The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-06
A Line of Vessels Between This Port
and Jamaica and Baracoa.

A Line of Vessels Between This Port
and Jamaica and Baracoa.
j. S. Collins returned from New York
yesterday where he negotiated for the run
ming OF q line of fruit vessels between Bar
racoa and Jamaica to Savannah.
Mr.. Collins has chartered two sail vessels,
with a capacity of I, 900 bunc hes of bananas
and $4,000 or 10000 cocoanuts. They will
make two trips a month. For the first two
or three months the fruit will be imported
from Barracoa, and after Cnrissnas the
vessels will go to Jamaica for bananas. No
cocoanu5s will be imported from Jamaica.
The season, Mr.. Collins said, will begin
about Nov. / and will continue up to May
l. During that time he said that about
AZ 900 punches of bananas and between
250,000 and 100000 cocoanuts will be I'M
ported by this line
The Kavanaugh & Brennan line will
import as many more from Bluetieid by
steamer. Only a small portion of the fruit
will be consumed in Savannah. The
merchants are looking toward making
Savannah the distributing poiat for the
territory which is justly hers but which is
encroached upon by New Orleans. Mr..
Collins said that it is nos the purpose Of the
importers to drive New Orleans out, nor
is is their intention to try to claim more
territory than is Savannan's, or more than
she can maintain. Savannah has a very large
territory, much larger than the two lines
which will be in operation this season can
supply. New Orleans is supplying that
part of her territory, aud viii continue to
do so until Savannah increases her facili-
ties as it IS probable that she will do.
The dealers are beginning now to look up
the western rates. The Central railroads
fast freight liue to the west will enable the
importers to get their fruit well distributed
in the territory which Savannah hopes to
supply Mr.. Collins said that Just as soon
as the quarantine is raised the vessels will
be put on.
"When will that be-" he was asked
81 am unable to say" he replied. LAST
year vessel in which | was interested,
came up to quarantine in October, but it
was not until the hight of Oct. 81, taat she
was allowed to come TO the city"
Has fruit ever been imported from Bar
racoa teforeg'
Not on as large scale as we propose to
import it." Mr.. Collins said that in asso-
ciating himself with a large New York i'm
porter aud fruit grower, the business will
be conducted on a much more thorough
basis. The grower who has gone into the
project with him is also a very extensive
| importer to New York. When the season
opens for importing to New York Savan-
nah will be shut out, because the importers
are the owners of the farms, and they
prefer to import north. For this reason,
Mr.. Collins said, jamaica bananas will be
imported here after Christmas.
"Will fruit be any cheaper in Savannah
| by the direct importation in such large
! quantitlesN
ION, yes. guess it will be some cheaper,
The fact is, Savannah has always had very
cheap fruit. 1t has been going at very low
prices indeed, all along, but it may be
! lower"
How much lowerw
Il think bananas will be so sold hare
this season for from % cents a bunch up as
high as they SELL"
AS good fruit as can be had in any mar
ket was sold here last season for 81, and it
is pretty safe to expect no advance in prices
1t may be, however, that prices will be
considerably lower this season. Mr.. Collins
remained north some time and not only
visited the fruit dealers and large fruit
establishments in New York, but also in
| tennessee, Ohio and Pennsylvania. He said
that the vessels on their return trips to the
banana and cocOanut countries will go laden
with lumber and merchandise. The vessel;
will have cargo both ways, and a good
business, it is expected, will be built up with
| BarracoaS.