The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-05
DIRECT TRADE MOVEMENT.
CHARTER FOR THE NEW COMPANY
SOON TO BE SECURED.

| The Subject Almost as Much Dis
cussed on the Bay rs the National
EIectiOn-Ship Brokers Say Saw
nnnah Has Had Direct Trade Since
1s69-Tbe Main Point Involved il
Cheaper Ocenn Rates, and They
Are Bound to Concentration
VIII Also Have n Line Put ON by
VIM. johnston q Co.
Among those on the Bay interested in
shipping the discussion of the new scheme
to put on direct line of steamers to
Europe shared the honors yesterday with
the discussion of the national election.
The shipping men, however. are discuss
ing it still among themselves, and con-
sidering what they will do when the blow
comes.
Several Of them seem interested just
now in showing that Savannah has had
direct trade for years, practically since
1869, that being about the time at which
steamers began to come here to take car
goes direct to European ports. At that
time also there was advertised in the local
papers the fact that certain firms were
prepared to take cargoes on through bills
of ladlng, from points in the interior d.
rect to the foreign port at which they
were to be delivered. This, they say, has
been the case since that time, and they
are of the opinion that the new company
will do no more in this direction than
has been done. 1t is stated on the other
hand, however, that the steamers to be
brought here by Messrs. William Johnston
& Co. will also take cargoes from foreign
ports for Savannah, and points in the In
terror beyond.
The main point involved, however,
seems to be the cheaper ocean rate, and
there appears to be no doubt that this
will come, If, as the ship brokers say,
the coming of the new line means a fight,
that will necessarily result in lower rates
for time at least, and lower rates are
just what those interested in cotton pro-
ducing and cotton shipping want. Of
course, however, a fight could not last
indefinitely. 1t must end somewhere, and
those interested in the new movement say
they are willing for it to come, and they
believe 1t will end in the establishment of
rates on a proper basis.
The charter for the new company, the
Georgia Export and Import Company, is
now being prepared by Lawton & Cum
ingham, and will doubtless be filed in the
superior court to-day or tomorrow. Since
the announcement of the project in the
Morning News, the ship brokers have
never had any doubt that the line to be
established by Messrs. William Johnston
& Co. would come here, and very shortly,
too and the whole discussion with them
is how to meet the issue. They assert
they can get steamers as cheap as john
ston & Co. can secure them, and they say
they will be ready for the fun when it
begins.
It appears that VIM. Johnston & Co.
are making a play for a big share of the
trade through southern ports. They have
just decided to put on a direct line of
steamers from Charleston to foreign
ports. in addition to that which will run
from Savannah, and Charleston is now
growing over the fact that she, too, is TO
have direct trade.
The Charleston Shipping Company in
corporated under the laws of West Vir-
| ginta, is to put on a transatlantic SER
vice from Charleston to any foreign ports
| for which cargoes are Offering The line
will probably be known as the Johnston
| Blue Cross Line, as the ships to be put on
Will be those of Johnston & Co., the same
firm that is to put them on from Savan-
| nah. This agreement was brought about
! between Johnston & Co. of Liverpool and
| the South Carolina and Georgia railroad.
1t appears from the statements with re-
gard to the Charleston project, that the
visit of Mr.. Marshall Stevens of the Man
chester Ship Canal Company, may have
had something to do with it, as some of
| the ships from Charleston are going TO
| take cargoes direct for Manchester on reg
| ular scheduled sailngs. Charleston is
! also looking for direct through shipments
| of grain and other products from the west
| The exporters are undoubtedly secretly
| rejoicing over the project. They know
| that fight means greatly reduced rates
| for while at least, and the ultimate estab-
! lishment of rates on basis that will bear
| the proper proportion to Savannah's nat
ural advantages. At any rate the expert
ment is going to be made very soon, and
those interested will be all expectation I'M
til something definite has been determined.
| President Conner was asked about the
line of steamers to be put on from Charles
ton by Messrs. William Johnston & Co.
He stated that Mr. Johnston told him that
| this was to be done al the time he had his
! asst conference with MIN, but ne said II had
nothing whatever to do with the plans with
regard to Savannah. The line of steam
ers from Savannah, he said, is to be an
entirely separate and distinct affair.
-S
WAITED TO GET THE TRUTH