Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-18
THE sIELON MARKET.
Heavy shipments and Probable Losses
The Alleged Seizure by the Health
a,.ho-;t;as in New York.

Heavy Shipments and Probable bosses
The Alleged Seizure by the Health
Authorities in New York
The report by telegraph that thirty
thousand watermelons by steamer Talla-
bassee. from Savannah, had been seized IN
New York upon their arrival there on
Saturday by order of the Board of Health,
created quite an excitement in this city
Yesterday.
Gen. G. NJ. SOrTel, agent of the Ocean
steamship Company, called at the MORN
ING NEWS office and stated that there
evidently was an error in the report, as
he had telegraphic advices to the effect
that the melons had been sold for SO pei
hundred. At his request, the following
dispatch was sent to William Henry
smith. General Agent of the New York
Associated Press:
SAVANNAH. July Is. 1888.
IVm Henry Smith. General Agent Ne0
York ASSOCIATED Press, Nelc York:
The agent Of the Ocean Steamship Com
panv questions the dispatch about selZ.
ure Of 10000 melons. He has adVlceS
that cargo averaged % dollars per 100.
This is an important matter in this sec
ton. Please investigate and telegraph me
fully either as regular or special dispatch
j. II. EsTILL.
The following reply was received:
NEW YORK, July l., 1888.
j. II. ESiu:
Matter investigated and facts found tC
be correct. WIN. HENRY SMITH.
From information derived from inquiry
i'm Savannah, it is probable that some o.
the melons were OVerripe when shipped
VI,n suddenly
upOn the market last week caused glut
and local dealers were unable to pay
more than nominal prices. Many OF the
melons shipped by the Tallahassee
were brought to the city OF
/ the previous Friday for shipment
/ bv Saturdays steamer. The steamer
I being unable to receive them they were
allowed 10 remain in the cars, the shippers
refusing to accept the nominal prices o
/ the local dealers. until Wednesday
/ steamer, when they were loaded. Th'
fruit by the time Of its delivery in New
York having been at least ten days from
the vine, would naturally commence t
decay.
I The following communication, accom-
panied by the dispatch printed IN yester
days NEWS, was received last night from
General SOrrel:
OCEAN STEAMSHIP COMFY. OF SAV'H,
I COlOnel j. II. EStitt:
DEAR SIR-The enclosed telegram ap
peared in this mornings News anon.
the press dispatches. 1t was obvious tina
it referred to the melons carried from herr
I Wednesday, 18th instant, by the steam
. ship Tallahassee, arriving in New \ ork Oh
the 18th instant at 30 p. m, her entire
shipment being 30,713. As shown you Thu
morning l was advised yesterday tina
this cargo had done well for thu
shippers, the sales averaging so pc
100 melons. 1t was at one,
/ apparent that a serious error had beer
committed by the agent of the Associated
/ Press. BY which this line and all inter
ested in this traffic with us must be SUI
/ ferers. / requested explanations from on
New York agent, ald have now his tele
gram Of this date reading:
The New York Times and Herald give
thenumber of melons condemned as abou
500. The actual number is $50"
This, probably, is from the total re
. ceipts at dock for the week, say $4,000, thu
I .'Nacoochee' having landed 1860 thu
. pT0vious Tuesday, and may, under tn
+ circumstances, DE considered a mOderat,
loss. You were good enough TO eOmmu
Z HicaJe AT once with the agent transmit
and correction. l beg to urge up,
you to set this right with al
the completeness that may be il
your power 1t is at all times difficult t
Overtake, effectually such a misstatement
and as the NEWS goes directly {
the melon growers Wis already widel.
disseminated. Their season is neces
sarily short, and the sight of this unfortu
nate telegram is certainly not calculates
to encourage them. OF its effects on on
line in their estimation you can wei
Judge, and think YOU will agree that ef
fectual refutation should be given, and al
examination made into the source of
/ publication so injurious and uncalled for
Yours respectfully,
G NJ SGRREI l. a want.