The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-16
TO BE DECIDED TO-DAY.
The TuTpontiRe Men Will Consider a
Suspension Of Operations.

the Prevailing Low Prices-Seore-
tary Cassels Talks About the Situa-
ton.
The naval stores factors in the city held
a meeting yesterday afternoon at the
board of trade rooms to discuss the situa-
ton previous to the annual meeting of the
Turpentine Operators Association, which
will be held at 1880 this morning in the
Masonic hall
Vice President Young received a tele-
gram from Secretary Cassels of the asso-
citation yesterday telling him to secure
the hall for the meeting at that hour, and
the turpentine producers all over the
state were notified thatrthe meeting would
be held there.
The factors took no definite action yes
terday, but merely discussed the situation
in case they were asked to confer with a
committee from the association, as will
probably be the case. They were all of
one mind, however, and in case they are
called upon for an expression of opinion
they concluded that they would advise
that il is best to suspend operations
in part at least until there is
a rise in the market A number of the
appear in the deliberations of the meet
ing which is to decide upon this question
Only few of the producers were in the
city last night. They were of the same
mind as the factors and think that the
sentiment in favor of a partial or total
suspension will be practically unanimous.
They say they are producing at loss, and
that this step will be necessary for their
protection unless there is a change in the
situat ion.
CAUSE OF THE Low PRICES. =
Notwithstanding that the receipts of
naval stores are less to date than to the
same date last year, the prices have con
tinued to fall steadily until they have now
reached the lowest point known in years.
With spirits quoted at % cents and water
white rosin at 81 cents the producers
say that they are operating
at dead loss. The cause of the low
prices is ascribed by the factors not to
elack of demand on account of over
production, but to the depressed condition
of business in this country for the last
two months. The European demand is
said to be good, but the domestic con-
sumption is light.
The steady fall Of prices has at last
caused such a state of affairs in the naval
stores business that most of the promi-
nent operators are now advocating the
suspension of production for the remain
uei VI Ullc SedSOu- 1ue9 say Judu as IL IS
now, their products do not pay
the expenses of production and they are
exhausting their timber without rece iv-
ing any returns for it.
DEEP IN DEBT
AT the same time many of them are
getting deeper in debt instead of squaring
their accounts with their factors
This proposition will be prominently
brought before the meeting to-day and
some action looking to this end is not at
all unlikely. 1t is said that they can
hardly afford to cease producing alto
gether, but that they will probably de-
eide 10 work no more old boxes this
season. This will cut down the crop to a
considerable extent, though not so largely
as would total suspension, which would
withhold about one-third of it.
The meeting win be a large one, and
operators will be present from all parts of
the turpentine producing sectiona of the
state.
SECRETARY CAssELs TALKS.
General Secretary A. Gordon Cassels
has just returned from Valdosta, where
all the operators on the Georgia Southern
and Florida railway held IA meeting to
take some action in reference to the in
creased freight rate put into effect by
that road on Aug. 10, was seen last night,
and said the outlook was discouraging.
I'VE have come here to accomplish
something he said, land it is hoped
that in the convention tomorrow perfect
unity win prevail, as it viii be impossible
TO accomplish any good unless the oper-
ators will work in unity and abide by the
action of the convention.
The convention should not act hastily,
lest II act unwisely. Let its deliberations
be the product of thought and care, then
there will be no dissension, distrust or
evasions Of the obligations assumed at
the meeting.
This association has accomplished great
good and there Is no reason why it should
not continue TO do so. The operators need
relief for they are the hardest worked
set OF men to beifound anywhere, and as
class Rave great many hardships to en-
dure and II is Just that they should have
some compensation. That 10 what we
are here to-day to look out for
at seems that the only remedy is to sus-
pend the working of all old boxes, which
will no doubt help the market at once, for
at the present prices they can't take off
the scrape. The convention will be called
TO order at 1890 az Masonic hall by
President e. p. Miller.
THE yALDOsTA MEETING.
The turpentine operators along the line
OF the Georgia Southern and Florida rail
way from Palatka TO Cordele had meet
ing to-day at Valdosta to take action in
reference TO the increased freight rates
put into effect on August 10 by the Geor-
gia Southern and Florida railway.
The meeting was largely attended, and
DIR. e. p. Rose, of Valdosta, was made
chairman
This increased cost amounts TO about 81
more on every car, and they claim that it
Is more than the business will stand, espe-
cially in the depressed condition of the
market. A committee consisting OF
L. r. Smith, L. p. Rose and myself,
with j. B, James, J. T. Baird and w A.
Shingler as alternates, was appointed to
confer with the various railroad systems
and see what could be done to get the rate
reduced
After this matter was disposed of, the
condition of the naval stores market was
taken up, and discussed at length 1t
was the unanimous verdict of the meeting
thai owing to the increased freight rates
and the depressed condition of the market,
that 1t would be advisable to shut of work
on all old boxes at once, and the delegates
We're so instructed to vote in Savannah.
The meeting then adjourned and took
train No. Is for Savannah
large crowd Of turpentine operators
came up on the Savannah, Florida and
Western railway from Valdosta last night
aaq still larger contingent is expected
this morning
GONE TO MILwAJTKEE