. The head of one of the largest
wholesale grocery firms in the city was
recently quoted as saying that the item
of drayage alone for his house amounted
| to $4,000 or $1,000 a year. With the cars
! brought to his door he would reduce this
expense by $1,000 to $1,000. This would
| mean an additional dividend on the cap
ital stock which is about 10000, of at
! least 49, per cent. know of another large
| concern of this kind which paid only 5
per cent. on its capital stock last year.
With a similar saving it could have paid
! to per cent OF course all the saving
| in drayage would not represent direct
! profits to stockholders. Part of the saw
ing would be sunk in lower prices to con-
| sumers, but as this would result in in
! creased business the ultimate returns
| would, in all probability; be even larger
/ than the original amount saved on dray-
age account. This is one of the chief
points to be considered. Unless we can
reduce the expense of handling goods we
| can have no hope of extending our terri
tory and are in constant danger of fur
Their loss of the territory we now enjoy.
| Savannah has large natural advantages,
| but unless in connection with these We
make use of all modern facilities and
| modern methods, together with business
push and sagacity we will be outstripped
! by our rivals. This is the danger which
| we face to-day.
1.-The trouble with Savannah" said AL
derman Williams, us that we have list
ened to the voice of the croaker too long.
| Whenever some new enterprise or some
progressive movement for the benefit of
the community is sought 20 be inaugurar-
ed a few of the old croakers raise up their
| heads and say that it must not be be-
| cause 1t will hurt somebody or interfere
| with some established institution, and that
settles it. The croakers have had their
say long enogh If Savannah is to be
anything else but a residence city the
croakers must be pushed into the back
| ground and the progressive element must
take hold and put the city in the path of
| progress. You cannot accomplish any
| thing of general benefit 20 the community
which will not injure somebody. THE
question is whether this movement will
be for the benefit of the community at
| large and not whether 1t will injure or
benefit few property owners. If 1t
means the enlargement of our commerce,
then it is for the benefit of all.
Twenty years ago" said Alderman
Williams. at was commonly said that
Savannah was a splendid town for bust
| Dlara