The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-31
savannah,s Cotton Reoeints.

The committee that the president OF the
cotton exchange is authorized to appoint to
find out why cotton that ought to have
come to Savannah this season went to other
ports should make a very thorough investi-
cation OF the matter. There is very gem
eral desire to know the truth. Until Traffic
Manager Hass denied in the strongest
terms that the Richmond and Danville road
had diverted cotton from this port or at
tempted to do so there was a pretty strong
belief that that road was responsible for
whatever Toss Savannah has sustained in
her cotton receipts this year. 1t is true the
loss is not large, but the reason for the loss
Of single bale should be known in order
that Savannah's merchants In protecting
her interests may act intelligently.
The denial OF Traffic Manager Haas, to-
gether with his announcement, at the meet
ing last week in the cotton exchange, that
he would answer any questions that might
be asked him, and his assertion that foreign
rates for much of the season have
been lower ct Charleston and Bruins
wick than at Savannah, places the RESPONSE
bility upon the committee of showing
why any Of the cotton in the territory
legitimately tributary to Savannah went to
| other ports than this. II the railroads have
not dealt fairly with Savannah let the fact
be known, In order that the proper remedy
may be applied, and il better foreign rates
have been offered elsewhere let iu be so
stated, 80 that steps may be taken to put
this port on an equality with other South
Atlantic ports relative to foreign rates
Traffic Manager Haas is apparently very
| anxious that the investigation that the cot
ton exchange committee is to make shall be
| a searching one. In letter from Atlanta.
written last Thursday, he says: ~ did not
make the statement which has appeared in
some Of the papers of the state that Savan-
nah lost 100000 bales Of cotton from Sa-
vannah and vicinity. l said that believed
that Charleston had carried from the terri
tory tributary TO the Central railroad lOO,-
600 bales that Savannah ought to have had
l think IL it we're suggested TO the mem-
bers OF the committee to be appointed by
the cotton exchange that they see such
shippers as s. NJ. Inman g. Co., of Atlanta :
j. H. Rucker, of Athens, Ca; ]. NJ. Hoist,
Swift and others. at Columbus, Ga. Fiske
! at Montgomery AID any of the large buy
ers at Augusta-in fact any OF the other
shippers of cotton at the important points
and they should act on the suggestion, they
might be able to find out without much
| difficulty as to what difference in the for
eIgn rates, if any, existed. They may not
be able TO get this information by corre-
| spondence, but am satisfied if they go at ii
as though they meant business they will get
all the information they want. Albany to-
| day is quoting lower rate via Brunswick
than we can possibly get from Savannah.
At Opelika we find difference to-day OF
s cents per 100 pounds in the Antwerp rate.
do not know whether this is Brunswick
or Charleston"
From the foregoing it looks very much as
il the foreign rate had considerable to dc
with the loss Of cotton which Savannah has
sustained this year. And it is difficult to
understand why either Charleston or Bruns-
wick is able TO offer lower foreign rate
than Savannah, as vessels of deeper draft
| can come to Savannah's wharves