The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-15
sAyANNAH,s TERMINALS.

Two years ago the Charleston News
and Courier sent a member of its stan
as a special commissioner to Savannah
to inauire into the reason for this citys
great commercial growth and Importance
After an intelligent investigation the COM
missioner gave much of the credit to the
city's fine terminal facilities. In his ar
ticle he said, in part:
Here there are two splendid terminals,
one owned by the Central of Georgia and
the other by the Savannah, Florida ana
Western Railroad, /. e., the Plant system.
The former is west of Savannah, the lat
ter is east of it. These properties are
owned by the railroads that haul the cot
ton; and 1 believe that in this fact is to
be found the explanation of much of Sa-
vannahs prosperity. When he was shown
over the Central terminals some years
ago. the late Jay Gould said they were
more valuable than the railroad itself
| could not describe them in column.
Sixteen big steamers and / don't know
how many sailing vessels were berthed at
them at one time. At the present time
100000 is being spent in charging and
improving them. There are acres of sheds
skirting docks dug out of the river bank
in which six ships, as big as the Idar
could be berthed and loaded at once. 1t
goes without saying that a railroad with
such accommodations can afford better
facilities to exporters than could road
that has limited room or no room at all
at its terminus.
That was the condition two years ago
II our terminals then were worthy of
such appreciative comment. what is to
be said of them now? During those two
years there has been an increase of ter
minal capacity at the port amounting to
not less than 40 per cent. The News and
Courier's commissioner noted that the
Central was spending great sum Of
money in enlarging and increasing its
facilities. These improvements have now
been completed, adding largely to the
Centrals terminal equipment. The Plant
Systems terminals during the same time
were expanded and improved, giving
greater space and more conveniences for
the handling of freights. Thus on the
west and east of the city there are now
much finer terminals than existed two
years ago.
Nor is that the half of what has been
done in that time for the increase of
Savannah's commercial facilities. Direct
y opposite the city on the other side
Of the river the great Seaboard Air Line
terminals have been completed and put
into commission. The wharves, docks,
slips, ETC., of this plant will compare
favorably with any similar equipment
in the country. Competent authorities
have pronounced these terminals among
the finest in the United States.
Savannah thus has three great terminal
plants all modern, into which four great
railway systems-the Central of Georgia,
the Southern, the Plant and the Seaboard
Air Line-are turning their rich and in
creasing freights for coastwise and for
eign shipment Having provided them
selves with these extensive and costly
terminals at Savannah. 1t goes without
saying that the railroads will use their
best endeavors to bring all of the business
possible to the terminals, and to increase
the volume of commerce by every means
in their power. Thus a large and grow
ing sea traffic for the port is assured. 1t
is in anticipation of the greater COM
merce that is sure to come to Savannah
THAT a thirty-foot channel from the city
to the sea is wanted.