Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-13


BradStreefs of April 10, contains an
interesting article showing the changes
that have taken place in marketing cot
ton. 1t is calculated 10 create the I'M
preston that the time isnot distant "hen
!. the ports VIII do a comparatively small
part Of the spot cotton business. 1t mas
been understood. OF course, for long
time. that this business was gradually
going to the interior towns, but the ports
have all along entertained the hope that
they would continue to control the great
er part Of it. BradStreePs seems to think
that there is no ground for this hope, and
presents figures showing the extent to
which the business has gone to the in
terror, and correspondence giving reasons
! why it has gone there and why it will
/ continue to go.
Last year the gross receipts at New
Orleans were ,6s9, 700, bales and the spot
sales $40, 720 bales, while il 1884 the gross
eceipts were 1,694,6j4 bales, and the
spot sales 1,l62T20 bales From these
! figures it Will be seen that in 1883 the
spot sales were over $4,000 bales less
than in 1884 although in 1884 the gross
receipts were only a little over 1900 bales
more than in 1885. At this rate of de-
crease it would require only few years
to strip New Orleans of all of her spot
! business.
Last year the gross receipts at Savannah
were 730,002 bales, and the spot sales
| 305, 005 bales, while in 1884 the gross re-
CENTS were 665,11 bales, and the spot
sales 800, AT bales. The spot sales in 1885
4
although the gross receipts in 1885 were
over $4,000 bales greater than IN 1884.
| There is the same condition of affairs at
other cotton ports as at New Orleans and
| Savannah.
The figures for these two ports-the
leading cotton ports-iustliy the assertion
that the interior towns are every year
getting a greater percentage of the spot
business. The questions which present
themselves, and which are OF vast imp Or
lance to the cotton ports, are, what is the
cause of the movement OF the spot
business to the interior? and, is it posi-
Bile to check this movement?
II the cause given by BrddStreerS is the
correct one the movement cannot be
checked, and the ports are doomed to see
themselves deprived of business upon
which large proportion of their popuia-
tons depend for living. The real cause,
says BrGdStreet'S, is the simplifcation Of
the spot business-the gradual drawing
towards each other of the producer and
the consumer, and the elimina-
ton of unnecessary and burden
some middlemen. But is this the
cause? At the beginning of the prese Mt
cotton season very large proportion of
those engaged in handling cotton at New
Orleans thought not. At a great meeting
held in that city for the purpose of devils
ing some means to cheek the inland move
mant of the spot business the impression
seemed TO be that the great cost of hand
ling cotton there-the bHrdensome, and in
many instances indefensble, compress,
drayage, commission and various
other charges-had driven the bust
ness away. One of two things is GER
tain. Either the burdens imposed upon
cotton handled at the ports are greater
than those imposed in the interior, or lse
cotton can be handled in the interior and
shipped through the ports cheaper than it
can be handled at the ports, because cot
ton will certainly go where it will net the
producer the largest amount.
If the ports are not satisfied what the
cause of their loss OF the spot business is,
won Id it not be wise thing for them to
authorize a commission TO make an in
vestigation. If it be true that the spot
business is seeking the interior in ODE
dience to trade laws of which they have
tl,o
easy cOnsciences, knowing that they will
not be responsible for the death of the
goose that laid the golden egg, but if it
appear that they are frightening the
business away by roDber-like eXactions,
there may yet be time to avert absolute
ruin. Indeed, it may even be posi- Bile
10 win back much of the business that
has been lost.
The ports are very deeply interested in
this matter. Without the spot cotton
business a large percentage Of their pop
ulatiOns will be without the means of
earning living unless new industries
and new kinds of business are established
The prospect for new avenues for earning
a living isn't promising.
Ii an attempt is made to discover the
cause of the loss of the spot business, the
actual cost of handling bale Of cotton
from the time it leaves the plantation
until it is slowed on shipboard ought TO be
shown, each item OF cost being given, to-
gether with the charges for advances, for
purchasing supplies, and the loss inflicted
by sampllng. When a revelation like
this is made every one can Judge whether
/ hf 10 n n r1dO . Ia a.,
cause he can get fairer treatment at the
interior towns or not.
Street Cars and Street Crossings.
There are complaints that the street
cars stop on the crossings, and seriously
Inconvenience and annoy pedestrians.