The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-31

have been forwarded and aeknJTle1ged-
u is understood that b. IS 80 much i'm
pressed with the buslns== -l1e OF his Visit
that DE prefers that the time be has here
be largely given up 10 conferences with
our commercial bodies. with shippers ana
with representatives. " trtuspor laLlon
lines. which latter will he ably represent
cd. lie viii doubtless not decline run
down the city's front and the channel TO
the sea on the goverurar- cutter Bout
well or the steam pilot boat j. H. kstlii'
u Collector Beckwith cannot commuhl-
cate with the cutter in time 70 nave her
ID port. This viii give SIR stevens not
only an idea Of the extensive system OF
miles Of docks and wharre- in the mar
Dor. but viii enable him 10 sec what has
been done 10 deepen the channel enabling
vessels of the largest tonnage 10 come ana
20. u would be peculiarly appropriate
as representing the maritime pro
gress Of Savannah, thai The steam plot
boat should be used on this occasion, as
of the ports employing steam pilot Doats
the J. r.. Estill is the most modern ana
the finest in service.
The benefits OF direct trade from SaVan-
nah TO Manchester beginning here, VIII
al once ramify the southern territory en-
hracing the states of Georgia, tlonua'
Alabama and Tennessee. and extend TO the
western and northwest states, not only
embracing the shippers but the producers
i'm their exports, finding heir way 70 the
district which is their best foreign Gus
toner but Will benefit consumers IN the
southern, western and northwestern terri
tory IN the cheaper frechts incident TO
direct trade. Out of a. must grow closer
relations. and in the near future the south
viii not only export cotton, naval stores
and lumber direct, bat tine inevitable trend
of southern agriculture is to cereal crops
for export. Thus far tine south has di-
Versihed her crops in sclf-ietense, raising
her own corn, and to some extent wheat,
for local consumption. To raise cotton at
a profit the crop must De curtaiied, and
then attention Will be paid 10 cereals on
a larger scale, so that a market must be
found for the surplus. Il will be had in
England. and that means more freight for
southern lines of inland transportation,
and for direct shipment abroad from the
port of Savannah.
This prediction is emphasized by the
views of Col. j. b. Killebrew Of Nashville
Tenn, late United States agricultural
statistcian for the two Oak tas during the
taking and compilation of the last federal
census, and now immigration and agri-
cultural agent of the Nashville, Chatta-
nooga and St. Louis railway.
At the third annual session Of the South
and West Grain and Trade Congress,
held at Charleston S. c., April % and 30,
1896 Col. Killebrew. in an able address
before that body, in the course Of his
Of growing wheat per acre i'm the several
sections of the United States it will be
seen that there is really no margin of
profit in its cultivation. In New England
the cost per acre. including fertilizers, Is
placed at $2022; in the middle states, SIS. IS;
in the southern states, Sl09i in the north
western states, $10S9; In the mountainous
regions of Colorado Utah ana Idaho, $l5.3)
and on the Pacific coast, Sl3.9S. 1t viii
be seen that the estimate Of cost in the
southern states is within cents per acre
of the cost in the great grain growing re-
giOn of North America. Taking the aver
age yield Of all the states and the present
prices. it will appear that there is a posi-
tive loss in the growing Of wheat, which
must come out of the rents, labor and
transportation
But this is not all. The wheat grower
in the United States is now confronted
with the gravest problem of modern
times. 1t is how to make the intelligent
labor of this country bear the compeu-
tion of the low-priced labor of India,
the Argentine Republic and Russia. The
ryOts of India can live on few ounces
of rice a day, costing but few cents. The
Slavonians of Russia grow vast quanu-
ties of wheat, but they live on the cheaper
rye bread. The Italians in Argentina are
content to live on a little olive OIL mac
arOni and fruit None of these are meat
caters
that the opening of our southern ports for
the transportation of our breadstuffs to
South America and Europe will do great
deal to stimulate production of grain in
the southern states. 1t is a fact we'll
known that we can grow wheat and corn
in the south a a less cost and get it to
the seaboard cheaper than from any other
equal area in the United States where
grain is grown for export. 1t has already
been mentioned that the cost of raising
wheat in the southern states is only Si0.94
per acre, just five cents per acre greater
than the estimate in the western states.
This estimate includes those states in the
south not adapted to wheat. But in get
ting it to the seaboard the southern states
have an advantage of at least 60 cents
per acre, taking the average of freight
charges and the avera sc yield of the crops.
This will give the south an advantage of
50 cents per acre over the great grain
growing states OF the northwest.
THAT the farmers and planters of GeOr-
gia are thoroughly alive TO the import
ance of direct trade with Manchester may
be gathered from the resolution of Col.
J. G. Mccall, a prominent farmer, and
also vice president of the Merchants
and Farmers Bank of Quitman, adopted
by the Georgia State Agricultural So
ciety, at its recent annual meeting at
Rome Ga, Aug. 10:
Resolved, That this society has learn
ed with deep interest that Mr.. Stevens,
manager of the Manchester canal of Eng
land. is in spondenee with the Savan-
nah Board of Trade through its president,
Hon. d. G. Purse on the subject of es-
tablishng a line of steamers to ply be-
tween English ports and the city of Sa-
vannah, our Manchester for the export
and import business of the south
That this association at once recognize
this effort as one of prime importance;
one of the greatest value to the agricul-
tural interests of this and the southern
states lying east of the Mississippi; and
that we pledge our moral and material
support to this great enterprise and that
we take such steps as may be wise and
prudent, touching the premises
Extensive impOrtations for the west and
northwest, as well as to southern territory
tributary to savannah come to eastern
cities such as New York. Philadelphia
Boston and Baltimore when they would
come more cheaply via Savannah, not only
being directly beneficial to the districts
referred to. but would increase the import
revenues at Savannah. From 60 to 70 per
cent. Of the lighter merchandise from east
eru cities to Kansas City, st. Joe, and