The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-25
NOW FOR A ooALINe STATION.
savannah's Opportunity Never Better
than st Present

than 81 Present
The fact that steamships bound from this
port for Europe ere compelled TO pat into
Norfolk and Newport News for e5si
to take them across has long
been matter Of comment among
Savannahis shipping men. There seems to
be no reason why coallng station cOuId
not be located near Savannah u acconIno-
date these vessels. SAvannab's railroad
| connections with the inexhaustlble coal
fields Of Alabama and Tennessee are 50
perfect that coal can be gotten here IN any
quantities in a very short space OF time:
An excellent coaling station could De
located at McQueen's Island, where It Is land
locked. This, however, would require al
outlay Of $4,000. All the latest
improved equipmeuts con be secured for
that amount, and vessels could be coaled
in an economical and expeditions manner.
and thus do away with the necessity OF
running along the coast, and eacounterlng
the dangers of HatteTas, 10 say nothing OF
the extra expense in pilots fees and the
! lengthening OF voyage from one 70 Two
| days, which has to be undergone under the
/ present arrangement.
-Four years ago a Savannah coal firm
undertook TO make this city coallng sta
| ton for vessels, and, with that IN view,
| commenced the importation of Scooter coal,
which could be secured at a less rate than
| the home product but the business had 70
be suspended, on account of ruling by
| Attorney Gre leral Garland, which made
the business Improbable.
Prior to July, 1885, when foreign coal Was
imported and duty paid, and uhen afterward
| soli for steam purposes to American or
foreign steamers, the duty was refunded.
In May or June OF that year strike OF the
miners in Maryland caused a scarcity of
coal at Baltimore, l1d to meet the require
ments there large quantity OF coal was
imported from England. upon which duty
was paid aud then REFUNDED when sold TO
an American or foreigl steamer for fuel.
After the strike was over certain coal
operators brought the matter to the atten-
ton Of the Cleveland administration, and
it was referred 10 Attorney General Gar
la0d for his opinion. The Attorney General,
In rendering his opinion claimed that the
law in the past on this subject had been
misconstrled. and the duty should be only
refunded when foreign coal was used by
American steamers, and that whel foreign
coal upon which duty had been paid was
used by a foreign steamer, then the duty
should not be refunded.
1t is understood that the Central railroad
authorities have for some time been consider
lag the advisability of utilizing a portion
Of the company's property on the river
'front.' Tor This purpose, ana IL Is posi-
BILE that by next season the matter may take
definite shape.
Sufficient coal can be brought to Savan-
nah to supply any number Of vessels, at
SO per ton Of 1900 pounds.
II the city would take mold of this matter
a very profitable industry could doubtless
be built up, and Savannah would not only
be coaling station for vessels from its own
wharves. but would secure business from
the adjoining Atlantic and Gulf ports.
The pilots are disposed TO take off so per
cent. from their rates TO vessels coming into
this port for coal This would meet the
rates of the pilots of Norfolk and Newport
News, who charge but one pilotage for
vessels going to these ports for coal.
The amount Of money required to put
the station in operation is small compared
to the advantageous results which would
"a