Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-07

with interior manufacturers. The cutting
was interfered with greatly IN the summer
months by the excessive rains. which COM
PEELED great many OF the mills 70 shut down
for want of material. The roads being I'M
passable logs could not be brought to them,
but previous to this the changing of the gauge
hv the railroads also cut the movement down
By oepriving shippers of the means OF trans
portation to the ports. There was also quite
scarcity OF vessels during the year ana eN-
pOrters found difficulty in satisfying orders
with dispatch for these lack OF facLiues,
" hich will probably not occur again so lar
as the railroads are concerned. The scarcity
of tonnage and the pressing demand for lum-
Der caused the rates for vessels to advance
The scarcity of vessels was caused Tor lack OF
car goes coming this way, and but rev Vessels
were Offering to come coastWlse IN oahdsl'
On the whole the lumber trade ends the sea-
son in a very healthy condition, and all report
the past seasons business paying one. The
outlook is all that could be wished. There
are no surplus stocks at the ports, while the
demand il heavy and increasing. Already
the mills have orders which Will take several
mon lbs TO I'LL, and they are refusing any very
quick business for this reason. IL ID antlclpa-
ted that with the impetus to other branches
of commerce that the movement in lumber
will continue quite active for the entire year.
In timber there has been literally nothing
doing to speak of. In fact the timber trade is
about all transferred TO the Gulf ports. Of
course one or two cargoes were shipped from
here. as also from the nearby Atlantic ports,
hut the results do not seem TO encourage any
heavy business in this line. Below we give
the shipments of lumber and timber, also of
slaves and shingles for the year, both coast
wise and foreign, in superficial feet, as fol-
lows:
Coastwlse .....'..-.'...'''''.''' 9z'9V+'StO
Foreign ,627,01O
Observation-Disclosures. 70, 1872, ols
Shingles
Coastwise, number ......................5 52, S35
GROCERIES,.
-
during last year was very similar to the
preceding year both in its conduct and
in the sharp competition with which it has
mad to contend. OF course. in the
amount of goods handled there has been
very gratifying increase, although the aggre-
gate profits for the year were very much
cut down on account of the keen competition
of the North and Northwestern houses IN our
Legitimate territory The heavy Northern
and Western merchants are reaching out
more than ever for the small country trade.
A noticeable feature of the past years trade
was the absence of spot buyers as In
former years. They are relying
pretty much altogether on CONNER
.cial travellers. and in this particular
our merchants have by no means been neg
1ectful. II is doubtful if any city In the
Union is better or more ably represented on
the road AT all times than the Savannah mer-
tchants, who are particularly alive 10 the
wants of customers. The naval stores and
lumber business during the summer months
continues to help swell the aggregate OF bust
ness during tuOse uOnJus. 80 JHdL IL mas kept
the grocery trade gong on steadily
throughout the year. In former
years trade was not heavy
during that period, owing to the absence OF
these auXiltarles. Our market is to-day one
of the leading markets OF the south and not
surpassed by any in facilities for handling
goods, or in prices. Interior buyers find it TO
their interest to trade here. There has been
considerable trouble occasioned by some of
the Western markets in the staple articles,
particularly in the market Of -four. an easier
rate being given to New Orleans on the Flori-
da roads. This competition Is still felt very
severely, but notwithstanding this the
trade with that section was last year
better than ever before. With more liberal
policy on the part Of our railroads this market
would command all that trade, and while it
is stated that the roads are not making any
money, still some assistance to the merchants
IN the way Of lower freights would increase
greatly the value Of business, and hence in
crease the earnings of the roads.
The ua1e in canned goods during the year
has increased very largely, showing that the
masses are educating themselves very rapidly
20 the use OF this class of goods. The sales OF
flour were also very heavy and there Is quite
number of firms here handling large quaint
ties of it. The movements in sugars and cof-
fees were very large and are continually in
creasng to such an extent that to-day Sa-
vannah lie the leading grocery market of the
State. The business done in butter and
cheese was simply enormous. Prices in pretty
much all groceries ruled lower than ever be-
fore known. although from the present out
look enhanced prices may be looked for in
the future. Collections during the year were
comparatively fair The risks that are taken
in doing this large volume of business are 20
great that 1t is remarkable that the losses are
no greater. The trade of Florida has become
an important factor in the business of this
city, and it IL thought that the Plant Invest
ment Company, with its numerous branches
OF roads in that State, ought to allow better
rates 10 our merchants than they now have.
Our merchants however, have acquired more
customers in Florida during the past year
than during any previous year, owing, il Is
believed, to the rapid settlement of the State.
The outlook for the grocery trade is quite en-
cOuraglng. Interior merchants are already
buying very literally in this market and from
All appearances the coming trade will greatly
exceed all other years.
PROVISIONS.
Since the last annual report there has been,
comparatively speaking. very little to note in
tEc provision line. The fluctuations and
prizes have been confined within narrower
limit than was usual in preceding years. The
corn crop was the largest ever known-near-
ly 1000, 600, 00ebushels-andw with plenty of hogs
TO feed There was no danger of any scarcity
in the meat line nor was there any, and
prices remained at or near one point nearly
the entire year. The present corn crop will
not be as large as the last one, and higher
rather than lower prices may be looked for.
The trade of Savannah has, however, not re-
manned at the same point as last year. 1t has
grown steadily. and is now second to none in
the South. A daily inspection of the wharves
and railroad warehouses gives good
idea of the volume of the provision
trade OF this city. The merchants
in this branch of our Wholesale trade have
earned it by their fair dealing and the gener-
Gus manner in which they have handled their
trade. They have managed to retain old Gus
toners and are constantly adding new ones.
Those who have dealt in this market have
found it greatly to their interest to do so, and
notwiths landing .the great competition Sa-
yannAh has been enabled to give purchasers
the benefits of 1rst-class markeC. both in
prices and quick handling of goods. The past
years business was quite satisfactory 10 all
concerned, and our merchants report Il more
profitable season than for several years.
While business was on a small margin IL was
more than counterbalanced in the quantity
OF goods handled.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
During the past season the business for
truck farmers was altogether unsatisfactory.
The winter wa9 a very severe one, and the
spring rather backward, rendering early shi p
ments in any quantity out OF the quesuon.
When the weather permitted activcs ship
ments other States were in the market in a
very short period after Florida and Georgia,
causing somewhat OF glut. The conse-
quence was prices fell rapidly until IL became
Improbable TO ship to the North. The potato
crop was short fully one half. but prices were
very much higher, which more than counter
balanced the shortage, as shippers expressed
themselves satisfied aC values and found il
more profitable in the end after taking into
consideration IN expenses. In pretty much
all other vegetables losses were suffered with
The pXcaDtiOu Of fDmaf0pa ha cpnY or hicb