Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-01

Appended we give the shipments of lumber
and timber for the year, both coastwise and
foreign:
Coastwise by steam feet. 14,5z2, Jos .........
Coastwise by sail ......... 81, l42,497 !05,l60
Foreign ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1885,, 0e0 7,4S4, 1867
Total ........... 65,55l, 6O3 7,5gO,l27
DRY GOODS AND NOTIONS.
A heavy August trade closed our last years
report. The trade in September and October
following was not heavy owing to the short
crops of cotton in Middle and Southeast Geor-
gla. The demand for the filling up of stocks
was light and the late opening of cold weather
made the demand for wooden fabrics very
moderate, and at the close of the fall trade,
though the volume of business had been large,
yet It was not satisfactory, owing to the light
demand of the trade from Sept. l to Dec. |
for such goods as are usually sought after
in those months. The spring trade opened
early, and the only satisfactory trade was
made with those sections which had realized
high prices for their sea island cottons. The
demands of other sections, owing to the |
shormess Of the crops, were light
and their credits were well sernu-
nized before orders were filed. The gradual
decline in domestic fabrics aud the tightness
of the money market had depressing effect
on the trade and only moderate business
was done, but perhaps more satisfactory on
that account. Year after year our merchants
have been placing their fail goods before the
trade earlier each year, running the risk of
placing goods In the hands of the country
merchant month before they actually have
use for them, stacking them up with their
other goods, with the inducement Of having
their bills dated ahead go to 80 days, too soon
to be able to judge of the prospect of the grow
ing cotton crop and the financial standing Of
the merchant when his bills are due. Our
jobbers say they are compelled to put their
travellers on the road as early as possible in
the season to keep the trade, as merchants
from Baltimore and New York send their
travellers on the road at early date; and
of DaDfFS have been encouraging
merchants from Baltimore to enter our terri
tory and contend for the trade that should
belong to our jObbers, but which they are
trying to drive from the city.
This falls campaign was opened by our
jobbers by having their travellers on the road
by July with full lines of samples for the
fall and winter trade, and some large orders
taken, and very satisfactory July trade was
done, but August opened and closed with
trade much behind August of last year, and
not at all satisfactory.
The present condition of the cotton crop,
the fair crop of corn and oats that was made
gives some hopes that the trade of the latter
months will be good, but the prospect of a
low price for cotton gives very little en-
couragement that there will be much surplus
money, after old debts are paid, to purchase
much more than the staple fabrics.
The stock of dry goods and notions of our
Savannah jobbers are large and complete, and
the soundness of the iObbers is illustrated by
the fact that while almost everywhere finan-
cial troubles have overtaken wholesale as well
as retail merchant, our jobbers have passed
through the financial crisis without failure,
while they have been more than liberal to
their customers, carrying some through since
last season. Their losses have been compare
lively small for the volume of business they
have done. 1t would seem that staple fabrics
have reached bottom as regards prices, and
that either manufacturers have been coming
money out of their mills, or are losing heavily
at present prices. Over production, and the
want of foreign markets to place their pro-
ducts are, no doubt, the cause of the general
| depression in this class of goods. 1t would be
! premature to speak OF any probable advance
/ in the present condition of supply and trade,
| yet an advance has occurred when trade was
| as much depressed as 1t is now. Collections
| show many delinquencies, but as soon as the
| cotton crop commences to move freely, bills
| maturing Will no doubt be promptly met
and old scores wiped out The extension of
railroads to points in Florida, while 1t has
! opened new territory, yet IL has also brought
! as competitors for that trade which has here
! tOfore conferred here. The cities of New Or
| leans and Mobile are now our competitors in
! the new territory, and to retain that trade
| rates must be made in favor of our city by
! the railroad lines otherwise it will go else
| where. AS regards prices and terms and
! stocks our merchants will see that competing
cities offer no inducements superior to those
| offered IN TINS city. Indeed, with respect TO
| prices and accommodations they defy compe-
! tItion, but they must have equal freight ad-
vantages, and it is the interest of the rail-
roads to give them those advantages.
THE GROCERY TRADE.
| very rev people nave any lu6a OF u a mag
nitude and Importance of the whOlesa gro
! Gerry trade to this city. In the aggregal it Is
! second only to the cotton trade. 1t is said
| that the total amount OF sales for the past
! year was over 100000 900. The business of the
| year Just closed surpassed all previous years,
| while the gross profits were no greater, if as
| great. The small profits were due to the very
! low prices During the season the trade had
! several drawbacks to contend with, the chief
| of which was the great depression in the naval
| stores and lumber business, from the territory
of Of sffafo1fa
| come. The increase in the sales of the staple
| articles, such as cOfees, sugars and flour, has
been fully 20 per cent, but in comparison was
| not as satisfactory to the merchant for
| reasons already stated.
The wholesale trade met with many and Sc
we're losses caused by the frequent fail In
| the interior. The old houses held their own
| in the face of disaster, ard there was an in
! crease Of two new firms. All OF the Whole
sale firms showed a disposition to eXtenGa their
business both by increasing their capital and
by covering more territory. The groceryme-,
have met with a very sharp competition fram
| New Orleans in their legitimate te-Fifol-v-
particularly in c0ffees and sugars, In these
articles New Orleans mas Succeeded in
taking considerable nunsoer of customers
This was largely due to freight advantages.
1t may not be amiss to mention the manner IN
which the merchants of this city have been
compelled to ship goods to save freIghts, For
instance, cambridge and landings on the
Chattahoochee and Flint rivers are covered
by the Savannah, Florida and Western Rail
way Company DuG udflDg the seasons their
rates were very much against this market.
Our merchants have been forced to ship by the
steamers of the Georgia and Florida Inland
| Steamboat Company to Fernandina via Tran
sit Road across Florida to Chattahoochee and
from thence by boat to Bainbridge, a distance
fully four times as great as that by the Sa-
vannah, Florida and Western Railway direct
Shipments by this route were effected at a re-
duction OF fully 80 per cent. 1t is said that
the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway
| Company have expressed a desire to do ali in
| lis mower To make C1aapGT Tafpo mi ic
vented from edecting anything satisfactory
because OF Incorporation of the Jacksonville
Pensacola and Mobile Railroad. Within the
past month new rates have gone into force
via the Savannah, Florida and Western Rail-
| way Company which are much less than the
! old rates, but most of our merchants complain
| That they are still not as low as by the other
| route.
The trade in canned goods was very much de-
| pressed. Over production and very low prices
were the chief causes. Flour is handled
! principally by the grocery trade and the sales
! increased wonderfully last year. One or two
| houses handled as much as $500 barrels per
month each. Butter and cheese was dealt in
| in larger quantities than was ever known in
| this market. At the beginning of the year
! the prices of these articles were very high.
! put before the close OF the year declined to a
/ very reasonable figure. The lower prices had
| the effect OF increasing the trade. Collections
! throughout the year were only moderately
| fair. There is no doubt that the new lines Of
| railroads by the Plant system through Florida
| has aided very much in building up and in
! creaslng the business on the st. Johns river,
but If the rates from competing points were
reduced it would serve to swell and enhance
the volume as we'll as the value of our trade
Cheap freights are what is wanted and what
must be had to enable this market to retain
and increase its trade. Competition is so
sharp that slight freight advantages affect
trade very materially.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
AS in previous seasons vegetable and fruit
growing with the Florida growers has been
quite profitable. with the exception Of
watermelOns, the past seasons experience
being rather unfavOrable to that fruit. In the
early vegetable business truck farmers had the
good fortune to get their truck to market
early, thereby realizing quite handsomely on
the seasons work. The prices for oranges
ruled comparatively high for the best part Of
the season, and the facilities for the move
ment of the crop were greater than ever be-
fore. Growers were enabled TO get to the
leading markets in very short time
and with the fruit in prime condition.
Truck farming around this section, although
quite extensive, was not very profitable.
Those who confined themselves, however, to
the planting of those vegetables which are
always in steady demand-such as potatoes,
cabbages and peas-did fairly well. There
was very little fruit imported direct the past