New-York tribune., 1907-10-29
AMAZED BY SAVANNAH.
NORTHERN EYES OPENED.
Manufacturers Who Vent There on
Ne1c Ship Viii Build Big Plants.


Shortly before the big Cunard liner Lustania
steamed on her second passage to Liverpool last
week the steamship City of Savannah. of the Sa-
vannah Line, Of the finest in the coastwise
service. cleared on her second passage to Savannah
Ga The Savannah is about one-half the length and
one-siXth the tonnage of the monster Cunarder but
in popularity she equals the Lusitania.
When the City of Savannah left New York on Oc-
tober g. on her maiden passage to Savannah she had
among her passengers several manufacturers who
favored establishing branch factories in Savannah.
The arrival OF the new boat to Savannah what
the coming OF the Lusitania New York. She
was expected to dock at O'clock the morning
of October H. but. having made a phenomenally
quick run down the coast against adverse winds
and heavy SEAS Captain Fisher decided to take her
up the Savannah River eighteen miles the city
he abeam OF Tybee Light the
coast.
Unlike the Lusitania which came up this herbor
at noon. the City of Savannah crept up to port in
the dark at a. m. The people of Savannah had
planned big reception for the queen of the Sa-
vannah Line feet. She was expected to dock in
daylight but when within mile OF the city her
arrival was made known by the footing of factory
whistles and the firing of cannon along the river
bank. BY the time she made fast her pier the
city ablaze with lights, and a great crowd
focked the river meet her.
VISIT TO CITY's INDUSTRIES.
Receiving thousands of requests to visit the new
ship the officials Of the Ocean Steamship Company
were compelled throw her open for inspection
on the three days she in port and 5000 persons
out of population of 81 coo visited the steaI9AS in
days
Many OF the manufacturers, steamship men and
railroad men who were passengers on the trip from
New York impressed with what they sa"
Of Savannahs activity the arrival OF the steamer
that they asked for information about the city's
business and the possibilities Of the future Major
" w Williamson president of the Chamber OF
Commerce. Acting Mayor Davant and the reception
committee planned at once an elaborate programme
70 show the enthusiastic Northerners just what
Savannah was doing in the way of manufacturing
agriculture raiIroadng and shipping
The Automobile Club OF Savannah made up OF
the wealthy OF the city. gave forty private
cars fo- the the citys guests, and for three
dsvs and the greater part of three nights the VS.
,,o-s were w-bisI1ed about from plant TO an
ether TIE owner of each automobile acted as
lecturer TO Norherners in his car and the tour
of observation well sprnkled with facts ana
figures 10 show what Savannah had done ana eA-
pected to do in the future
II Is not on record that Major Williamson knew
anything Of financial difficulties that la1er were
10 beset New York City when he announced TO the
guests in his speech at the Guards smoker that
Savannah never had a bank failure. He surprised
his auditors by saying that the bank clearings for
Savannah 1906 were S242,eg4z1.
BIG INCREASE IN IMPORTS.
One of the features Of the trip in and about the
citv that impressed the visitors more than any
thing else, perhaps, the absolute frankness OF
the guests in pointing out the shortcomings Of Sa-
rannah which, il eliminated. would make her the
foremost seaport of the Atlantic of New York
i was explained that there had been too much local
politics and too ttle cooperation in Savannah, but
that these obstacles fast being overcome ana
notwithstanding them, the city had maze remark
able progress within FIVE years.
The party visited the terminals OF the four great
railway systems Of the South. consisting of the
Central Of Georgia, the Southern the Seaooard ana
the Atlantic Coast Line. These systems represented
1880 miles states rich in mineral ana asIl-
cultural and manufacturing products, with popu-
lation Of 100000. The tremendous freight ship
rnents focusing at Savannah carried noTthward
a. a great saving the coastwise steamship hhes
operating between New York, Boston Philadelphia
and Baltimore, 10 say nothing of the great tonnage
shipped over foreign transatlantic lines TO Liver
pool Manchester Hamburg, Bremen, ROTTERDAM
and Antwerp The annual foreign exports from Sa-
vannah average ss2cOO.COo which is 100000 greater
than the combined exports of all other Atlantic
ports south OF Baltimore. The foreign imports 10
Savannah have increased l23 per cent since 1901
The visitors to Savannah were not merely sup
piled with statistics on paper. but were taken TO
1veurv-one new factories established in the city
within the last months. Cheap rents cheap
labor and a guarantee OF moderate rates and i'm
mediate shipment Of all their manufactured goods
prompted the manufacturers 10 build plants in Sa-
Nearly every business in Savannah is look
ing forward to the completion of the Panama Canal
which he contends, will make Savannah the great
natural seaport for the entire southeast II Is
raid that one great advantage TO be derived from
the canal is that Savannah is 7O5 miles nearer to
the Caribbean entrance than New York and also
closer than New Orleans Galveston.
MANUFACTURING ADVANTAGES
The members Of the Board Of Trade and the
Chamber Of Commerce outlined all the features
n which Savannah excelled, but it was obvious
that the city needed more manufacturing plants
than Il has. While ten large manufacturing
companies with capitalization OF s159ooo.oo have
selected Savannah a centre Of distribution, the
city wants plants, and the various civic
boards have promised 10 do everything in their
power 70 encourage and help manufacturers. Sa-
Nannah has already turned the tide of the higher
eiass OF immigration TO the gates of the city,
ana promises competent skilled and unskiIled labor
10 business men who willing to establish there.