The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-28

AT "Ohh FUR SAtANNAH.
The retail merchants of Savannah
! are awake to the Importance of max
| ing every effort to advertise and build
up the city. 1t is their purpose to be-
! gin an active campaign in the direc-
! ton of bringing people and investors
here, and to that end they propose to
make known the advantages which
the city possesses-advantages which
are not surpassed by those of any 9TH
er city in the country.
At its meeting yesterday the Retail
Merchants Association appointed three
committees. namely. a committee to
suggest methods for more generally
advertising Savannah, a committee to
take steps to make Savannah a point
for tourist travel and a committee to
encourage in Savannah new manufac-
turing enterprises.
These committees will map out the
lines on which the members of the as
ISOLATION will work. Yesterdays meet
ing was only initiatory. Active work
will be begun when the committees
report.
There was one subject discussed at
the meeting upon which the retail
merchants feel deeply and which is, in
fact, crying evil that is of larger
proportions in this city than perhaps
any other of it's size to be found any
where. The evil is that of buying in
other cities-principaHy in New York
,,r s,11 III 1INA ,i,,
home, and that, too. at prices as low
as they can be purchased elsewhere.
Some of those who are thus lacking in
interest in the welfare OF their own
city, thus Indifferent as to whether
their city prospers or not, are property
owners here or are dependent indi-
rectly, for their incomes upon the very
class to which they give but little en-
enlargement.
The fact seems to be lost sight of
that the retail merchants are to a very
great extent the backbone of the city.
They are among the heaviest taxpay-
ers and employers, and there is never
a movement in the aid of charity, or
the military or other undertaking that
does not feel the assistance of their
helping hand. 1t is rather remarka-
BILE that some of those who ask con-
tributions from them for all sorts of
things send their money to other cities
for such articles as they want-inoney
that ought to be spent at home. If
we are to be a prosperous community
we must help each other We cannot
expect to get our living here and con-
tribute nothing towards helping others
to get a living.
And the railroads which draw so
large a part of their incomes from the
city seem strangely Indifferent to the
city's welfare-at least those of them
which have influence in the making
of tourist rates. We have always be-
lieved, and believe now, that the rail-
roads could give this city tourist rates
without injury to their own interests.
1t might be a little inconvenient for
them to do so, but in view of the
large volume of business they get from
Savannah they ought to be willing to
undergo little Inconvenience in her
behalf. This tourist rate question is
one of very great Importance to Sa-
vannah and it is going to be put be-
fore the railroads in as strong a light
as possible.
The Retail Merchants Association is
working along the right line. 1t ought
to have the encouragement and the
help of every citizen. II we are to
build up a great and prosperous city
there must be earnest work and har-
monious action. Let us work together
and Savannah will respond to our eff
forts in a way that will meet our
most enthusiastic expectations.