The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-06
RAILROADS ARE RESPONSIBLE.
M,YOR MYERS CHARGES THEM
INTERFERING AWAY FACTORIES.

discriminating Freight Rates Have
prfyen Industries From the CITY
nud Keep Others From Coming
here, He Says-SOme Instances
Given Very Much to the POint-Sa-
,annnh's Trade Also InjuriOusIy
tNected by Unfair Rates, Which
f-unbIe Her Rivals to Cut Into Her
territory with Ease.
,Tre railroads are largely responsible
f7r ceeping factories away from Savan,
rail-" said Mayor Myers yesterday. IF
if were not for the discriminating freight
RACES we would have no trouble in getting
+,.f1ries mere. As it is, we have not been
.,5r- TO keep what We had because of the
r.at rates. If the railroads will deal
fairy with Savannah in the matter of
n.tzht rates the industrial situation win
ak. care of itself"
Til. Mayor was very positive in his re-
marks and evidently meant what he said.
several instances in support of his CON
tsuton had recently been brought to his
nouce he said. THE Diamond Dust Soap
Powier Company was compelled to leave
sala NAH and go to Baltimore" said the
Mayor, because it could not get reason
able freight rates here. That was one
= vmisng industry lost to Savannah The
savannah Box and Basket Works. which
& established west of the city, is having
ahe same experience as the soap powder
company. II has found that not only arr,
lis competitors in Charleston given the
same rates to points in Florida, but that
in some instances they have been given
much lower rates, and rates, too, which
were refused to the Savannah company,
Notwithstanding it is lis miles nearer the
point of destination than its Charleston
competitor"
Another striking instance of the man
uer in which Savannah is Disseminated
against in the matter by the railroads"
said Mayor Myers, lis that our merchants
have found that in shipping rice from New
orleans their shipments can be brought by
way of New York and thence back to Saw
annah for 20 per cent less than they can
be brought here from New Orleans di-
rect This is a queer state of affairs
These are only a few instances. / have
no doubt that every business man in
Savannah is aware of others. The dis
eliminating freight rates have been a long
standing complaint in Savannah. The
Plant System is especially culpable in this
respect. No concealment is made of the
rates to many points in Georgia and Flori-
ola that il gives Savannah Notwithstanding
that Savannah is 115 miles nearer these
points.
The railroads are doing more to retard
the growth of Savannah than any other
single influence" said Mayor Myers 1T
is very important that the freight bureau
should be re-estabhshed and maintained
It's need is realized now, more than ever
There are doubtless others who agree
with Mayor Myers in his view of this
question. A well known wholesale mer-
chant gave the Mayors remarks his
hearty endorsement. 1Not only is ChaTes-
ton placed upon the same basis as Savan-
nah in Savannah's territory said the
merchant, but jacksonville and other
competitors are given lower freight rates,
enabling them to do business in our terri
tory and almost, at our doors. The Plant
System is not the only sinner. Augusta
gets the same rate on Northen and West
eru freights as Savannah. The extra haul
from the port is thrown in as a bonus l
suppose. Atlanta and Macon are given
rates which enable them to command
practically the entire territory of the
Central Railroad. Savannah merchants
sell fewer goods along the line of the
Central RAILROAD than any other road
leading into Savannah. Our sales of heavy
goods hardly reach beyond Millen. AS
trading route the Georgia and Alabama is
more valuable to Savannah than any
other line leading into the city. 1t seems
to be the only line on which our Compel
itors do not get the benefit of discrimi-
mating freight rates"
With a fair deal in the matter of
freight rates. said the merchant. "Sa
vannah business men would be in clover
ana the opportunities for factories would
he such that we would not need an indus
trial association to attract such indus
tries to our city"
Since the question has been so squarely
stated by the Mayor it would seem to be
one to demand the attention of the in
dustrial committee, as advantageous
Helght rates are a necessary condition to
securing manufacturing industries.