Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-01

successfully maintained. 9i,ring the year one
firm has abandoned the retail, 20 take its place
among the jObbers. The largest firm engaged
in the trade has increased its capacity for
business by enlarging its department space
TO double its former capacity, and increased
its stock in proportion. so As 10 give ourcity as
found South.
The business for the commercial year
Just closed mas been satisfactory. An
early opening of trade in August,
1852. gave our merchants large and salts
factory trade for that month. September
trade was good. but the gradual and sure de-
cline of cotton in September and October of
to 3 cents per pound, made trade droopy in
October, and country merchants were losers
to no inconsiderabe amounts; but the willing
ness and accommodating spirit of our mer-
chants bridged over the difficulty. and al
though the trade in November and December
was not near what was anticipated in volume.
yet was satisfactory in its character The for
tdnate production OF a heavy grain crop
enabled the planter to live more within him.
self and keep out of debt.
The spring trade of 1855 opened unusually
early. mainly on account Of the mild winter
and the low stocks generally carried. and a
large trade was done clear MP to June.
The fall trade of 1888 commenced very
a remarkably busy enc. although goods
in this line are 10 to Il per cent. lower than
year ago, yet the amount OF goods sold in July
was greater than July, 1882. The same may
he said of the month of August, which has
been the heaviest ever done in this city, and
although the prospect of the cotton crop is
merchants look fos fair trade for
September. and in October when the de-
mand for wool Eabrics spring up and
replenished stock is necessity, a good trade
is anticipated. That our jObbers OF dry goods
and notions are pushing, and are prepared TO
meet the wants of the merchants not only in
Georgia, but in all the adjoining States. \
walk through their stores will show how far
their goods are sold away from home. They
are covering territory which extends to the
Gulf on one side and to the vicinity of the
mountains and seabOard. Their energy,
accommodation and heavy stocks
are not only drawing to our
city trade fre-M the vicinity of our large in
land cities but much of the trade that has
heretofore purchased in Northern markets
are satisfied that they can be better suited III
terms as well as prices here. While the bulk
of the goods sold are productions of Northern
mills, sueh as prints, bleaching, etc, a heavy
1 trade is done in Southern fabrics, Manufac-
tured at our own mills, and large distribu-
ton = made of Augustus mill production,
ana checks OF popular brands aGd standard
Southern make have been almost double the
distribution of last year. They have forced out
OF this market the popular braHsls of Northern
mills that at one time controlled this market
our iObbing trade has 81 bright record for
the past year; no failures, iaer2ase of terri
tory yearly, steady increase of sales, con
sequently increase Of stocks and facilities Of
doing business. 1t tO-d;tE looks forward to the
time when it will make Savannah the south
ern market for dry goods and notions for the
! states Oh SOuln (aIOllhd, OebFEid. fIOfiud
and Alabama. If push, capital. accOmoda-
ton. stocks and prices 10 meet the wants of
the trade mean anything, then ii viii be done
in the near future.
RIsGVISIONS.
In our last annual review we remarked pal-
ties needing provisions would have to pay hig
prices FOR balance OF season, rs stocks we've
practically exhausted, (the year for hog pro
duct commencing November y, but it was
hoped at that writing that the corn crop
would prove 4 large one, and the supply Of
! hogs increased. the result verified oIaF re
marAs. Prices remained high until the latter
/ part of October, when under fair prospect
/ that the winter supply of hogs would I've equal
/ to Previous year, and owing to the corn crop
/ proving bountiful one, the sumieer supply
! would he larger, prices began to Tccede and
| continued until January, showing reduc-
/ uO2 then of 30 to 40 per cent. AbOat this pc
/ roo, however, speculation set in and the
steady decline was checked, and the opposite
! position was taken by many, WHO insisted that
| there was nothing in the face Of events to pre-
I vent prices being as high as last wear later in
I the season. To those who had carefully
I watched affairs this was a false position. Our
/ exports were materially less, owing to French
! and German cmbargOes. Other countries
were not free buyers, as they seemed to have
an ample supply for home use. The home
trade. the Southern states in particular. were
/ buying very sparlngly. as they had the largest
/ supply OF meats raised at home that they have
| had since the war. Notwithstanding all these
| facts, spectators ignored the natural laws of
supply and demand, and commenced adyanc-
/ ing prices and plling up stocks Of meats and
/ lard. The inevitable results followed when
they could carry out their policy no longer.
! In May, when the load became too heavy, the
crash came, resulting in failure after failure of
some of the largest speculative houses. The
1 decline from unnatural prices, TO which thew
| had been forced, set in, and have continued,
, with scarce Ga interruption, until to-day
| prices are fully 40 per cent. less than they
| were the early part of May, and only about
One-half of what they were year ago. Stocks
are ample in all parts of the country. the hog
| supply being large, and we look for no adj
| vance the balance of the season. The corn
crop in the West looks well, but is at yet too
| early to determine on its results. If it turns
out rs well as now appears. we look for lower
| prices next wear than those now prevailing.
The amount of trade dnring the past year
/ has been quite large; in point of fact, has
shown considerable increase, but in general
results has not been as satisfactory former
age OF values prevailing throughout the
summer, the falling off being fully one
half, and of course jObbeTs were cut
down to the very lowest margins. Con-
sequenty they report the business was
not quite as ren!meraatiye a.: former, but
there is very bright future for the -" : /,
the opening of new railroad lines i'm
Florida mas opened up territory which
TINS market has failed to cover, owing to the
nigh rates of freight to particular points
1t is to be hoped that our leading lines will
! Onef every lnducement to bring the trade TO
TINS point. as with low rates and annie SHIN
/ ping facilities our merchants will be enabled
TO smut out all competition. OF course we have
not felt any real competition as vet but, as
this state Oh affairs exists, and cannot be ig-
nOred, 1t Is better that something be done 10
meet IT, as it Will not do to lose our
! present position as provision market. In
the years of famine or of plenty Savannah
has steadily held the high position as the best
market of supply to all who tried her. At all
times were her merchants in position to sup
ply anything in the provision line; at all
times far-sceiDg and conservative in their
. and STRAIGHT in
/ lngs, they have reaped the reward due TO their
energy, and the provision trade OF the city
stands to-day high monument of what men
can do.
GROCERIES.
The business of the year Just closed sur
/ passes all that preceded it in volume and eN-
/ tent. The comparative new industries
/ throughout the county tributary to Savannah
/ have helped to swell its already we'll
/ established and increasing commerce.
| Every orange grove in Florida, every
( of consumption. Many other factors i'm the
/ field of enterprise have contributed to pro-
duce the result which makes Savannah the
j market Tor the retailers of Georgia, Florida
Alabama and lower South Carolina. our,
! wholesale grocery business is governed
/ by capitalists and merchants of long expc-
rlence, who supply themselves in largest
quantities from original sources.
( The through low rates of freight 10 Savan-
nah by car load lots, with discounts for guam
/ tity, strengthened by purchases of large in
give our wholesale grOcers the opportunity of
dividing the goods to retailers and country
merchants at as low or lower figures than
small or moderate quantities can be bought at
anv other competing point. The rapidity
with which goods can reach the inte-
riOr from Savannah obviates the neces-
/ sity of laying in larger stocks than are
wanted for immediate use. which Is a very
I decided advantage to the retailer. II pre-
/ vents the accumulation of old stock, which l.
I dead weight in business.
Z business outlook
I is very nattering. The stocks of groceries and
1 arriving in great variety and in quantities
+ Prices generally are as low as last wear
! Very few articles, if any. are expected TO rule
nigh, which Is a very pleasant reflection To
Wholesale grocers, whose interests are hest
subserved when articles they handle are at
low prices; consumption increases, orders ar
rive more frequently, merchants buy more
cheerfully, and with more confidence.
deductions in the price OF matches have
been boon to the retail as well at the whole
sale trade. Prior to July LIST they were sold
at cash by all except the manufacturers who
realized large fortunes by the ''pr0tectiOn''
accorded them by Congress The former
prices at which they were sold was a dis
grace to American legislation.
The next reduction we desire TO see accom-
pllshed is in the rates Of freight on groceries
and other staple goods on all the rairoadlines
connecting with the savannah. Florida and
Western Railroad, TO give The people Of Florida
and southern Georgia the benefit I'VE market
affords.
FRUITS AND NEGET TABLES.
The past year has been quite successful
one for the Florida growers of early Vegefa-