Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-02

thing to spare besides. This means sim
ply that there will be no going in debt to
the North and West for the necessaries
of life during the coming year, and SO
whatever is realized from cotton will be
that much net gain.
1t is to be hoped that our planters
will determine henceforth to stick to
this policy. 1t is the only way to be-
come truly independent. During the
past year, despite the fact that, owing to
the long drought of last spring and sum.
mer, the cotton crop of the South was re-
duced over one million bales-and that
of Georgia alone nearly 100. 900 bales
from the figures of the year preceding,
the average price of cotton has been but
a fraction over lie. This is very con-
elusive evidence that crop much less
team the South can produce is sufficient
for the wants of the world, and this
being so, it is clearly manifest what
danger the Southern planter must be in
who gives his whole attention to the
great staple, trusting to supply his needs
for the farm and household from other
sections. and pay for them with the
money he receives from cotton alone. This
policy, pursued to its legitimate result,
would soon mean cotton crop Of a
million or more bales more than
has ever been produced, and that
would mean unremunerative prices,
losses, debt and serious embarrass-
ment. Let our farmers but
determine to first lay the foundation for
prosperity by guarding against all
possible contingencies, and then what
they do receive from their cotton will be
Just so much money ahead of the world.
This is the basis of true independence for
the South. and wealth for the Southern
planter, and prosperity to him implies
prosperity and happiness to all classes of
our people. Nothing can possibly afford
better evidence of this, than the fact pre-.
sented to us at the present time, when,
although the cotton crop is largely re-
duced, Georgia never before was in so
flourishing condition.
AS far as the city of Savannah is con-
cerned, her most sanguine friend could
have no greater cause to feel en-
couraged. Her trade during the past
year, under attendant circumstances, has
been in the highest degree satisfactory.
Despite the largely reduced cotton crop,
her receipts of the great staple have been
over 700, 900 bales, and about 100, 900 bales
greater than was received at Norfolk.
her next highest competitor on the South
Atlantic, and thus it is seen that she
has easily been able to maintain her
position as the first South Atlantic cot
ton port. Besides this her receipts Of
naval stores, which come next in impor-
lance to cotton, have increased from "a,
7O3 barrels of spirits turpentine in
18S1-S2 to II, O59 barrels in 1928, and
fir m 282, 1886 barrels of rosin in the form
err year, to 309,834 barrels in the latter.
The benefits certain to accrue to the city
from this industry cannot well be over
estimated. 1t is still, comparatively
speaking, in its infancy, and yet Savan
nah is striding onward to the first
position as an entrep0t in this line also,
and already the quality of her receipts is
superior to those of her competitors
When this industry is fully developed it
will. doubtless, be to our city IN the
summer what cotton is now in the win
ter. and will keep the wheels of com
merce rolling along as swiftly during
the heated term as it has long been our
habit to witness in the busy months
from September to May. Besides cot
ton and naval stores, too, our city can
boast of being one of the finest rice mar
kets in the country, while her lumber
and timber trade is rapidly increasing in
value, and, as a consequence of all these,
general business is year by year adding
largely to its volume We repeat,
then, that during the year past
the business of our city has been all that
her most ardent and sanguine friends
could have hoped for, and she has made
most gratifying progress in material de-
velopment and commercial Importance.
But the future of Savannah is still
more promising than her past, for year
by year her capacities and facilities for
business are steadily increasing. The
General Government, recognizing her
importance to the commerce of the
country, has made liberal appropriations
for the improvement of our river and
harbor. and while even now the
largest ships can unload and take
on cargoes right at our wharves, the
improvements now going on and in con-
temptation will add materially to cur
present depth of water, and place US still
more readily in communication with
the outside world. Our railroads
are constantly making improve
ments in their wharves and outfits, and
are extending their arms in all direc-
tions Our steamship lines are even
now preparing TO increase their carrying
capacities, the Ocean Steamship Com
pany having already established a
tri weekly line to New York, and
propose to still further add to
their facilities by placing new
and larger ships between this port and
the great commercial metropolis Of
America. The Merchants and Miners
Transportation Company also propose,
during the coming season, to place larger
ships on their line to Baltimore; the Bos-
ton line Is to be improved by the addi-
ton thereto Of The fine steamers City of
Columbus and Gate City, and The Phila-
delphia line viii also enjoy additional ia