The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-24
TO COAL THE BIG SHIPS.
Another Move on Foot for the Benefit
Of the Port.

Steamships That Come to Savannah
for Cotton This Fall May Get Their
Goal Here Also-It Is Claimed That
They Will Save Over $500 Each by
Doing So-A Reduced Rate of Insur-
ance Probable Result, Should the
or Newport News.
| There is a movement on foot which de-
serves the hearty encouragement of the
business men of the city because it prom
ises to add to the commerce of the port in
a very material way.
For several days the representatives of
the coal companies and railroads have
been quietly working among the cotton
I and shipping men and the marine insur-
ance men on the Bay in the interest of
move to have all steamships leaving this
port take their coal here.
AS probably $50 steamships, each re-
curing from 400 TO 500 tons of coal, will
visit the port this season it Will be seen
that this is DO small item. At present,
and for a number of years past, nearly
all the steamships leaving Savannah with
cotton or phosphate have secured their
coal at Norfolk. There are several
reasons for this, the chief being
the splendid coaling facilities provided at
Norfolk With the development of the
Alabama coal mines which are reached
direct from Savannah by the Central rail
road efforts were made for the establish
ment Of coaling station here. The project
was not favored by the shipping men, how
ever, on the ground that the depth of the
river was not sufficient to allow of
steamship securing her full cargo of cot
ton and at the same time taking on a full
supply of coal for the trip across without
stopping at any intermediate port. The
increased depth of the river has now OBJ
waited this objection. With vessels leav-
ing the port drawing % feet of water there
Is no reason why the largest steamships
which come here cannot take on full
cargo of cotton and a supplyof coal as
well, and get down the river with safety
and ease Sufficient coaling facilities
have also been provided to furnish all
steamers with coal leaving this port.
FOR SAVANNAH TO SAY.
1t is now merely a question whether
Savannah shall take advantage of her OPP
portunities or whether she shall continue
to allow this profitable business to go to
Norfolk. 1t is not merely to the interest
of the coal companies that the business
should be done at Savannah. 1t is esti-
| mated that the extra cost to a steamship
| leaving Savannah to coal at Norfolk or
Newport News is not less than $500 more
than if the steamship had coaled at Sa-
vannah.
A most important item In this extra
| cost is the marine insurance, an extra
charge being made by the marine under
writers upon vessels touching at any
| other port after leaving the loading port
| before reaching her destination. This
| extra charge is estimated to be not less
| than one-eighth of l per cent. AS the
values of the cotton cargoes leaving
| $3O0,0OO, this extra cost for insur-
| ance amounts to something over
$500 for the average vessel, and in the
case of extra large steamers to fully twice
that amount. If this ezra cost can be
saved it is an important item to the bust
ness of the port, and one well worth look
| ing after just now, while competition be-
tween the ports is so sharp and the ques-
ton of the reduction of port charges is
being so prominently brought forward.
WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
To secure the concession, however, 1t is
necessary to get the consent of the ma
rine insurance companies to the reduction
and also the consent of the ship owners
TO having their vessels coal at this port.
1t is the custom in chartering ships now
to provide in the charter that the vessel
shall coal north of Hatteras. 1t is thought
that when the subject is properly pre-
sented to the ship owners and the marine
| insurance companies that they will make
no objections to the desired changes in
the rates and charte RS, and it is upon
these lines that work is now being done.
There are other important items to the
vessel leaving Savannah to coal at Nor
fOllr The nilOfaua In IN NOrfollT fOr- a
sci drawing over sixteen feet is 500. To
go out of her way into Norfolk and secure
her coal vessel loses on an average of
two days time. Time is valuable to a
vessel with cargo valued at from quar-
ter to half a million dollars and 500
day is low estimate OF the cost, includ-
ing the expenses of the vessel and
the extra amount of coal consumed.
These figures have been carefully made
up, and it is safe to say are not far from
the truth, even If they are not under the
truth.
BIG SAVING TO SHIPS.
From this it will be seen that by coal
| ing at Savannah, a steamship would save
| over $500 on the trip. 1t is estimated
| that If this trade can be secured for Sa-
vannah, it will mean the handling of
| over 5000, 900 worth of coal through Sa-
! vannah every season for steamships alone.
| OF this amount the Central railroad
would secure over Sl00,0 900 for freights, as
the cost of freight is one half the cost of
coal at the port. Receiver Conner would
no doubt find such an addition to the rev.
enues of the road very welcome, indeed.
A discount from the above figures
should be made for the difference in the
price of coal between Savannah and Nor
folk, which is about 10 cents ton. This
would amount to less than 500 for each
vessel coaled, however, leaving something
over $500 still in favor of coaling at Sa-
vannah The reduced rate of insurance
alone means $4,000 year saved to the
business men of Savannah.
The Ladies'.