The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-07-12
NO. Is.
Norfolk's Future.

The Atlanta correspondent of the New
York Times, writes as follows:
A few weeks ago Galveston passed Sa-
vannah and took rank next to New Or
leans and usurped Sayannah's place as the
second cotton port in the country. Nat
urally the Savannah Cotton Exchange be-
gan to enquire into the causes of this de-
cline to see if any remedy lay within
| reach. The main reason attributed by the
Savannah Exchange to account for the loss
OF cotton this season was the diversion of
the staple from it's old ports by the opera
lions OF the railroad pooling system. A
gentleman well informed in the move
ments OF cotton says the pooling system
operates rather to the advantage of inter
ior towns as against ports. There are
three reasons for the decline Of Savannah's
cotton! receipts; First, the low quotations,
which, properly understood, would not
have much influence, but when Charleston
is offering 10f OF ordinary, and Savannah
only 10, it naturally goes to Charleston. A
better grade of cotton goes to Charleston.
and what would be ordinary there might
be good ordinary or middling IN Savannah.
The reason has more effect than many
would suppose. The second cause is due
to low freights given to Norfolk. Cotton
is carried from this part of the country to
Norfolk for Sc cents hundred, while As
cents is charged to Savannah, Norfolk is
600 miles over the mountains and Sayan-
nah IS only 800 miles on an easy run. Not
counting the difference in distance, there
IS another disadvantage for Norfolk thus
overcome, for the same motive power
that would carry IL cars over 800 miles
toward Norfolk would carry 20 cars to Sa-
Vannah. Norfolk has many natural adj
Vantages, besides this artificial one. She
IS enabled to command this territory from
Memphis to New Orleans by means of
railroad systems that radiate from here.
The coast line, the Richmond and Dan
vile, the East Tennessee, Virginia and
Georgia, and the Chesapeake and Ohio
give her easy access to that vast territory
and matchless facilities for reaching it.
AS a port her advantages are even more
stflklng. She is on direct line to Liver
pool; she is north of Hatteras, and gets
cheaper insurance on that account she
mas lower rates, so low that they more
IMAM counteract the 10 cents additional
inland freight. The third reason for ga
Vannah's decline is found in the superior
OF Charleston merchants. They
seem to handle the cotton better and their
reputation for doing so has diverted some
OF Savannah S former receipts. The enor
nous crop OF Texas accounts in some
measure for Galveston great interest
She IS holding her own and gaining among
southern ports because she has vast terri
tory that cannot be taken from her. If
supplies excellent cotton, too, better than
That which goes to New Orleans. This
side OF Galveston cotton movements in
dlcate shifting toward the North Allan
tic. New Orleans lost first, then Mobile
losG heaVly' Savannah is complaining
now, and Charleston, though keeping rela-
lively ahead of these towns by her enter
PRISE, is losing by competition with Nor
1olk. This seems to be the drift of cot
ton, and it may be that railroad combina-
lions are promoting it. There are three
natural ports for Atlanta-C Charleston.
Norfolk and Savannah. Charleston has
to gain control of the bulk of it.
and seems determined, by the activity and
and enterprise of her merchants, to retain
1t. The Atlantic coast has three natural
ports which drain the country. First,
New York, which is the estuary for the
Northern, Western. Middle and New En-
gland States second, Norfolk, which is
the estuary for cotton, and destined to
take away the prestige of New Orleans:
and third, Galveston, which has an en-
pire OF its own. Before these three ocean
rivals all other ports must Give a,vav