The morning news., 1888-09-06

Erected-The Outlook for the Flu
ture. Which Promises to be Better
Than the Past.
OFFICE OF THE MORNING News,
SAVANNAH, Sept. s. 1888.
The business year of 1887 'Ss that closed Aug
81 was in every respect very prosperous on,
for this city Savannah's business men have NJ
reason to complain, and they do not complain
On the contrary, they view the future will
smiling faces because the year just CLOSED
gives them every assurance that the year upor
which have just entered will be pros
porous one, and the future is full Of promises
Only one thing mars the fair features of last
years business. and that is the
epidemic at Jacksonville. 1t began in July and
very naturally had depressing effect here
where there is large business done with Flor
ida. The effect of the epidemic was to delay
collections and cut off trade. However. it is i'm
possible always to have everything just as we
would wish it, and Notwithstanding the annoy
ances and losses which the epidemic has
caused our business men, there is nothing but
the most profound sympathy felt for the people
of the str!sken portions of Florida.
A glance at the following reports will show
that during the year Savannah forged steadily
ahead AT the close of the previous business
year there was still feeling of depression in
business circles, Dllu LHaI speeully ulsdppcuTtu,
and a feeling Of confidence and assured pros
perity took possession of the business com
munity. Business men performed their tasks
with light hearts because business moved along
with but few distractions and in a way that
caused very little trouble and worry. Cotton
came to market in fine condition, and required
therefore, very little effort to sell it. Savan-
nahs receipts were exceedingly gratifying.
They were 10000 bales more than those
of the previous year. OF course very large
percentage of the cotton credited to this port
does not pass through the hands of our factors
but it is quite safe to say that the proportion of
Savannah's receipts handled by her factors is
fully as large as that of the receipts handled
by the factors of any other port, aud Savannah
will likely hold on to her cotton factorage bust
ness as long as any other port holds on to its
business of the same character As large as
was the increase in Savannah's cotton receipts
last year, there is reason to believe that it
will be larger for the year upon which we have
Just ente, ed Arrangements have been per
fected TO drain a larger cotton territory into
this port, and it would not be surprising if our
receipts next year were to reach 100000 bales.
OF course Savannah controls the bulk of the
sea island cotton The large proportion of the
cotton of this kind that is brought to this market
is very gratifying, and shows that those who
handle it are energetic, enterprsing and fully
capable of winning success in the face of a very
earnest competition.
Savannah stands far ahead in the naval stores
business and will continue TO lead in it. She
has the capital and the location and her mer-
chants know how TO both to the best ad-
vantage. The efforts which have been made
within the last year or so to reduce production
appear to have met with some success, but
whether production can be KEEP. within limits
that will permit of good prices remains to be
seen.
A good many of our rice planters were very
unfortunate last year. Just when they were
ready to harvest their crop freshet destroyed
it. They pluckily planted again this year, and
it is to be hoped that no misfortune will prevent
them from getting good return for their outlay
and labor.
Savannah wholesale merchants deserve sue
cess, and they appear to have what they de-
serve Their business, in all the different
branches was conducted with great prosperity
last year. 1t was extended to new fields and at
the same time old customers were retainad
The grocery business, especially advanced with
marvellous strides. Before many years, from
present Indications. Savannah will control the
grocery trade of good portion of this state
and Florida
Savannah's growth has kept pace with her
business prosperity. Her real estate has steadily
risen in price. and as the prices advanced the
buying Of it has become more lively. Last year
was one of the most notable ones in Savannah's
history for the number of transactions in her
r,al estate, and it must not be understood that
the purchases for speculation. In the
great majority of instances the lots bought were
built upon, and, consequently. Savannah has
many more residences than she had year ago
she has also several new and very large bust
ness houses. The prospect for new buildings
this year looks very promising. Several not
able buildings will be erected, and the prospect
now is that many hundreds of thousands of
dollars will be put into improvements of that
kind.
II is greatly to be regretted that the attempt
10 commit the government to the project for
giving Savannah p feet of water from the city
TO the sea did not succeed However. there is
reason to think that at the next session the
project will be sanctioned. In the meantime
we have reason to be thankful that the entire
amount for completing the 22-foot chan mel as
been appropriated.
Taking everything into consideration, Savan.
nah has reason to feel happy over her business
for 1SS.-'SS. 1t was a very good business, and O
very solid one, and the best of it is she has rea-
son TO think that her business will increase in
volume with every succeeding year
COTTON.
In our last annual review il was stated that
the prospects then were for early crop, as
well as for large one. Both statements in
point of fact, turned out to be true. What the
total of the past seasons crop will reach in
actual figures cannot now be given as the
figures have not been made up; but enough is
known to warrant the belief that the totals will
touch those of the great crop years Of 1882 and
1888, when the figures were . $50, 900 bales They
may go beyond that. II is rather a singular
fact that the authorities in this country in the
early part of November estimated the crop
at fully a half million bales less thnn
1t actually is, while on the other
hand some Of the leading English authorities
stoutly maintained that it would reach 4, 75o 600
bale, If not over, and they stuck to these fg.
ures. Why they should have any better insight
into the size of the crop than those on the
ground was matter Of conjecture. and at that
time their reiterated statements were attributed
TO what was termed English obstinacy, but sin.
gularly enough their estimate turned out TO be
nearer the truth Al all events. much interest
was felt in tae question and on Nov. D. wher
the New Orleans Cotton World published IN
estimate by states of 6225, 2Ss bales, and on the
10th of the same month the United States Agri