The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-05
Our Trade Review.

makes for the business year just closed.
There was no falling off in Savannahs
business. One the contrary, there was an
increase in the volume of it. And the in
crease was very considerable, because.
Notwithstanding the very low prices of
everything except cotton. the money value
of the business was a number of mil
lions of dollars greater than was the
money value of the business of the pre-
vious year.
The bank clearances OF a city are
good indication of whether it's business is
increasing or not. Judged. by them, Sa-
vannahs business is steadily growing.
Every year the total of the bank clear
ances exceeds those of the previous year.
For the year that has just closed they
were 5000, 600 greater than they were the
year before.
Every Savannahian knows, of course,
that this city is dependent upon her com
merce. She has great many small fac
tories of one kind and another, but her
chief support is her trade. Every effort,
therefore. should be made to encourage
that. Our harbor now, thanks of Con-
gresham Testers efforts in behalf Of APP
propriations, is the best on the South
Atlantic coast 1t will be still further i'm
| proved during the present year, as Col.
Lester secured an additional 100000 for
| that purpose. When the work is done
the completeness of our harbor. in every
important particular will be standing
| invitation to the ship owners of all the
world to send their ships here.
| And the ships are coming and our COM
merce is increasing. Last year we ship
| previous year, and there was very no
ticeable increase in the shipments of
| phosphate rock. These two articles of
commerce are seeking our port in con-
stantly increasing quantities.
Cotton and naval stores are our stand
bys. For sea island cotton and naval
stores our port is the great market or
the world. We control these two prod
ucts-in fact handle the great bulk of
both of themA and we predict that we
shall continue to do so. OF the upland
cotton we shall continue to get the share
which belongs to us, and hold our place
as the third cotton port of the country.
Our merchants are energetic and progress
siye and the banking capital of the city
is ample for even a greater business
than is now done.
Our wholesale merchants have had some
drawbacks to contend wIth-the Florida
freeze, for instance-but Notwithstanding
| these they are steadily increasing the vol
ume of their business. And 1t Is not
| strange that they are doing so. They
nave the enterprise, business capacity and
capital, and these things combined are
bound TO tell in the competition they
have with the merchants of rival citiee.
Savannah is growing, not rapidly, but
solidly. A great many dwellings were
erected during the past year, They were
not pretentious buildings, but they were
| of a class that adds to the attractive
! ness Of the city. They were built by peo-
pie who own them and live in them.
The large plant for the manufacture of
cars that is now being established is GER
| tain to be feature of savannah's indus
| trial life We have no doubt that it will
| grow from year to year, as the demands
for its products increase. There is every
reason to think 1t will be a success. If it
is it will be a great encouragement to
the establishment of other industrial en-
terprises.
A direct line of steamers between this
| port and Manchester, England, may be
inaugurated this fall, and Savannah may
make a start in direct trade with Europe.
The feasibility Of the steamship line will
be discussed by our merchants within a
very few days.
When the whole field of our business Is
scanned we have reason to be satisfied
with the progress we are making. When
the money question shall have been set
tied and capital begins seeking invest
ment, Savannah will feel4the impetus OF
new business life, and her advancement
in wealth and population will be far
greater than 1t has been in any period OF
her history. All that win be needed &c
make her the greaba0qmercial city OF
which we have ee4rttalBing about for
a dozen years or more. will be the earnest
and active cooperation of all her citizens
in her behalf
Treating All Alike.