The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-14
BAKING PONDER.
FOR A FREIGHT BUREAU.
Capt. Purse Urgently Advocates o,
For Savannah.

Capt Purse Urgently Advocates One
For Savannah.
Capt. Purse, president of the board of
trade, who is always alive to Savanna his
interests, has another step in view which
he believes will accomplish great things.
1t is Capt. Purses intention to set about
the formation of the freight bureau for
Savannah at an early date. Such organi-
cations exist at New'Orleans, Kansas City
aud other important points. The duty
of the freight bureau, as already stated
IN the MORNING News, is very simple
ana can be expressed in a few words. 1t
IS to watch the railroads.
If there ever was city in need of a
freight bureau" said Capt. Purse yester-
day, that city is Savannah. To those
who are familiar with the situation, the
manner IN which our interests have been
betrayed by the railroads is something
appalling.u The situation is really
distressing. We are hedged in on
all sides by unfavorable rates.
come into our territory and carry off the
business which naturally belongs to us,
and we are unable to lift finger to pre-
vent 1t. The railroads, in their efforts to
obtain peace at interior points, have
traded Savannah off every time for the
sake of harmony. Harmony is very nice
Tor The railroads, but it wiz do
US no good when the grass
begins to grow in our streets. Savan-
nah has been literally made the shut
tlecock between the railroad battledores.
They have batted us hither and thither to
suit their interests without the least re-
gard for our interests. The result is that
we are being hedged in on every side by
our rivals. If something is not done, and
that soon, Savannah's prestige as bust
ness center will soon be thing of the
past"
Capt. Purse was asked what a freight
bureau could do to remedy the situation.
"A freight bureau will not deal with the
subject OF rates generally, "he said, "but
Will take up the rates in detail, and will
seek remedy for various in Justices
in the existing rates It's purpose is
not so much to secure cheaper rates
as to see that equitable rates are made
If another city can come into our terri
tory and take away products or market
goods there at a less cost than Savannah
can do it. when all the advantages are
equal, or in our favor, it will be the bust
ness Of the freight bureau to find out
where the trouble lies and seek a remedy
for it. If our competitors are
getting less rate of freight
for a longer distance It will
" VIZ NACJ VI tlO liClkub DuIGdu W SG6
that our rates are lowered or that those
Of our competitors are increased. There
are numerous instances of this kind which
would demand the attention of the freight
bureau at once Almost every business
man can call to mind at once instances of
unjust rates in his own line of business"
Capt. Purse referred to the results of
years trial of the freight bureau in New
Orleans. Numerous instances are quoted
where Determinations against New
Orleans in favor of her rivals have
been removed, numerous reductions
secured, and an equal alton of rates,
where competing points had hitherto
enjoyed an advantage. The New Orleans
bureau is supported by subscriptions
from the various trade bodies and bust
ness organizatiods The board of trade,
cotton exchange, sugar exchange and
lumbermen's exchange each pay $1,000 a
year for the support of the bureau.