Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-27


+ba name OF the Savannah Cotton Press AS
ISOLATION. and their profits pooled. Their
business is conducted by a General Superln-
teudent and their facilities for dispatching
vessels is unsurpassed. The combined ca
pscitv of the six presses is 600 bales per day
Of ten hours. giving employment to nearly 600
hands. During the winter months, when the
cotton season Is at It's height, they are run
half the night. thus Oftentlmes increasing
their Outturn 30 per cent. Their storage anu
wharfage facilities are exceedingly large ana
ample. and vessels are loaded to eighteen feet
draught at their wharves. from whence they
proceed direct to sea.
Their COMPRISING is generally satisfactory,
and will compare favorably with that done
at any Of the Gotten ports.
There are three banks, one banAng house
and one Citizens Mutual Loan Company,
with an aggregate cash capital OF Sl,6l2,Ogo.
Connected with two of these banks are saw
ings departments, with deposits of Sl,2Oa,V oo.
which is used for banking purposes.
The Central Railroad and Banking Company
has a capital Of s., 100000. This, however,
represents many miles Of railway and various
other enterprises engaged IN by that com
pany. No part of the capital Is set aside for
banking purposes. and its business IN this
line IS l. ited to the extent Of its cash bal
ances.
The prosperity Of a people can generally be
gagged by the permanent improvements IN
real estate. Even Indifferent observer
cannot fail to notice the large number OF new
DNllOlN9S recently EItCttu anu III tDul1C "
completion in all PARTS Of our city, many Of
which are elegant residences. In THIS con-
nectiOn II is proper TO mention that there
are seven Mutual Loan Associations
which lend annually $2I0,oo0, almost
the whole of which goes to the
permanent improvement of real estate. Ihus
in modest way these institutions stimulate
their members to own their homes, tnereDY
adding largely to the growth Of our city, As
evidence Of the confidence felt IN the future of
our city, capitalists have invested largely
in the Electric Light and Mutual Gas COmpa-
MES. Both Of these companies have estaD-
lished their works withip the last year; the
latter has already laid some Is miles Of mains
in our city, and will be ready at an early date
to supply gas at reduced rates.
The Electric Light Works We're destroyed
by fire in October, but have been replaced by
more powerful and improved machinery, aud
our city is again lighted from Il towers ana
% masts, varying in height from 80 to lI5 feet,
giving beautiful light. which Is admired by
The great fire of October 81. 1883, which
originated in the cotton warehouse on Farm
street, was most disastrous, destroying $500
bales of cotton and about 300 houses IN the
portion of the city known as y amacraw,"
making total loss of about S5OO,0O0. 1t Is
pleasing to record. however, that the owners
OF the burnt district are rebuilding much
better class OF houses than those destroyed,
and in this respect the city has been benefited
by what at the time was considered great
disaster: 1t Is. however, painful 10 record
the death Of seven persons who lost their lives
in the warehouse fire.
The magnificent and fast sailing steamships,
which are unsurpassed in their accOmmOda
tions and appoin tments, plying between this
and Northern cities, have done much towards
the development of the agricultural interests
in this section, In the summer months large.
quantities Of vegetables are shipped to the
North and finds ready sale that heret OfOre
were left to rot in the fields. The rapid trans
portation offered by these routes has stimu-
lated farmers TO devote more attention TO TINS
branch Of industry. and many thousands Of
boxes of vegetables and fruits 90 forward in
their season, yielding much profit to our FAR
mers.
The nature Of this produce i such that it
must be used soon after harvest. Therefore
we are in turn compelled TO drain on the
North and West for similar articles late in the
summer and winter when our crops have DIS
appeared.
FREIGHT DETERMINATIONS.
The committee to whom was referred COM
plants OF determinations in rates of freight
to and from Savannah, and whose powers
were subsequently enlarged TO embrace eX
cessiye freight charges, and any other matters
involving the prosperity Of the trade OF the
city, especially those incidental to the cheap
ami rapid transit of our products. nave given
all matters brought TO their notice such care
full and considerable attention that ! present
their report in full, viz:
The fact is that the trade of our CITY has not
kept pace with the increased productions of
the coubtry; statistics show $4,000 tons less
shipping entered at our custom house in 1882
than in 1881, and our foreign imports were
nearly 100000 less in 1853 than in 1882. Sayan-
mains natural facilities for leading CONNER
cial port are unquestiOnably good, but it
would not do to rely on these advantages
alone: we must make an effort to utilize them
or rival ports will take away trade.
There was a time when we had the undisput
ed commerce OF 4 large territory; we now hnd
competitors coming almost within the limits
Of our city, bidding for our trade, and unless
we take steps to meet the emergency we must
suffer the loss. and in this competition indi-
vidual interests should give way to the gem
eral good.
WATER TRANSPORTATION.
Savannah enjoys as low rates Of freight by
the coast steamers from the North ana East
as any city in the South. but we respectfully
call the attention of of the Board to dIscrim-
inatiOn against savannah in favor OF New
York made by the Georgia and Florida steam
ers to points South, such as Darien, DObOy.
etc. That this territory Justly belongs to Sa
yannah trade is recognized by the merchants,
but because of this discrimination, made by
line Of steamers supported by the merchants
of Savannah, we can only partially reach il.
We recommend steps TO be taken to remove
this discrimination.
Your committee feel 1t their duty to call
the attention of the Board to the existence of
a compact between the railroad or roads and
the steamers plying. between Augusta and
Savannah, which prohibits the steamers from
carrying merchandise Of any character to or
from Augusta, thereby depriving Savannah
of the advantage of cheap water transpOrta-
ton. As incidental to the matter Ofriver trans
DOrtatlOn II Is the opinion OF the committee that
a railroad built under the Bluff would lessen
the cost of handling goods and facilitate
transportation as well as utilize large num-
Der Of wharyes and warehouses now practi-
cally useless.
PILOTAGE.
To place Savannah on an equal standing
with competitive points, it Is imperative that
her commerce be relieved all unnecessary
burdens. Compulsory pilOtage-a subject
" IL WnFil-
in the opinion of your committee ought to be
abolished. The reasons for this law have long
since ceased to exist, and to burden our COM
merce with this ancient encumbrance Is not
in accordance with the spirit of the times. 1t
Is the opinion of your committee that the rates
of pIlOtage in our port could be materially de-
creased without detriment TO those engaged
in the business. When values were inflated
in 1856, the rates were increased so per cent,
and remain the same to-day. Hence we can
see no reason why they should not be de-
creased in the same proportion. Vessels char
tered in the North to carry cargOes from ports
south of US, frequently, on account of our
high port charges, find it cheaper to pay for
ballast and go direct to their loading ports,
although passing within a few miles Of our
bar, than to bring cargoes here and change
ports. Your committee believe this subject,
If properly laid before our Commissioners Of
PilOtage, would receive due consideration,
and we respectfully recommend such ref
erence.
WHARFAGE.
The rates Of wharfage having been estab-
lished many years ago, your committee be-
lieve them to be unsuited to the commerce of
the present day, and respectfully suggest that
they be revised at au early date, which would
result in mutual benefit to wharf owners and
shippers. To this end ave recommend that
your board make petition to the City Council
to have said rates revised.
QUARANTINE REGULATIONS.
The question of our quarantine, its regula-
ton, restrictions and charges has had our
earnest consideration. The sub committee in
charge Of this branch of our Investigations
J. J. Dale, Esq, Chairman-have labOriousy
collected all the information within their
reach bearing upon the subject and have i'm
pressed the general committee with their
views. that after full and frank consultation
with the Board of Sanitary Commissioners
and entering upon this investigation with
the conviction that the rules could be some
what modified or revised so as to meet the re-
qurements of all interested, protecting the
health Of our city without interfering with
the progress Of our commerce, they now be-
leve it to be unwlse for us to suggest any
change in the rules. Measures should be
promptly instituted which would overcome
the difficulties. Some of our importers have
experience in their business with foreign
ports within the bounds OF infected or sus-
pected ATTITUDES. Our quarantine station
could be greatly improved and additions made
which would put our port on an equal footing
with competitive ports. Your committee sug-
gest to the board TO advise the building of
wharves, warehouses, ETC., with additional
appliances for handling cargoes and ballast,
which would much improve our facilities