Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-11
THE pRorEor1oN OF COTTON.

Provisions to be Made at all stations
The CentraI's Warehouses in SaVah-
nah.
The order of the State Railroad Commas
sion. issued about two weeks ago, requir-
ing sheds for the protection OF cotton 10
be erected at the terminal and way sta-
tions of all railroads in Georgia, appears
to have received the unqualified indorse-
ment of all the leading factors and
planters. The idea was suggested by the
committee of the Savannah Cotton hX-
change last June.
A representative of the MORNING NEWS
called on some of the principal factors
here to ascertain their views in connec-
ton with the order referred to, and was
informed that for some years cotton mas
been delivered by planters at way stations;
where it renamed sometimes TWO anu
three weeks. and when received here the
bales were frequently short in welght ana
damaged by the weather. "This l0ss,' re-
marked factor, "tell upon the
planter. In some instances the farmer
had been known to have come over twenty
miles with his cotton, when he was IN
formed by the agent that the road had nc
cars on which to load, and hence could
not give receipt for 1T. Inc
planter did not care to return home with
the cotton. and was compelled TO throw
the bales on the ground, where they were
exposed until the railroad made IL cOnNe'
nient to take them. Meanwhile somebody
cow would eat several pounds OF Che
staple, or a thief would extract a quan,
| titv. or a number of raintalls would follow
| and damage it.
EThe attention of the railroad officials
was called to a provision in the law
| which compelled common carriers TO give
! REGENTS for the staple when the wOuld-be
| shipper should demand them. The agents
were then instructed to give receipts
when the planter made the demand
though many planters were unaware OF
| the law and failed to take advantage OF IT,
| EOn the Central Railroad enclosures
were provided to exclude cattle, but the
fences did not keep out the rain or the
thieves.
9"The Savannah, Florida and Western
! Railway has provided sheds for the stor
age of the staple, and its liberality has
| been duly appreciated
Another factor remarked that he was
! glad the order had been issued at last
| He added that the roads should have
| erected the sheds long ago, for he believed
| if the cotton were better protected in
transit more planters would feel encOur
| aged to cultivate it. He further observed
| that lift paid the roads to handle the cotton
! a sufficient number of cars forming cot
| ton train should daily call at the stations
and thus insure the prompt delivery OF
| the staple.
The Central Railroad has received an
| order from the Commission to erect sheds
within sixty DAYS. While a compliance
with this order necessitating the erection
| of $50 sheds would be impossible in sc
| short a period of time, yet the company
! will take measures for the better
protection of the staple. In Savannah
adequate provisions have already been
made, and planters and those interested
will have no reason to complain to the
road of it's lack of facilities for protect
ing and promptly moving cotton at any
| point on its line.
The large area land in the vicinity
of the Ocean steamship wharves has been
made subserVient to the interests and
growing business of the Central Company
The NEWS representative made tour
of inspection yesterday morning at the
wharves in order to obtain information
relative to the new cotton warehouse now
nearing completion, making the fourth in
number which has been erected in Savan-
nah by the above road, in order to eXpe-
dite the handling of the great staple.
The special object of the road in build
ing these large, cOmmodious warehouses
is to afford protection against all kinds of
inclement weather. The complaint that
the merchants of Savannah, in common
with all parties in Georgia, interested di-
rectly or indirectly in cotton, have
against the railroads is the want of prOtec-
ton for the article against bad weather.
This advantage, with many others, has
been contemplated in the building of these
warehouses, and the doing away with the
slow and tedious delivery of the staple to
drays will very considerably expedite mat
tiers in the handling of the great bulk of
cotton which for years past has been al
lowed to remain on open platforms sub
iect to all kinds of weather and delivered
to merchants slowly and by a very diff
cult process.
The total area covered by these ware
houses is sixteen acres. The site Sc
lected is on Wadley street, south of the
river front and in close proximity to the
railroad and the steamship wharves, and
adjoining the three warehouses which
were built last year. The first, which is
known as No. l, is situated away from
the others, on Wadley street and the ca
nal, and is 300x240 feet, with a capacity
OF 1900 bales, and is rented by Messrs.
w. w. Gordon Il Co.
No. , warehouse is leased by Messrs.
II. NJ. Conner & Co. Its dimensions are
200X400 feet, with a capacity of 5000 bales.
No. 3 warehouse will be occupied by
Mr. F. A. Garden. This building is square
200X200 feet, with a capacity of 5000 bales.
No. warehouse will be used by Messrs.
Baldwin Il Co. as soon as it is completed,
which will be about the list of September.
Its dimensions are 200 feet square. In
point Of finish, durability and capacity,
these warehouses are beyond doubt the
best in the State. They are built Of the
best Macon bricks, over 2,750,000
having been used in their construc-
ton, while the foundations are con-
structed of the best Savannah bricks /;
they are covered with metal roofs, making
them perfectly fire and water proof An
excellent feature in connection with
these improvements is to be found in
the long and rOOmy interior for the
proper handling of the staple, giving the
shipper plenty of room and excellent
light. Another great advantage is the
construction of long platforms, running
the entire length of the buildings, for the
expeditions delivery and receiving of cot
ton.
The total cost of these immense struc-
lures is $135, 900, which, if the opinion of
our merchants and general factors can be
taken, is one of the best moves made by
the Central Railroad for many years past
for the protection of one of their largest
and most profitable sources of freight
traffic.