The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-03
OCEAN FREIGHTs.

In keeping with everything else pertain
ing TO cotton the freight market the past
year was very unsatisfactory 10 ship
owners. The market for steam freights 20
direct ports opened up the season at better
rates than at its close. In Septem Der
steamer rates were at 2l-64d. for Liverpool,
ll-32d for Bremen and sd. for the Medi-
teranean, the latter rate advanced I-64d.,
but in October rates dropped off again, ex.
cept for Liverpool which was l-64d. better.
In November IL again declined to $3.50, for
Liverpool, ll-32d. TO Barcelona and for the
latter 1850. became the ruling rate, while
to Bremen boats could obtain nothing
above Sled. The market, however, in De-
cember steaoled up at a slight recovery,
only to fall off again in the spring. Tonnage
was at all times plentiful, but the character
OF the business was quite unsatisfactory to
hand to mouth business on account OF not
having made any sales of cotton ahead.
There were fewer steamers chartered for
cotton during the past season than for the
year before. There were more boats how
ever, taking phosphate rock, lumber and
naval stores, than ever before, while the
season although slow was remarkable for
Its steadiness, In regard to the amount Of
tonnage always on the berth, as also II was
the nrst time in the history OF the port
when steamers loaded cotton for every
month IN the year TO direct port. The
size of the vessels during the season was
also subject of considerable comment,
vessels of greater net tonnage loaded ana
carried out the largest cargoes ever known
BolOIes OF SAILING vessels going IOltlBA
the business although steady was very I'M
remunerative either to owners, brokers, or
others interested. There was good de-
mand for vessels throughout the whole
season, but owing to the freedom with |
which vessels were offered rates ruled at all
times easy. This condition of course was
owing TO the general depression all over the
world. There was too much tonnage offer
ing in proportion to the quantities of
freights to be had. The steamers also
interfered very much with the Ssilers by
taking freightA for several different ports.
The coal trade from England to south
Africa and South America was fiat, which
OF course, helped to swell the number of
sailing vessele seeking in the North
American market. The rates for naval
stores and lumber although low, all things
considered, were fair, the rates for rosin
running at D. Sd. to d. 1919. and for
spirits at a. to 4s. I'D. The outlook for
just aboutas unpromising as for the last
season. There have been several charters
of boats for September and October loading
on the basis of 1860. for Liverpool and
Bremen and 2l-64d. for Barcelona, loading
in September. Brokers have been very
careful in regard to chartering for this port
ahead, owing to the poor outlook all
around. For sailers it is expected that
there will be a good demand this fall, but
the depression In the market continues
owing to the large number of vessels offer
ing ahead and with this in view there is
small hopes for better rates for some time
to come.
Coastwise steam freights were in less
volume than for the previous season.
There was of course good cause for this.
The principal reason was the smaller re-
ceipts OF cotton; also the depressed condi-
ton of the cotton market, the low price
lessening the purchasing power of interior
merchants and consumers as we'll, who, Of
course, were restricted very much in their
trading operations and as a consequence
inward freights fell of. The boats of the
different lines were not taxed as heavily in
the busy season as they were in former
years. A feature of the winters business
however, was the tremendous increase in
the orange shipments north. Rates have
ruled pretty much the same as in former
years for domestic shipments, but through
shipments to foreign ports were low of
course in sympathy with rates
to direct ports, so that on the
whole none of the steamship com
panies have nude much money on the
years traffic. By sail coastwise business
har also been very depressed and rates gem
orally have declined from the first Of the
season to the present. This was owing to
the larger class OF tonnage, which has
been usually employed in the coal carry
ing trade heretofore, but which is now
seeking business from the Gulf and At
lantic ports. such size vessels have been
Offering freely at less rates than smaller
crafts could afford to take them with any
profit The following are the highest and
lowest rates on lumber for sailing vessels
during the season:
Hight LoW't