Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-05


during the year was greatly depressed
through the country, and that there
was everywhere apparenta feeling OF un-
certainty and a lack Of confidence, Sayan-
nah has occasion to rejoice that she can
boast of having enjoyed fair share Of
prosperity. Charleston is rather disposed
to sing a song Of gladne7s over the results
OF her years work, but, leaving out
Charleston, no other cotton port except
this appears to be inclined to look on the
season lust closed with anything like
smile Of satisfaction. New Orleans, the
largest cotton mart and the metropolis Of
the South, although nearly a million
of visitors to her Worlds Fair poured
their wealth into her lap, has only ex-
presslons Of disappointment for the sea-
son Of 1SS4s5.
Savannah had her trials and troubles,
Of course. but she came through them
feeling that she had made some advance
in wealth and prosperity. Her merchants
fought competition on this side and that,
struggled for supremacy in new territory
aud battled manfully 10 hold the Old, and
It is not too much to say that their vic
tories outnumbered their defeats.
she stiI has the proud satisfaction Of
knowing that she is the leading cotton
port on the Atlantic coast, and the second
IN the country. The world still points to
her as leading ali other ports in the ma
val stores trade, and is likely to accord
her that distinction for a good many
years. And still in one other respect
she leads the world. She is now recog-
nized as the greatest market for long
staple cotton. Almost from time imme-
mortal Charleston has enjoyed this dis
tinction. but Savannah has won it from
her with the prospect and the purpose
Of retaining II. In the future Savannah
will be recognized as leading all other
cities in two respects, viz; in the
amounts of naval stores and long sta
pied cotton which she handles.
Savannah got more cotton last year
than she did the year before-65,OOO bales
more-and that, too, in the face of the
fact that the crop was smaller. She drew
pretty heavily on the territory that pre-
viously crontributed to other ports, and
she is going TO draw much heavier this
year. Her facilities for handling cotton
are better than they ever were, and her
commercial arteries reach out further.
Her main artery has had some pool re-
strictions removed which Will help to
swell her cotton receipts. 1t would not
be surprising if she got 100000 bales
this year. That will be something to brag
Of.
There was little falling of in her naval
stores receipts, but that is easily ex-
planned. There was great depression in
the naval stores trade and the production
was cut down. The percentage of Sa-
vannah's loss. however, was much less
>
noticeable that Wilmington no longer
contests Savannah's right 20 the distnc-
ton of being the leading naval stores mar
ket of the world.
Savannah isn't railroad centre, but
the roads which she has enable her to
reach long way into the territory from
| which she draws her trade. Only lately
the Plant system made new connections
+ in Florida, and opened up some OF the
richest portions of that State to Savan-
ush's enterprise. On Sept. 10 the Cen
! trails system will be connected with the
Richmond and Danyille system by the
opening of the Greenwood, Laurens and
Spartanburg road, and the products
of one Of the richest portions
OF South Carolina will find
q market in Savannah. The two systems
OF railroads that have their headquarters
here did fairly well for Savannah during
the season just closed, and they will do
better the present season because their
facilities are better and their opportuni-
ties greater. The steamship lines did a
finer business than ever before, which is
saying great deal and shows that the
business of the port is steadily increasing
1t is estimated that the business of the
city last year amounted TO $95,0O0,OO0. II
is evident, however. that this is very con.
servative estimate, and is below, rather
than above, the truth. Some, who's
opinions are worth listening to, talk about
nine figures, and if we should place the
estimate at 500, 100000 we are sure that
our merchants would say that it wac
about right.
or course wo DO not claim that last sea
son was what might properly be called q
highly prosperous enc. We only wan
to be understood as saying that certain
things which are permanent contributed
TO give Savannah a sort OF boost in spite
OF the widespread depression.
That Savannah is pushing ahead IL
| shown nv tho nunhar ~ huiIdfpgs thai