Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-17
The Board of Trade Inquiry.

The result Of the investigation Of the
committee. appointed by our Board oil
Trade. 70 look into all matters relating to
freights 10 and from this city, both by
railway and water. Is waited for by our
business men with considerable interest.
There have been complaints Of excessive
freight charges and Of Determinations
against our trade. If these complaints are
well founded the public should
be made acquainted with the
truth. This city cannot a1ord
To have her trade burdened with o0struc-
lions. which. BY the exercise OF reasona-
bic amount Of judgment, tact ana energy
can rerbaDs. be removed Just as well as
NOT. The committee have been divided
into several subcommittee, 50 that we
NAV not only expect that the inquiry viii
be thorough. but. also, that such sugges-
tons for the removal Of the cause OF CON-
plants will be made a. will meet the ap-
prOvaI Of the business interests and the
transportation lines. We do not suppose,
Of course. that there is a disposition
on the part Of any one Of
our railway or steamship lines 10 insist
upon freight rates which will prevent
business from coming here, but 1t IS not
improbable that in some instances their
tariff Of rates Is too high 10 influence trade
in this direction. and higher than certain
kinds Of freights viii probably bear. Our
provision dealers, for instance, say that
tnpv are gradually losing their trade in
south Georgia and portions Of Florida.
New Orleans merchants are able to dis
tribute their goods in these localities at
! less expense than our merchants
can. II Is alleged that there
is discrimination in favor Of
Brunswick in the matter Of naval
stores. 1t is also said that the fall in the
. prices Of lumber and certain kinds Of
naval stores should be followed by a re-
duction in the rates of freights on these
4 articles. These are some of the complaints
4 that we hear from interested parties, and
7 we suppose they are about the complaints
that have been. or will be. presented to
the committee. The task Of the commit
! tee i not an easy one if they perform
their work thoroughly. \ mere surface
investigation viii satisfy nobody, ami
viii Doe productive of no benefit.
Every year the competition for trade is
becoming fiercer. and Savannah, if she
remains supreme in the territory which is
tributary To her, must put forth extra eX-
ertions. Her rivals will show her no
favor. Norfolk. ON the North, is reaching
out after her cotton. and New Orleans, on
the south. IS trying to grasp her trade in
general merchandise, Even ambitious
little Brunswick i striking boldly for a
biz share of the naval stores and other
products Of Middle and Southern Georgia.
We have no fault TO find with any
Of these cities. We expect them to look
out for their interests. We mention these
facts simply to show our own merchants
that the day has gone by when we can
rely upon our position for trade. Position
is great advantage, but it is not every
thing in these days Of railways. In
addition TO our position, however, we
have splendid railway facilities. our
roads are well equipped, and answer the
requirements Of the territory on which We
depend for our trade. our mer-
chants are well supplied with capital
and have all the experience that is neces-
sary in conducting their business. II
trade Is drawn away from our city, there
fore. it must be because we do not handle
the facilities which we have to the best
advantage. \ couple Of months ago a
committee Of the Cotton Exchange gave
reasons Tor the falling of in the compare
tive receipts of cotton at this
port. As wise, shrewd merchants,
our cotton factors have. no doubt, set
themselves TO work to remedy the evils
which they pointed out. To point out the
evils, and not insist on the remedy,
amounts 10 nothing. If the Board of
Trade Committee find the complaints
which have reached the board well found
ed. the interests affected will, we take it,
set theoretically to work to remove the
causes Of the complaint. The appoint
ment Of this committee, if it means any
thing, means that distractions to the
trade of Savannah must be removed.