Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-04
A PLEA FOR LOWER FRErGHTs.
The Question Argued by Naval Stores
Operator.

operator.
MIDVILLE, Ga, Dec. I.-Edit0r Morn
ing NelcS: In a recent issue of yolr
paper, an operator in Southwest Georgia
Is quoted as saying, in substance, that:
1T would do him no good if he made
10000 barrels of old rosin,'' as the freights
were so high that he would have to shin
it at loss.
This is subject of deep interest with
all turpentine operators. Having, at the
close of a disastrous year, made start in
the right direction, by reducing the wages
OF hands to something like reasonable
hgure, they should go farther and make
determined effort for a reduction of
freights.
propose to state few of the grounds
on winch we claim such reduction. Let
us compare the freights on lumber with
tnat ON rosin. We will take Mid
vile, NO. 81 Central Railroad, as an ex-
ample. The freight on a car of lumber
from Midwife to Savannah is $I4. On a
car OIL rosln, from same place, it will
average $50. Let it be understood we
wage no war on lumbermen, nor would
we make any invidious comparisons, be-
cause they deserve all the advantages of
cheap transportation they possess. 1t
costs no more to carry car of rOsin than
one OF lumber, and it requires less handling
than lumber at the point of delivery.
A car of rosin can be unloaded quicker
by Tar, and with less force of hands, than
one OF lumber. a rule with all transpor-
tatl0n companies is, that when business
Is dull, to offer extra inducements in the
way of low rates to stimulate shipments.
NOW 1t is well known that previous to the
growth OF the naval stores industry in
this State, large numbers of the cars be-
longing to roads centering in Savannah
were distributed at all the way stations
during the summer months, to be again
called into use on the advent of the cotton
season. Now naval stores happily Gin
great measure) bridges over this dull
season, and furnishes employment to num-
bers of cars that would otherwise be idle,
not to speak of the advantage to employees
i'll securing work in the otherwise dull
summer months.
All operators agree that at present rates
of freights it does not, as a rule, pay to
ship the lower grades of rosin.
In North Carolina, years ago, when
rosin was low they would not lin great
number of cases) pretend to ship their
lower grades, preferrIng to run it off
down the stream on which the still was
located rather than to pack it for ship
ment-knOWing that to do so was to lose
HIouSg. IHlS VIII De JD0 case next year
unless the freight tariff is reduced, be-
cause, as a matter of course, if you lose
money to ship your stuff it is better not
to do so; better burn it at the still to get
rid of it.
Last year, when the lumber business
was dull, prices low, and mills in great
many cases shut down, the lumbermen
came together and sent good, representa-
tive men to lay the case before the Rail-
bn f1xrt, do
such reduction as was proper to afford the
relief desired. Some are so selfish as to
say that, though this special reduction
was made on the very account as named
above, turpentine men cannot claim the
same rates, because given car of rosin
is worth more than one of lumber; as if
railroads should make the nice distinction
that express companies do between carry
ing money and eggs.
There really is not so much relative
difference at this time in the value of the
products. and the difference in cost of
handling i'll favor of naval stores will
more than cOunterbalance any argument
of this kind.
If the Railroad Commissioners saw fit
to reduce freights on lumber on account
of low prices of same, they cannot in JUS
tice refuse the same advantages to naval
stores men. The naval stores industry is
a great one, and should be fostered in
every legitimate way. Ask the mer-
chants of Savannah if the Improbable
turpentine year has not worked injury
to their business. The answer will be
unanimous: 1t has.
All branches of trade feel the effects of
the present depression, and it behOoves
us to endeavOr to remedy the evils as far
as is in our power. There is considerable
humbug in all this talk about oYerprO-
duction.
We grant that the production of the
State of Georgia was largely increased
this year, but on the other hand the Caro-
linaS decreased in amount produced, per-
haps not in so great proportion, but to
some extent, besides the consumption is
also increasing.
Who would have thought twenty years
ago that 100000 bales of cotton would
now be consumed on the globe per annum,
but such is the case.
1t is an established fact, that as prOduc-
tiOn increases so will consumption. Pc
riOds of depression may occur like the
present, but the fact remains that low
prices will increase the uses of any given
product. New uses will be found for
rosin and spirits turpentine, and as the
population and wealth of the country in
creases, so will the uses for naval stores.
There is another point worthy of consid-
GRAFTON, and that is, that whenever a sec
ton of country is worked up by turpen-
tine operators, that section will not be
available for the sameipurposes any more.
Timber is growing scarce, even in Geor-
gia, and the time is not far distant when
the prices must go up from excess of de-
mand over supply. Then the cry of over
production will be over.
la regard to reduction of freights, let
the commission merchants and manufac-
turers get up a delegation to appear be-
fore the Railroad Commission with a full
statement of the facts, and ask such re-
duction of the tariff on naval stores as
will afford the relief so greatly needed.
AN INTERESTED PARTY.