The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-04
ANOUTLET FOR THE WEST
SAVANNAH TO BE THE GREAT
SOUTHERN EXPORTING PORT.

SOUTHERN EXPORTING PORT.
The Shipment Of Western Products
Through Here to Europe Begun 100
Tierces of Lard the First Shipment
General Manager Belknap Predicts
a Great Future for Savannah as a
Port What Western Exporters Say
About 1t.
From the present outlook the day is not
far distant when Savannah will become one
of the leading ports in the south for export
shipments of western product. She will
compare favorably with Baltimore, at
present, the largest exporting port, if tn"
projects which are soon to be put in opera
ton are successfully carried out. There
seems to be no gooi reason why they should
not be. With the arrangements between
the Central railroad and the western ex-
porters gratifying results may reasonably
be expected. Already they are beginning
to be anticipated, and it is only matter Of
a short period of time when the movement
will be inaugurated and the project thor
oughly tested.
One hundred tierces Of Kansas City lard
on its way to Europe were received in New
York last week. The cargo went from here
by the Ocean Steamship Companys line,
and the experiment provoked widespread
attention, both north and west.
General Manager Belknap, of the Central
railroad, who has just returned from a trip
through the west was seen with reference
to the matter last night. Maj. Belknap, is
very much interested in the movement, and
he said that it is matter of much import
ance to Savannah. The Central railroad,
he said, has been agitating it, and in every
possible way the road has sought TO bring
the matter before the exporters and the
controllers of tonnage, in order, if it is ev-
pedient, to establish an export line via Sa-
vannah.
sAvANNAH's GREAT FACILITIES.
The facilities, he added, which this city
affords for the expectation Of western
grain and produce to the east, are mani
testify superior to those of New Orleans,
which has grown to be a considerable
exporting port. Notwithstanding that
New Orleans may be nearer the western
centers, and considering her facilities for
rafting grain down the Mississippi
river at a nominal cost 10 get
tonnage, Savannah has facilities which
cannot be underestimate. She can trans
NIT grain to Europe at least five days
quicker than New Orleans can possibly
hope to do. Her insurance will, in conse-
quence, be much less, while the
matter of transporting the grain by
rail to Savannah is but a triAe
of a drawback in the light of her other
facilities. Maj Belknap explained that
these conveniences are not revelations to ex-
porters. They have always recognized
Savannah a seaboard city of large facilities,
comparing favorably with larger ports.
WHERE THE TROUBLE HAS BEEN.
Tho trn,,bIa ba craparoI Y,ano-ar eoiJ
lies in the fact that for lack of diligence in
exporters and ship owners, they have never
been able to come together. That is, when
an exporter had grain TO export,
he chose rather to send it by an
established line in preference to sending it
via Savannah with probability of delay,
on account of not being able to get tonnage
within a reasonable time. When exporters
have asked for rates via Savannah to the
east, rates could not be furnished them,
because it was not known when ships could
be secured to transmit the grain. Export
ers and ship owners have been
unable to effect arrangements, whereby
western grain shipped here could be pro-
vided tonnage at once, hence for these
reasons the port has not been handling the
full amount of what she would have
handled.
A CONFERENCE WITH EXPORTERS.
Maj. Belknap, whose aim seems to be to
promote the welfare of Savannah, as well
as that af his great system, has recently
been in conference with the largest ex-
porters of the west, and his conference was
not barren of results.
A large exporting concern of st. Louis
has promised to buy its grain with an option
Of shipping large portion of it by Savan-
nah. If delay should come during the first
few shipments, it will not be unexpected,
81
here. Maj. Belknap has pledged the con-
Germ the lowest possible rates over his line,
and has offered the use of the elevator at
practically no cost. Every arrangement
he said which can be made without loss to
the road will be made, and every possible
concession will be granted the exporters
The general manager hopes that by giving
the experiment fair test, the superior adj
vantages of the port will manifest them
selves and thus induce the exporters to
seek Savannah as a point Of expectation
OF the enormous western grain crops and
produce.
TO START THE MOVEMENT.
The project, the general manager said,
will be put into operation in the immediate
future. Maj. Belknap stated that Mr.. Hail.
who was here with the lnman party short
time ago, Informed him that Mr.. Gould had
expressed to him a willingness to work
some of the freight of his line to the sea-
board over the Central railroad route OF
course, the general manager added, if that
were done, II will be to the interest of tue
system and also of the port 1t will give
increased tonnage and also the benefit of
prices for local consumption, as we'll as the
advantages accruing in the establishment
CT port Of export to Europe. The move
ment is on the eve of Inauguration. Those
who are the best informed in regard to it
predict results that will insure an enormous
expectation via Savannah to the east.