Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-22

While Savannah still holds her relative
position as the second cotton port, COM
parison of the figures annexed will show
that the comparative increase in her re-
ceipts of cotton since September l, 1882,
is less than that of Norfolk and Charles
ton. The figures are as follows:
1SSl-S2. 1SS2-sS.
Bales. bates.
Savannah observation-disclosures. .l2,Sl6 .S,'5so
Charleston -.-- ...--------.- 4So,zs4 So9'2s9
Norfolk .-..--. -.-.-.----- 5oS,s'V ''--tSa
From the above it will be seen that Sa-
vannah's increase is 81, $50, or little over
II per cent. CharlestOn's 1884 or some
thing over 10 per cent, and NOrfolk's
1894 or over 81 per cent.
This state of affairs has excited the
anxiety of those of our citizens who are
interested in the cotton business, mas
much as it shows that, despite the fact
that Savannah has been growing in i'm
portance in other branches Of trade, and
her internal improvements have, dur
ing the past year, been I'M
precedented. there is some
thing amiss with her cotton interests.
Our merchants remark that towns that
heretofore We're wont to ship all their cot
ton to Savannah have this year sent but
one-half or One-third, although these
towns are situated upon railroads triou-
tary to this city.
Numerous and varied reasons are as
signed for the shortage in our cotton re-
ceipts, chief among which is the pooling
system, by which freights offered appoints
above referred to is shared with
railroads having no natural claim
to it, and whose ter
mini are hundreds of miles
farther from the cotton fields than Savan-
nah. Furthermore, it is urged that these
roads offer lower rates, and thus secure
patronage that should 60 to those that
feed Savannah. Practically, they employ
an all rail route to reach an Atlantic port
five or six hundred miles away.
1t is not fully agreed that the response
biIity for this condition of things lies
with any particular railway manage
ment. Some hold that the high charges
for COMPRISING cotton at this port have
much to do with it, and while
these charges are apparently as great
elsewhere, large rebates are allowed,
which operate as inducements to mer-
chants to push their business and lessen
their charges for commissions. 1t is fur
Their asserted that discrimination against
inland congresses causes much Of the
staple to be shipped elsewhere, and also
that the standard for grading cotton is too
high. which has the effect of making Sa-
Yannah prices appear lower than those at
other points,
sayannah's steady growth IN. other
lines of trade is manifest, and there is no
reason why she should not maintain her
position as the second cotton port. BY
means of her railroads she has ready ac-
cess to large areas of Georgia, Florida
and Alabama. The arrangements of these
roads, while serving their respective cor
pOratiOns, are closely identified with the
progress of our city, and we feel assured
that our intelligent mercantile commu-
nifty will be able to devise some plan by
which a radical change for the better can
be brought about.
With the view to lnquiring into the
causes that have brought about the con-
dition of things under discussion, meet
Ing will be held at the Savannah Cotton
Exchange at noon tomorrow, when it is
hoped the proper policy in the premises
will be framed and applied as speedily as
possible.