The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-27
Lower Ocean Rates for Cotton.

I y
have been considerably higher than those
Of any other South Atlantic port. u is
safe 10 estimate that her loss has been
more than 10000 bales. There are those
who think Savauuah's receipts would
have already reached ,OOO, 900 bales if her
| ocean rates had been as low as those at
| Charleston or Brunswick
Ii is evident that the causes that have
operated against Savannah this season
| will operate against her next season, and
| each succeeding season, unless they are
removed, with the result that she will
ultimately lose the greater part Of her
! cotton business. That cotton will 90
where it can be handled at the least cost
is so apparent that no sane man will dis
pute it.
One of the causes Of the high rates
| from Savannah, and it is said to be
! the chief one, is the cost of slowing cot
| ton on shipboard. According to state
ments made it costs from % to 30 cents a
bale more TO stow cotton here than at
either Charleston or Brunswick In
these days Of fierce competition that diff
| ference gives those ports an immense ad-
vantage, an advantage that Aannot be
| overcome by deeper water, greater CAPT
tai or in any other way The profit IN the
cotton business is not now as great as it
was few years ago. In every phase of
the business, as in almost every other
kind of business. the margin on which
business is done is exceedingly small.
The only way savannah can hold her
rafH ton -, =
as low as they arc at any other South At
lantic port and in order to do that the
cost Of slowing cotton on shipboard must
be no greater than at the ports with
which she competes.
Naturally the cotton screwmen object
TO any reduction in their wages. They
point to the wages received by screwmen
at New Orleans and Galveston, and say
their wages are no higher. if as high, as
screwmen's wages at those ports. Ad-
hitting what they say to be correct, is
that an argument in their fayor2 AS
long as New Orleans and Galveston screw
men maintain practically the Same rate OF
WAGES neither is likely to lose any cotton to
which she is legitimltely entitled, but if
cotton were slowed on shiptoard at Calves
ton for % cents bale less than at New Or
leans, wages at New Orlelns would have
to be lowered or else New Orleans would
steadily lose her cotton business.
New Orleans and Galveston are not
competitors of Savannah, but Charles
ton, Brunswick Port Royal and Norfolk
are. The wages at Savannah. therefore,
f she is to hold her cotton business, must
conform to those of the South Atlantic
ports This is so evident that it cannot
be successfully disputed
No doubt Savannah shippers would like
to continue to pay the wages the screw
men have been receiving, and still de-
mand, il they could do so and still retain
their business. They have been unable
this season to make an ocean rate as low
as that at either Brunswick or Charles
ton, and consequently Savannah has lost
a great deal of cotton and a number of
ships
The Savannah shippers have decided to
bring ocean rates down to those of their
competitors, and yesterday the loading
of ship was begun with labor that is not
identified with that which heretofore
controlled the loading OF cotton ships.
They were forced to this course, and their
purpose is to persist in it. If the scrcw-
men have any fault to find with this new
condition of affairs, it ought to
be with the screwmen at other
South Atlantic ports, who, by
reducing the cost of loading ships there,
have made it necessary to reduce the cost
Of loading them here
There is no purpose to reduce the
wages of any class of men in order that
shippers may have a greater profit. The
sole purpose is to prevent the business of
the port from going elsewhere. The
shippers are no more interested, pecuni-
arily, in this matter than other citizens
of Savannah.
Congressman Lester is giving his at
tentiou to the matter of getting an appro-
priation for survey for a cut across
Jones island to Wrighcs river, and hopes
TO have the item inserted in the river and
harbor bill nov under consideration in
committee and shortly to be reported 10
the House. The keeping open of the
inland water routes along the coast is a
matter of great importance, and cspe-
cially so in the case of the routes between
the Savannah river and points to the
north The jetties recently built in the
Savannah river below Venus Point have
virtually closed Wight's river and cut
off water communication between this
city and DaufGskie island, Button and
other places to the northward, except by
way of Calahoga sound. And it is not
safe for small craft or inland steamers to
cross the sound in stormy weather. The
matter of securing a new opening into
Wright's river, and thus regaining a safe
inland waterway, is receiving the atten-
ton of committees Of the cotton exchange
and board of trade, The efforts ofthese
bodies, with the cooperation of Congress-
man Lester, will very proba oily result in
securing the necessary appropriation at
an early day.