The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-18
TO UNITE PROJECTS
FOR DEEPER WATER AND DIRECT
LINE TO BREMEN.
MANY MUTUAL ADVANTAGES
WOULD RESULT If THE TWO
MOVEMENTS CAN BE COMBINED.

Should Bring Inland Merchants
and Steamship Companies Into
Correspondence and United Ac-
tiOn-Inhuence of Trans-Atla ntic
Steamship Company With Many
Northern congressman and Capt.
taIists Would he Great Aid TO the
Deep Water Project-TO Be Con-
sidered by subcommittee.
1t is probable that the movement for
deeper channel from Savannah to
the sea will be combined with that for
securing a direct line from this port
to Bremen. Such a combination has been
discussed by prominent business men
movements. 1t is believed that each
project can be used to help the other.
and that by combining their strength
both can be pushed to a successful
elimination.
AS has been stated heretofore an
effort will be made to secure the aid
of the congressman and business men
OF the Middle West. This will be done
by showing the statements of Col.
Quinn to the effect that practically all
the territory of the great Middle West
lies nearer to Savannah than to anv
other port. If these men can be as
sured that direct line is to be esta J.
lished from Savannah to Bremen they
can be induced to aid the deeper water
project with considerably less difficulty
influence of Big Lines.
On the other hand the big steamship
lines would want some assurance that
there would be sufficient business de-
ve1oped at this port to make the es-
adjustment of the line a paying move
If the two parties most directly inter-
ested, the inland merchants and the
proprietors of the big transatlantic
lines, can be brought together the
united effort of both would be given
toward securing the deeper water.
AS has been stated heretofore. the
North German Lloyd line of steamers
will consent to establish a line here
running directly across the Atlantic if
they are given the assurance that the
traffic would warrant such a move
nent. In the eyes of prominent bust
ness men of Savannah a paying bust
ness could be rapidly built up,
both in the export line and the import
line. Considerable attention is being
paid to the question of establishing of
a large import business, and it
is probable that the matter will be
formally presented to all the trade
bodies of the city at their next meeting.
Correspondence With Importers.
Correspondence will be begun with
some of the large importers in the
Northern cities, and an effort made to
induce several of them to either trans
fer their main offices to Savannah or
to establish branches. BY prop
erly placing before them the ad-
vantages that will accrue from such a
move it is confidently believed that the
movement can be made successful
The vast territory which a Savannah
importing house could supply will be
greatly emphasized Maps showing the
lines of equal distance between Savan-
nah and Fernandina on the one hand,
and Savannah and Charleston on the
other, will be forwarded to those i'm
porters who, it is believed, can be in
duced to establish a branch Office here.
The matter will also be put before
the railroads, asking that they do what
they can to aid the movements for both
advantages. Owing to the fact that the
amount of freight which would be given
to the roads would be greatly In excess
of that now carried, and the. profits
would be correspondingly greater, it
is believed that with comparatively lit
tie trouble nearly all the roads now
running into Savannah can be induced
to aid in the project.
Influence VIII BE Great.
The influence gained if the two
movements are combined will be very
great and far stronger than either
could gather If pushed forward alone.
The deeper water is necessary for
the larger steamers and thee direct
line is practically as necessary to
make the expenditure of $5,0000,000
the amount necessary to construct the
channel a paying investment.
The North German Lloyd line, if
induced to aid the movement for deep
er water, could bring a tremendous
influence to bear on Congress through
the Congressman and capitalists of
the North. The influence that this
company would muster is an
influence which could be obtained in
no other way and would strengthen
considerably the application of the Sa-
vannah committee.
The suggestion of combining the
movement has been advanced by sew
eral business men of Savannah and
has been informally discussed by men,
bers Of the Chamber of Commerce and
by soc of the members of the joint
committee from the three trade bodies
of the city, 1t is probable that the
suggestion will be carefully consid-
cred at the meeting of the sub-com-
mttee which is called to meet to-mor-
row afternoon. If considered advisa BILE
the combining of the two projects will
be recommended to the joint commit
tee.
VIII Be no Detriment.
1T do not believe that the combining
of the movement for a direct line to
Europe with the deeper water project
will act as a detriment to either" said
a prominent member of the Chamber
Of Commerce, and also a member of
the joint committee. 1T is an old
maxim that it is better to ask for lit
tie and get it than to ask for much
and be refused. In this case, however,
I believe that by combining the two
requests that each could be strength
ened.
Il am not fully acquainted with how
matters stand with the North German
Lloyd line in regard to establishing a
direct line. However 1 understand
that they are favorable to the move
ment, and If so. they will readily see
the advantage that will accrue to them
if the deeper water project is success
full, I am in favor of bringing every
possible aid to bear on this subject,