The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-28
WHY COTTON DID NOT COME.
LOWER OCEAN RATES THAT WERE
QUOTED AT OTHER PORTS.


Mr.. r. ID. Papy of the Plant System
Gives Some Interesting Testimony
Before the Cotton Exchange Com
mittec-COttOR Hauled TO Bruns-
wick and Savannah Mt the Same
Rate. but 1t Goes TO Brunswick on
Account of the Lower Ocean Rate
From That POrt-The Committee
May Have some Interesting In
formation when 1t Makes Its
Next Report.
The cotton exchange committee, appoint
ed to investigate as to the reasons why Sa-
vannah is getting less than its proportion
of cotton for foreign shipment this season,
held a long meeting yesterday afternoon,
being in session from 4:3O until $50 o'clock.
The committee undoubtedly had some
new and very interesting information be-
fore it. 1t recently made report to the
cotton exchange, and was continued, with
Instructions to call upon the railroad men,
and ask their reasons for the situation and
information with regard to it.
General Freight Agent F. B. Papy OF the
Plant system was the principal witness be-
fore the committee at this session, and
from all accounts IL is understood he gave
them some very interesting information
with regard to facts which the members
did not appear to know had existed.
Several members Of the committee were
seen after the meeting, but they refused
90 say anything about 1t, having agreed
that they would give out no Information
until they made report to the BODY that
appointed them. Mr.. Papy said he could
say nothing, as he had left 1t entirety IN
the hands of the committee, and 1t was at
liberty to give out the information or re-
tain it as it saw Mt.
1t is understood, however, that MT
Papy showed the committee how ABOUT
1900 bales of cotton had been diverted
from Savannah this season on account
of lower ocean rates out of Charleston
and Brunswick. The ocean rates quoted
from these two ports were all the way
from to is cents per 100 pounds lower
than the ocean rates from Savannah For
instance, 1t is stated there was a shipment
Of about 900 bales from an interior point
for foreign export. The railroad rate TO
Charleston on this cotton was about b
cents higher than to Savannah, yet the
ocean rate from Charleston was IS cents
at that time, whereas from Savannah it
was 50 cents per 100 pounds. This gave
Charleston an advantage of z cents per
100 pounds over Savannah, all of which
appears to be chargeable directly to the
ocean rate.
This is only one out of Fifty or seventy
Eve instances which it is said were at
hand, and the facts stated were such as
some members of the committee did not
know existed. The information undoubt-
eddy opened the eyes of some of the men,
bers of the committee, as they spent so
long a time in discussing it.
Another thing which, 1t is stated, was
shown, is that the rate on cotton to Sa-
vannah from certain interior points on
the line of the Plant system is the same
as the rate to Brunswick, yet the large
proportion of the cotton from these points
has gone through Brunswick on account
of the lower ocean rate from that port.
Even though In many instances the Plant
system brings cotton to Savannah al the
same rate at which 1t carries 1t to Bruins
wick, it has to take it to Brunswick in
the majority of instances on account of
the ocean rate.
There are other railroad men to be
heard from, however, and perhaps some
more interesting information Will be Sc
cured before the next report of the COM
mittee is made. great deal of blame has
been attached to the Central of Georgia
Railway Company, but it is recognized
among railroad men, and stated by many
OF them who are not even
connected with the system, that
that line is working in the in
terests of Savannah, despite the state
ments to the contrary, and that 1t has
been making every effort to get the cot
ton here. The next report of the COM
mittee will be awaited with a great deal
OF interest.