Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-16
A Matter OF Interest to the Cotton
Ports

| New Orleans is alarmed about her local
cotton trade, and she has excellent rea-
sons. She is losing it at a rate that indi-
Gates that in a comparatively few years
she win have so little of it seft that it will
not be worth considering as a matter of
much importance.
Every year the percentage of cotton that
is purchased and compressed in the in
ter or, and shipped directly through New
Orleans, is larger. The leading New Or
leans cotton factors Mt last acknowledge
that they are threatened with the loss of
the greater part of their business, and
they are very anxious to discover some
way to restore the satisfactory condition
of affairs that existed n few years ago.
Can they restore it,? That is the question
they are now discussing.
In 81 the per cent. of the cotton
crop Of the country which New Orleans
handled and stored in her presses was
21.4; in l8S1-S2 it was POP; in 1Ss2-S3 it
was 1876; in 1884 it was 1913; and in
1894 So it will be about 17.5.
From these figures it will be seen that
New Orleans is steadily losing her local
trade. The reason is that cotton is
handled more cheaply III the interior, and
it is certain that, other things being
equal, it will all be handled eventually at
the points where the handling costs the
least.
OF course, Savannah and other cotton
ports are suffering in this matter just as
New Orleans is. In 1SS3-s4, for instance,
the total receipts of cotton at this port
were Cos, 1884 bales. OF this number only
$4,000 baes-not quite half-were han
died in our market aud stored in our
presses.
One of the leading New Orleans cotton
factors says that the facilities for buying,
COMPRISING and shipping from interior
points are multiplying, and that the rail-
roads are showing a growing disposition
to discriminate against New Orleans in
favor of through business. Is not this
true with respect to this port?
But the ports do not appear to be
making any particular efforts to regain
the trade they have lost, or to protect
themselves against further loss. Some of
the New Orleans factors favor a confer
ence Of all the interests connected with
the cotton trade with the view of making
such reductions in charges as will de-
prive interior points of the advantages
they now possess, but they see the diff
culties in the way of reaching an agree
ment. The factors think the compress
charges ought to be less and the press
owners think the factors ought to make
reduction in their charges. The samplers,
weighers and draymen would object
probably to accepting less than they now
get.
But there is very large part of the
population of each of the cotton ports
outside of the factors and the owners of
cotton press property, that has deep in
terest in this question of the loss of the
cotton trade. In this city there are COM
paratively few manufacturing interests,
and there doesn't seem to be promising
prospect for Temunerative employment
for those who now get living out of the
cotton trade when that trade becomes of
so little Importance as not to require their
services. The money that is now earned
IN the cotton trade sustains a great num-
Der of people who have no direct connec-
ton with that trade.
Assuming that the cotton trade is gradu-
ally leaving the cotton ports, would it not
be wise for those at the ports who are in
terested in that trade to take some steps
to stem the current that is running
against them! And would it not be wise
for the people of the cotton ports who are
not directly concerned in cotton to begin
to lay the foundation of industries that
will afford employment for the population
of their respective cities when the cotton
trade shall become located at the interior
townsY