The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-04
FERTILIZERS

ern manufacturers stored but little here during
last season owing to the unsatisfactory manner
in which the goods were handled the previous
seasons. still dea ers report that for the past
season fertilizers were handled quite satisfac-
torily by the transportation companies. This
market. however, bad its drawbacks.
which were felt quite severely at times
Dealers and manufacturers here complain
that the charges for freight are excessive
in proportion t the value Of the goods. In
other words the transportation charge on
cement to Louisville, Ga. is Sl3 80 for 20.OO1
pounds, and on guano So 90 for the same
quantity. The freight on cement TO thomas
| vile Ga is S23 10 for 20,Oo0 pounds. while the
freight on fertilizers for the same quantity IS
| S27 50. 4 carload of cement Is Of greater In
! trinsic value than guano.
Ia fact they pay nearly one-third of the cost
Of the fertilizers IN freight. Another diniculty
! they have to contend with is the competition
/ With Charleston in manufactured goods 10
/ some extent they say savanna suffers from
| railway discrlmnat ion, as Charleston enjoys
| { q same rates Of freight into Savannah legit-
innate territory, especially in Alabama along
/ the line Of the Alabama Midland ralrta l. AS
consequence Charleston can manufacture
| cheaper than Savannah on account of her near
proximity 10 the rock.
The cost Of production has been about the
same for the past three years. Up 10 that time
tue rock fully a. 50 per ton less owing 70 the
competition of the mines. But since then the
Carolina companies have formed THE combin
and nut up the prices of the raw material. II ls,
however. believed that prices will take tumble
I
Mines which are being developed quite rapidly.
Prices are steadily going lower every year.
Ammoniated goods or complete fertilizers were
sold this season at S(l823 per ton. This is
about 81 less thaa the previous year, although
the cost of producing was very slightly
lower, while that for potash salts
combine. These salts are used in the
manufacture of fertilzing kanits. Muriate of
potash was also higher. These salts however,
are used in the crude state, on sandy soil, and
7 Gogath Gao and
Florida. Acid phOsphates have averaged about
Sl46D15 per ton. IL Is a remarkable fact in this
connection, and worth mentioning that Geor-
gia is now the largest consumer of fertilizers of
ali the states of the union. She is also the
largest manufacturer. Millions of capitol is
employed in this industry alone the tax upon
which adds largely to the income of the state.
The consumption OF fertillzes will, of course,
steadily increase as it IS now used in the cult
walton Of all farm products. 1t is fact that i'll
the production of last years great crop Of cot
ton planters used greater percentage to the
acre than ever before, and this
system of intensive farming is becom-
ing more popular than ever throughout the
south. as it lessons the amount of labor necss-
sary, as well as the need of stock This is
more particularly advantageous to large plant
ings. The use of home made fertilizers IS
growing less. It has been found that it does
not give the productiveness to the soil that the
commercial fertilizers do. and for that reason
the average farmer has not the facilities for
producing it in as large quantities as his needs
call Tor. MOSt planters nave also IOunQ IL
profitable since the establishment of oil mills in
the south, 20 dispose of their seed andt invest
the proceeds in fertilizers, as the cost of a ton
Of the latter is about equal to that of third of
a ton of seed. Dealers report that collections
were unsatisfactory, owing TO the low prices
obtained for cotton, and good many planters
are being carried over. There were, however.
no losses. 1t is a hard matter for the fertilizer
dealer to lose. AS u rule he is always pretty well
secured,
The manufacturing OF fertilizers has steadily
increased at this point and the manufacturers
managed to dispose of their product without
carrying over any stock
Another attempt was made during the season
to make Savannah an exporting point for
Florida phosphate rock and 1859 tons were
shipped from here to Europe during the sum
mer; as yet, however, this branch of the trade
develops very slowly, although, shipments
Florida being points mage With f9 tSe adT rG@
tages of deeper water here. however, than most
Florida ports, it is believed that it is merely
question of time and cheap railroad rates and
facilities to make this port the leading one for
the shipping of rock to foreign lands.
The prospects for the coming season are not
to say very bright, The outlook is not at all
encouraging, owing to the condition of the cot
ton trade aud the past years stringency of
money. But it is thought by close attention to
their business, and a little care and discrimina-
ton exercised in regard TO their customers,
that the manufacturers and dealers will come
out OF the next season with satisfactory bust
ness to their credit.
The exports of fertilizers from Savannah from
Sept. /, 1890, to August 81 1891, were:
Per Central railroad and branches 800. SSs3e
Savannah, Florida and Western
Railway Company 80. ............. 44,7a2
Per Charleston and Savannah Railway
Company ...................... 1880
Per Savannah river steamers ......,.... 5237
Florida and Satilla river steamers. $3.50
coasters ... Observation-Disclosures. 100
Total Observation-Disclosures Isl ,757
LUMBER.
1t was thought at the beginning of last fall
that the lumber industry had seen its worst
season the year previous. II was the belief
that the season of 1s90'91 would be very pros
porous one, encouraged by the prospect of
heavy railroad building during the year. OF
| course there was no thought then that any
| serious impeachment in the near future would
| arise to prevent a rapid absorption of the out
put of the mills, although as early as last Sep
TENDER financial troubles were brewing 10 South
| America But the impression prevailed at tn at
| time that the troubles would be bridged over
| somehow and that the South American bust
ness would be greatly benefited thereby. Sub
saquentlY, however, the collapse of the credit of
Buenos Ayres nearly paralyzed the whole
| financial world and settled all doubts as
! to the status of the South American countries,
so far as the lumber trade is concerned, for some
| time to come. 1t will be seen, however. what
an important factor this trade was in the gen
eral lumber business when It is known that in
ordinary seasons those countries absorbed fuzzy
! 2O0OOO,UOO feet of lumber yearly. OF this i'm
mense amount the greater part went from the
/ gulf ports, and the cutting off from them of
this export trade threw them in direct compe-
tition with the mills of the Atlantic states. In
other words the output of the mills of the south
! had to be taken by the domestic trade; hence
| the lumber business has suffered mucn by
reason of Notwithstanding no outside
market for the overplus-as from any other
actually known cause In fact, the demand
/ from the domestic trade has been at all times
during the year and is at present fully up to its
/ usual average.
! year was larger in volume than ever be-
! fore and is constantly growing In
| fact this has grown to Do the greatest lumb err
! port of the Atlantic states. and with probably
! one exception the greatest lumber exporting
center of the south. That exception is Pensa-
| cola, which exports in quantity more largely
/ than Savannah. But if quality and value be
| considered there is hardly doubt but that this
/ port leads Pensacola. Savannah has absorbed
a great deal of the business that formerly went
/ through ternaudina, Jacksonville and Bruins
wick. There are various causes for this. One
( is the inadequate draft of water at Jack
Sonvllle and partly the same at Fernandina
( But the main reason is said to be the want of
/ sufficient and shipping banking faC ilities in
/ these ports.
TIE railroads also ASST sted by making low
rates of freight for the mills in the territory Of
! the upper edge of Florida and Southwest Geor-
gla. which enabled them to put lumber here as
cneaply, If not more cheaply, than at other
/ nearby ports. The business, however, as a
whole was not satisfactory. For the first six
mouths Il was only fairly so, while for the last
half Of the year prices were lower than was
/ ever tefore known in the history OF the trade.
! The primary cause Of this has been already
stated. COmDetitiOn OF Gulf mills and the
failure Of the South American demand were the
greatest. but the Spanish trade also fell OF some.
/ Although the consumption was fairly active