Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-19

business through one office. instead OF three
as heretofore.
During the early part of the present year the
Philadelphia and Southern Mail STEAMSHIP
Company announced its determination to sci
its ships and withdraw from the line between
Philadelphia and Savannah. 1t therefore be
came q matter for serious consideration
whether this line should remain uncovered, OF
for our company to put on two of its ships
in place of those to be withdrawn.
Upon a careful investigation of the business
of the line. it appeared that the railroads
leading out of Savannah, as well as the com
mercial interests of the city, were largely in.
terested in having this line kept up; and It was
therefore determined by the board of directors
to put two of our ships on, with a view TO de
monstrate whether or not the line could be
made self-sustaining. The City Of Savannah
was put on this route, and left philadelphia on
the 2Sth of February; the II. Livingston fol.
lowed, leaving Philadelphia on the 9th of
March. Since these dates We have had ships
on the line making weekly departures from
Philadelphia and Savannah-N voyages IN
all to date. The result shows that
view of the collateral advantage to the port OF
Savannah and the railroads terminating there,
it may be good policy to continue it.
Looking to the probability Of keeping up the
line to Philadelphia the steamship Juniata was
purchased for the sum of $50, 600. The reason
that this ship was sold at so low price was
from the fact that she required extensive re-
pairs, and. in order to have her ready for the
fall business. she was put in the hands of the
Harlan & Hollingsworth Company, by whom
she was examined before we purchased her.
Her bottom plating has been nearly all re-
newed, as also her sides to above the deep
load line, all well cemented on the inside
and painted; the boilers rebuilt and
machinery put In perfect order, with new
repaired, improved and painted throughout.
The outlay for these repairs has amounted 70
S42,476 80, making the entire cost or the ship
$7S.47S 49, while her intrinsic value is certainly
rarfl locc hon
For the purpose Of further increasing our
carrying capacity, we have purchased the
steamship "Dessoug' for the sum of $57, 500
This ship has become somewhat noted, from
the fact that the obelisk was brought on her
from Alexandria, in Egypt, to the city Of New
York. Her hull was In most excellent
condition, showing no flaw or defect Of any
kind, and only required to be cleaned and
painted; but the boilers we're not in condi-
tion to be used without considerable repairs,
and in other respects considerable changes
were necessary to At her for our trade as
freight ship. New mastS have been put into
oughly overhauled, at cost of S37, 142 SO, max
ing the entire cost S94, ,642 SO. She is estimated
by competent judges to be worth $12O,OOO.
Notwithstanding these additions to our car
rying capacity, it was foreseen that we should
want more ships for the approaching business
season, and, in order to supply the demand as
tered late in July and put on the Philadelphia
line instead of the Herman Livingston. Later
in the season it is probable that we shall be
called upon to charter other ships, IL TO be
had. The fact that there is pressing demand
for ships during the active business part Of the
year gives owners an opportunity to exact a
high rate, aud i6 follows that chartered ships
are as a rule run at considerable loss. By
reference to the condensed statement of the
Treasurer it will be seen that we have lost by
chartered ships during the past year Si2, ,3SS c.,
while for the previous year the loss was $13,s
242 II.
Having aVnar;anoad o,raat difacultv in dis
charging our ships at New York for the want
of adequate dock room, we have built two
lighters during the past year, at cost of
$10,913 AZ. They have afforded considerable
relief, but we are yet very much In want of
more room in New York TO handle the freight
we carry with facility and economy.
The first four ships that we built have been
thoroughly overhauled during the past year.
the huiIs scraped, and painted on the inside
from keel up, decks cauIled, and all necessary
repairs done. This has involved con-
siderable expense, but it was neces-
sary, in order to keep the ships in first class
condition and in a state of good preservation.
1t is the opinion Of our port Captain that they
are now in as good condition as any ships that
leave the port Of New York, and the correct
ness Of this opinion is confirmed by competent
inspectors, who have recently had occasion to
examine them.
On the 9th of August the coast of Georgia
and South Carolina was visited by very
doing agd great b.rnds damage to
our ships, the City Of Macon, encountered
the full force OF this storm off the coast of
South Carolina, which she rode out without
damage, except that four or hve wooden shut
ters were sto Ve in from the force of the wind
and sea- The writer was on board. and can
bear testimony to the staunchness of the ship,
as well as the good seaAanship and cool con
duct of her officers and crew. The ship Des-
soug was also out In this gale, and escaped
with but little damage, only breaking her tiler
and some other slight arrangements. Her
commander reports that she behaved well in
the storm and proved 20 be most excellent
was at our wharf in Savannah, and fortunately
escaped damage OF any kind, while much of
the other shipping in port was seriously in
jured. The other ships belonging to our com
pany were either in port or at sea, where the
storm did not reach them.
The account for damage resulting from the
collision Of the ship "CiJy of Savannah" with
the bark Toby" as detailed in the last annual
report, is yet open. and stands exactly as then
stated. The unadjusted claim is made by the
Coast Wrecking Company for alleged services
The ship "City of Augusta" referred
to IN the last annual report as being
then nearly completed, was placed on
the line, and left New York on the 26th of
October. We have paid, on account of this
ship since the date of the last report, $685.
973 81, making her whole cost, when ready for
seq, S39S. 1856 g. Her air and feed pumps were
other ships, and, it was believed, would possess
some advantages in their operation; but In
this we were disappointed. and some changes
in their construction became necessary, which
the builders made promptly at their own ex-
pense. Some months after this ship had been
running defect was developed in the high
pressure cylinder, which has also been made
good by the builders
In this connection, it is due to Messrs. John
Roach & Son to say, that in all of our dealings
with them, there has never been one word Of
difference between us, and their work has been
executed in the most satisfactory manner.
During the past business season, as in pre-
vious years, the necessity for warehouses in
which to discharge cotton direct from the cars
OF the Central Railroad, was fully demonstra-
ted. and acting under the advice OF the Board
of Directors OF the Central Railroad and Bank
ing Company, warehouse, with capacity for
storing 1900 bales of cotton, without piling,
was put under construction, with the expecta-
ton of having it ready for the approaching
business season; but in consequence OF the
scarcity of labor and difficulty in procuring
material, with the addition Of the dam
age to the walls Of the structure by the
storm of August 2th it will not be completed
until late in this business season, We have
expended on this warehouse to date SIS, ,26S 81.
With view Of giving an opportunity for
merchants to engage in exporting grain from
Savannah as well as for its cheap handling and
storage for the local trade, the Board Of Direc
tors determined to build grain elevator This
has also been retarded by the same causes that
warehouse for the storage OF cation. We
have expended S23,254 Sc on this elevator to
date.
Since the date Of our last report. ]. G. Mills.
Esq, one OF our directors, and a prominent
cltzen OF our community, has departed this
Ire. He was esteemed by our board as a pa
dent adviser, having had large experiences
mariner; and as a merchant and eitsen ne
was highly respected. In his death ar com
pany, as well as the city. has suffer- Une loss
OF one whose place is not easily fieu'
REPORT OF STEAMSHIP GENT
Mr George Yenge AgenastN At Nsw eSo YorR RoTa snb-
mits the following report.da results and opera
tions incidental to its bTIaeasS
The net earnings hsTT ,oo eo,- .-o 20
- shins PhiIad -phia Line..... 3,75l % /
81 Vafe Povojproperty .,....... 1891 rs |
3" Gordon FS0' 0'''''''''-''''''-'.' 4<'o4s a
~ *
Tba Sult OF operating the New York line /
shorH an increase in net earnings Of the ships
so TGsFe been $6o 470 II. OF this increase S31,-
- 10 has been from Daysengers as ahown nv |