The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-09
sAvANNAH's PROGRESS.

Probably a great many Savannahians
who know the city, or think they do.
and take a pride in her accomplish
ments, do not fully appreciate the pro-
gress she has made during the past
few years and is making to-day. How
many of them. for instance. are aware
that the foreign trade of the port has
been practically doubled in fifteen
years? Yet such is the fact In a re-
cent edition of the New York Finan-
cier the foreign business of the ports
Of the country was discussed, and the
statement was made that the foreign
business of Savannah had increased
9I.5 per cent. since 1887. That is a very
excellent showing; and there is every
reason TO think that the business will
go on increasing in healthy proper
tiOns. The port is better prepared now
TO handle foreign commerce than ever
before in her history, and her facili-
ties are in the hands of wide-awake
managers who will see to it that Sa-
vannah gets her proper portion of the
trade offering.
Two incidents of present interest
may be taken as fairly illustrating Sa-
vannah's substantial growth and firm
foundation. One is the opening of
the new union passenger station on
West Broad street, and the other is
the addition of the Ocean Steamship
Company of two magnificent steam
ships to its already large fleet.
The Union Depot is a structure of
which a city twice the size of Savan-
nah might well be proud. 1t is hand
some in architecture and complete in
details. Every modern device for the
comfort of travellers has been embodied
in it, and its approaches have been
fitted with the best safety devices
known to the railroad world. In ca
pacity, the station is probably a little
in advance of the city; but therein
the builders wrought wisely. They
know the city is going ahead all the
time, in population and importance;
therefore they builded for the future
as well as for the present. BY the
time the next national census is taken
Savannah will probably have upwards
of 100000 population within the cor
porate limits and a very much larger
passenger traffic, and the Union De-
pot will be ready for the increase.
The Ocean Steamship Company's
new ships, the City of Savannah and
the City of Memphis, the latter of
which is brand new from one of the
leading shipyards of the country, are
among the largest and finest ships of
their class flying the American flag.
Besides being elegantly fitted for pas
sengers, they are great freight car
riers. The growing demands for
freight room on the company's ships
made necessary this gratifying addi-
ton to the company's tonnage. Even
before the purchase of the new ships
the steamship fleet of no South At
lantc port could compare with that
of Savannah; now Savannah's fleet
is equal if not superior to that of
any American port three or four times
thu city's size.
Besides these notable incidents in the
city's growth, there are many minor
incidents that are full of significance.
Only a few days ago a new marine
railway was put into commission by
a progressive citizen, who has in con-
temptation the establishment of a dry
dock of large capacity in this harbor.
In all quarters of the city there is
building going on. Recently one of
the banks purchased a desirable cor
ner in the business section, upon which
it is understood a splendid office build
ing is to be erected. And thus it goes.
Savannah is always progressing;
quietly, it may be, but nevertheless
substantially.